In a speech of great political and strategic significance, the Deputy Minister of Development, responsible for Research and Innovation, Stavros Kalafatis, presided over the official closing ceremony of the 1st Greek-French Forum Research and Innovation (1st Franco–Hellenic Research and Innovation Forum), which took place at the French Institute of Greece.
In his remarks, Mr. Kalafatis emphasized that this two-day Forum constitutes the immediate operational response to the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed last April in Athens by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Emmanuel Macron. As he aptly stated, this event epitomizes Science Diplomacy (Science Diplomacy) in action, demonstrating that scientific cooperation is now a critical pillar of foreign policy and European integration.
The 4 Pillars of European & Mediterranean Sovereignty
The Deputy Minister of Development analyzed the strategic alliances forged during the Forum, which focus on four critical areas that bolster European strategic autonomy and stability in the Mediterranean:
- Defense and Dual-Use Technologies (Dual–use): Linking defense industries with leading research centers to foster domestic European excellence.
- Energy and Sustainable Development: Joint development of smart grids and exploration of next-generation solutions, such as clean hydrogen and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
- Health and Biotechnology: Accelerating collaboration between biomedical research and industry for personalized medicine.
- Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies: Mr. Kalafatis placed particular emphasis on AI as the cornerstone of industrial autonomy, highlighting the Greek government’s strategic decision to collaborate with the European Mistral AI.
Open Call for French Investments Across Greece
The Deputy Minister of Development presented the government’s deliberate plan to transform the Greek economy into a knowledge-based model, which permanently reverses the “brain drain” into “brain gain”. Speaking on a personal note, the Deputy Minister remarked: “As someone who has devoted a large part of my political career to the development of Northern Greece, and specifically my hometown, Thessaloniki —which is now emerging as a major technology hub alongside Athens—I am proud that this scientific renaissance is spreading throughout our entire nation. From Macedonia to Attica and Crete, our regions are becoming magnets for international investment.”
At the same time, he issued an open call to French companies to invest aggressively in Greek research hubs, where they will find true “golden opportunities” and a highly skilled workforce. As a concrete example of this excellence, Mr. Kalafatis cited the long-standing collaboration between IPRETEA of EKEFE “Demokritos” with the French organizations CEA and CNRS within the framework of EUROfusion for the ITER reactor, emphasizing that the relationship is so deep that even officers of the French Navy choose Greek laboratories for their specialized scientific training.
The Milestone of the Greek Presidency in 2027
Concluding his speech, Stavros Kalafatis linked the Forum’s conclusions to the near future of the European Union. Noting that exactly one year from today, in July 2027, Greece will assume the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, he pledged that the strategic priorities forged at the Forum (AI governance, defense innovation, energy solutions) will be at the top of the European agenda that Athens will promote.
Finally, Mr. Kalafatis expressed his gratitude to the French Ambassador Laurence Auer and the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation, recalling the deep cultural ties between the two countries on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Greece’s full membership in the International Organization of La Francophonie. He also announced the Ministry of Development’s institutional intention to transform the Forum into a permanent, periodic institution. Echoing the historic slogan of Konstantinos Karamanlis and Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, Mr. Kalafatis concluded his speech by stating: “Today, under the leadership of Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Emmanuel Macron, we proclaim: “Grèce–France–Alliance in Innovation, Technology, and Sovereignty” (Greece – France – Alliance in Innovation, Technology, and Sovereignty).”
