PM MItsotakis at 'Innovative Greeks' conference: 'The current aim is to change its economy'

At the event "Innovative Greeks", organized by the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) and Endeavor Greece, the premier said that the coronavirus pandemic provided an opportunity "to change the way we think"; he illustrated the digital transformation of the public sector with the vaccinations program, which relies on digital infrastructures, such as "booking an inoculation appointment with a simple text message".

The scale of this digital transformation is anything but small, he noted. Key to achieving it, is citizens' trust in the state, which Mitsotakis called "the greatest social capital".

Moreover, he called on Greek scientists and professionals who pursued employment abroad to return, and he pointed out that tax incentives are already being provided in such cases. "Greece's economy will give rise to jobs that will meet these people's aspirations", he noted.

The Prime Minister highlighted that "we must create networks that take advantage of the experience and know-how of Greeks living abroad". He mentioned the health sector as an example, as "we have many talented Greeks in the US in the field of health, or others who are leading companies that produce vaccines". The benefits stemming from the merging of technology into the healthcare industry are many, he underlined.

There is already a system of innovative start-up businesses in Greece and "young people now see that entrepreneurship is not as bad a concept as it was in the past", he noted.

The coronavirus pandemic can become an opportunity to develop the Greek innovation ecosystem, stressed Mitsotakis. The advent of telework allows business people and scientists "to return to the country and work remotely."

Addressing the event, CEO of General Catalyst Nikos Vonatsos said that "we want to work in Greece the same way we work in Silicon Valley". Thanks to technology "we can communicate with our people and our children can carry on with their education", he said, as the pandemic "is a golden opportunity to correct what is wrong and move forward with everyone's participation."

"When I told my colleagues that I was going to Greece they looked at me in a strange way," noted Vonatsos, "but now I can work with them from a Greek island."