On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the event organized by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) “AI in Action for Greek Businesses.”
With the aim of providing reliable information and practical support to Greek businesses in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the event focused on presenting practical applications, highlighting the business value of AI, and analyzing the implementation challenges for EBE members.
The President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Mr. . Yannis Bratakos, in his opening remarks, emphasized that Artificial Intelligence is a catalyst for productivity and noted that “For the Greek economy, this development cannot be approached with either fear or uncritical enthusiasm. It requires seriousness, planning, knowledge, and preparation. We need to view Artificial Intelligence not as a threat, but as a tool; not as a luxury for the few, but as an opportunity that must be made accessible to as many businesses as possible.”
Referring to the transition to a new production model, he noted that artificial intelligence can become a powerful catalyst for every industry, helping everything from “a small business to better organize its processes, to a medium-sized business to leverage its data and reduce costs or improve customer service, as well as an industrial facility to enhance the quality and efficiency of its production. “But technology alone is not enough. The critical issue is the ability to adapt. It’s about skills. It’s about managerial maturity. It is access to knowledge,” emphasized Mr. Bratakos.
In this context, the President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) highlighted the role of the Chamberas a link between the market and technology, prioritizing the dissemination of knowledge across the entire spectrum of business. “At the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we believe that technological progress must be linked to the real economy. It must reach businesses that produce, export, invest, employ workers, and take risks. Artificial Intelligence must also become a priority for small and medium-sized enterprises. “The challenge before us is clear: to transform knowledge into application and technological capability into productive results,” said Mr. Bratakos.
The first panel of the event analyzed strategies for integrating AI into business structures. Participants included Dr. Fotis Filippopoulos, KPMG, Mr. Andreas Botsikas, PwC, Mr. Ioannis Larios, Deloitte, and Dr. George Matsopoulos, National Technical University of Athens. The panel moderator, Ms. Anastasia Manou, Member of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Board of Directors and Head of the Education, New Technologies, and Vocational Training Sector, stated: “As the head of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (ACCI) Education and Innovation Division, I see the gap between potential and reality every day: while nearly one in two citizens is already using artificial intelligence tools, Greek small and medium-sized enterprises remain hesitant. It is precisely this gap that we aim to bridge. Our mission is to provide SMEs with the inspiration, knowledge, and confidence they need to take that first step. Through training, practical examples, and guidance, we want artificial intelligence to cease to seem inaccessible and become an everyday tool for growth. Because innovation is not the privilege of the few—it is an opportunity for everyone.”
The second panel focused on practical case studies, legal frameworks, and data governance. Participants included Mr. Vasilis Toulias, AKTOR Group; Dr. Ioannis Koimtzoglou, Athens University of Economics and Business; Mr. Konstantinos Tsolis, Accenture, Mr. Ilias Vyzás, EY Greece, and Mr. Panagiotis Garantziotis, Kiefer SA. The panel moderator, Mr. Nikos Douros, Member of the Education, New Technologies, and Vocational Training Sector of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), CEO & Co-Founder | Quantum Optima, stated: “The high caliber of the presentations by leading companies highlighted a clear conclusion: Greece already has a dynamic Artificial Intelligence ecosystem, with knowledge, experience, and practical applications that can help every Greek business become more productive, outward-looking, and competitive. At the same time, the European regulatory framework provides the foundation for the safe, transparent, and compliant implementation of AI. The Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), under the strategic guidance of President Mr. Bratakos and the Board of Directors, will continue to actively support its member companies in leveraging Artificial Intelligence and will announce its next steps very soon.”
