The Deputy Minister of National Defense, Mr. Nikolaos Hardaliasattended today, Thursday 26 May 2022, the award ceremony of the winners of the 1st Innovation Competition on “Innovating in Awareness of the Business Situation”, organized by the General Directorate of Defense Equipment and Investments of the Ministry of National Defense. in the “IOANNIS KAPODISTRIAS” room, at the Ministry of National Defense.

The awards to the winners of the eleven innovation proposals (ten most prevalent and the first youth innovation proposal) with the highest score, were awarded by the Deputy Minister of National Defense Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias and representatives of the companies INTRACOM DEFENCE and DEES GROUPsponsors of the competition.

In total, two hundred and twelve interesting innovation proposals were submitted and evaluated during the first phase of the competition, while four of them were distinguished and presented during the award ceremony.

The Deputy Minister of National Defense, in his greeting stated the following:

«It is a special honor and pleasure for me to attend today’s event, an important event for Innovation and Technology in the Armed Forces, which is organized for the first time at the Ministry of National Defense. An action started by my good friend and predecessor Alkiviadis Stefanis, who today, although he would like to be with us, his obligations did not allow him to do so, and which in a coordinated manner with the General Directorate of Defense Equipment and Investments and under the guidance of the Minister, we have proceeded and are implementing to date.

For all of us at the Ministry of National Defense, continuity and consistency are basic principles that we follow. Thus, starting from the announcement by the Ministry of the Interior of 2020, as the year of “Research, Technological Development, Innovation and Environmental Protection”, it was decided to hold a competition and an innovation conference. The pandemic may have delayed these actions, but we managed to reorganize and finally announce within 2021, the first Innovation competition of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the theme “Innovating in Awareness of the Business Situation”.

Innovation and technology are a pillar of growth and extroversion for all organizations and actors in both the private and public sectors, accelerating progress and development in sensitive and critical areas.

A primary concern of the Political and Military Leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the coexistence in the chariot of the “innovation community” and the “innovation ecosystems”, as typically mentioned the development and integration of new cutting-edge technologies, always guided by our Ministry, ensuring defense, superiority and planning for the next day.

The National Defense owns and is constantly reinforced with modern weapons systems, with the latest technology and high level know-how. Through partnerships and interoperability with private and public sector services and agencies, it can develop a competitive advantage at all levels.

Finding and channeling innovative solutions is able to provide a strategic advantage in a disproportionately short period of time, in relation to the traditional development of military capabilities.

The benefits of innovation extend to the strengthening and development of the defense industry and its connection, with internal and external actors, creating the necessary technological advantage, which will effectively address existing and emerging security challenges, acting as a strong bulwark, preventing or minimizing of crises.

The whole endeavor would not have been successful without the contribution and connection of private initiative and entrepreneurship, through the leading companies, but also the university community. The research and experience held by universities and research centers and the capabilities of scientists and their technicians, is a guarantee and a strong lever of development, which combined with the capabilities of relevant agencies and ED executives, could bring technological upgrade and superiority in the field of defense of our country.

Private initiative, mainly through start-ups and start-ups, which are the living cradle of innovation, talent and ideas, has to give impetus to technological superiority, with human res being a valuable asset for the country.

We are here today to congratulate the organizers, the winners and with them all the participants in the first Innovation in Defense competition. All those who contribute, so that innovation and technology become “weapons” to meet modern international challenges, thus making Greece a beacon of defense development. In this way we implement the Government policy for the creation and consolidation of technological development, making the country a key hub in the wider geopolitical area of ​​the South-Eastern Mediterranean, the Balkans and Europe.».

The event was attended by the Member of Parliament Fthiotida and AD Vice President of the Special Standing Committee on Research & Technology of the Hellenic Parliament Mr. Ioannis Sarakiotisthe General Manager of the Directorate of Defense Equipments & Investments of the Ministry of Defense Rear Admiral (M) e.a. Aristidis Alexopoulos PN, the Deputy Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General George Kellisthe DG Branch Directors of GEA Lieutenant General (M) Dimitrios Boznos and the Chief of General Staff Spyridon Lagaras PN and the Director of the Evolution Department of GEETHA Brigadier (I) Konstantinos Zolotas. The Minister of National Defense Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos represented by the presence of the Director of the Office of Mr. Athanasios Valaris.