Under the theme: “Re-discover Greece: Technology - Innovation - Business”, the Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative (HTCI) is organizing two events on October 17th and 18th at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Columbia University, respectively. The events aim at raising awareness over the prosperous technological and business conditions currently developing in Greece, so as to attract US university graduates, researchers and professors from cutting-edge technology sectors, as well as entrepreneurs and private equity funds. The events are organized under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Development and the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and are jointly realized by HTCI in cooperation with the respective authorities of Greece and US, as well as the Hellenic Students’ Associations of Columbia and MIT. It’s worth noting that high-level dignitaries from the Greek-American Community will be participating at these events. Apart from the presentations at the university campuses, the program of the Roadshow also includes meetings with representatives of the East Coast financial community and one-on-one business meetings of the Greek delegation at the Consulate of New York.

In June 2007, Mr. Alejandro Checchi Lang, Director, European Commission Directorate General for Regional Policy, visited the premises of the Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative (HTCI) in Athens, accompanied by representatives from the Operational Program Competitiveness of the Ministry of Development (ΕΥΔ-ΕΠΑΝ). During his visit, Mr. Checchi Lang, who is responsible for EU regional development funds concerning Greece, Cyprus, Holland, Hungary, Italy and Malta, received extensive information about HTCI and its activities, as well as a tour of the Microelectronics Innovation Center, which hosts more than 20 high-tech companies.

Executives from the Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative (HTCI) and the Hellenic Semiconductor Industry Association (Hellenic-SIA) informed Mr. Checchi Lang and his colleagues about their joint initiative concerning the creation of the first Hellenic cluster in the area of microelectronics and embedded systems. In addition, delegation members had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the companies in the Microelectronics Innovation Center – including 4Plus, Alma Technologies, Analogies, Antcor, Atmel, BlueDev, Bytemobile, Diaplous, GDT, Globetech, Helic, inAccess Networks, Micrelec, Sciencis, Theon, Theta και Unibrain. During their visit, the delegates had the opportunity to learn more about the innovative technologies and applications developed by the above companies.

From left to right: Christine Frayne, Asteris
Paradissis, Checchi Lang, Kirsi Melvola, Vassilis Makios.

«It was a great honor and pleasure for me and all my colleagues at HTCI to welcome Mr. Checchi Lang, Director at the E.C. Directorate General for Regional Policy, who showed enormous interest in our initiative», stated Mr. Vassilios Makios, HTCI General Manager, «Mr. Lang was impressed by the achievements of the Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative and recognized it as an innovative and remarkable effort, with a model for the formation of clusters that can become a benchmark for similar undertakings in Europe», he continued.

From left to right: Jorge Sanchez, Nikos Vogiatzis, Chrissa
Gofa, Dimitris Papaioannou, Alejandro Checchi Lang, Asteris
Paradissis, Vassilis Makios, Christine Frayne, Francesco Amodeo,
Grigoris Doumenis, Stelios Koutroubinas and Sotiris Bandas.

The Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative (ΗTCI), in cooperation with the Hellenic Semiconductor Industry Association, was one of the sponsors of the «16th Annual International Electronics Forum», which took place in Athens, from May 2-4, 2007 at the Plaza Resort Hotel. Professor Ioannis Tsoukalas, Secretary General for Research and Technology inaugurated the opening ceremony of the conference, while Professor Vassilios Makios, HTCI General Manager and Theodoros Varelas, representative of Hellenic Semiconductor Industry Association, addressed conference attendees, among other speakers.

Prof. Ioannis Tsoukalas at IEF 2007

The Conference was under the auspices of General Secretariat for Research and Technology of the Ministry of Development and The Hellenic Center for Investments (ELKE). During the conference, representatives from the international microelectronics and semiconductors industry, among which companies, such as Renesas Technology, Oberthur Card Systems Corp, Indesit Company, STMicroelectronics, LSI Corporation and Mentor Graphics Corporation, discussed the latest trends, challenges and market opportunities. Additional organizations with a key role in the market, such as the Optoelectronics Industry Development Association, the India Semiconductor Association and the University of California, also addressed conference delegates. Moreover, several networking activities were scheduled, bringing together conference delegates to foster knowledge exchange and partnerships, as a catalyst for the future development and growth of the semiconductors sector.

Prof. Vassilios Makios (left) and Prof. Ioannis
Tsoukalas (right) in front of the HTCI booth.

Innovative Ideas and Products from Greece Claim a Spot among the Hot Technologies of the Future

The Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative (ΗTCI) made its debut in the global market by showcasing innovative ideas and products during CeBIT, the world’s largest IT trade fair, which took place in Hanover, Germany, between March 15 – 21, 2007. HTCI had the opportunity to present its vision, mission and objectives, as well as to showcase a series of innovations, representing the efforts of the first Hellenic cluster focusing on Semiconductors and Embedded Systems. HTCI’s stand (Hall 9-B16) was located at the “Future Parc”, CeBIT’s center of innovation, which typically attracts more than 91,600 visitors from politics, business and science.

Through its participation at CeBIT, HTCI member companies introduced a number of innovative products as well as fostered synergies with key players in the IT market and drew the attention of analysts and investors, following the latest developments in the global market of semiconductors and embedded systems.

During the events planned at CeBIT’s Future Parc, a number of Greek companies participating in the Cluster of Semiconductors and Embedded Systems, which operates under the auspices of HTCI, had the opportunity to present innovative products in the areas of wireless communications, smart home automation and integrated robotic vision systems.

Inauguration Event presentations:

• 01 Makios - HTCI Presentation
• 03 Sophia Antipolis - HTCI Presentation
• 04 HSIA - HTCI Presentation
• 05 Spaet - HTCI Presentation
• 06 US Semi Association - HTCI Address
• 08 Los HTCI Presentation
• 09 Makrydakis - HTCI Presentation

On the 16th and the 17th of October, Mr. Richard Wallace, Editor in Chief of Electronic Engineering Times – Europe, visited Greece, after an invitation extended from HTCI. Mr. Wallace’s objective was to cover the recent developments in technology and in the semiconductor & embedded systems field in particular.

During his visit the Editor in Chief of EE Times – Europe had the opportunity to meet with government officials from the General Secretariat for Research & Technology and the Special Secretariat for Competitiveness, as well as representatives of the Hellenic Semiconductor Industry Association (HSIA) and semiconductor startup executives.

Mr. Wallace was particularly pleased after the meetings he had with startup executives and was impressed by the high level of products and services offered. To date, six articles have been published online in the EE Times Europe, that can be accessed through the hyperlinks presented below:

• Greece frames future in technology cluster
• Silicon Valley blooms in Athens suburb
• Greece's Ministry of Development seeks to unlock potential of nation's 'human capital'
• Greece updates legal framework for technology innovation, research
• Theta Microelectronics IP now 'IBM Ready'
• Theon Sensors readies MEMS-based system

This extensive coverage of such a ground-breaking and innovation-oriented technology area is a significant milestone for Greece and especially for its microelectronics and embedded systems sector. HTCI will intensify its efforts in order to sustain Greece’s extrovert initiatives in Microelectronics as well as other equally promising cluster technology areas.

The symposium, "Don't Miss Greece: Discover Today's Business Gem" was held on September 29, 2005, and brought together about 150 scientists and representatives from technology companies and U.S. investment firms with Hellenic Government officials working in the Ministries of Development and Economy.

The goal of this symposium was to establish a link for future investment opportunities in Greece.
Dimitris Sioufas, Minister of Development was the keynote speaker. In his address, Minister Sioufas emphasized that the recent changes in the business laws, facilitate the investment of foreign capital and joint ventures between the United States and Greece.

"Today Greece is setting a new standard for development that welcomes business; attracts direct foreign investment; is oriented towards constant improvement and a competitive economy and is open to prosperous interaction between the government and the private sector. Our goal is to utilize our economic capability and all of our developmental resources," stated Minister Sioufas.

Other guest speakers included Ioannis Tsoukalas, General Secretary for Technology, Dimitris Nanopoulos, Chairman of the National Council of Research and Technology and Vassilis Makios of the University of Patras who is establishing cluster technology companies in Greece.

For more information:
http://www.israelgateway.com/_Articles/Article.asp?ArticleID=189&CategoryID=12
http://www.export.gov.il/Eng/_Articles/Article.asp?ArticleID=2614&CategoryID=534