Larissa, 6 November 2023

The first meeting of the Innovation Team, which was established and formed to support the General Secretariat of Public Administration in the formulation of the National Action Plan for Innovation in the Public Sector, took place on Friday, November 3, 2023, at the premises of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) Health Hub, within JOIST Innovation Park, in Larissa.

The Innovation Team, composed of representatives of the Ministries of Interior, Digital Governance and Development and Investment, the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities, the Union of Regions and the newly established European Digital Innovation Hubs, met in the presence of the Secretary General of Public Administration of the Ministry of Interior Dimitris Kirmikiroglou. The main objective of the meeting was the coordination and promotion of cooperation between the above-mentioned bodies for the implementation of the policy framework of the Innovation System in the Public Sector, as established by Law 5027/2023.

The Innovation Team focused on the challenges and planning of its work to prepare the first National Action Plan for Innovation in the Public Sector.

In particular, the representatives discussed the following topics:

• The role of European Digital Innovation Hubs in the Public Sector Innovation Ecosystem,
• The presentation of the provisions of Law 5027/2023, “Introduction of the Innovation System in the public sector…” and the next steps for its implementation,
• The process of innovation production in the public sector and the support of civil servants in their work through the development of an innovation toolkit,
• The implementation of the Acceleration Programmes in the Public Sector Innovation System for the development of innovative public services,
• The integration of the institution of innovation workshops in the operation of the public sector to develop the skills of civil servants and improve the flow of information and knowledge generated in public institutions,
• The next steps for the organisation of the first Innovation Forum and the National Innovation and Prototype Competition, which are planned to be held in the next period of time under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior.

Concluding the meeting, the Secretary General of Public Administration, Mr. Dimitris Kirmikiroglou, expressed his confidence in the newly established Group, saying: “I believe that this Innovation Team will soon bring tangible results and encourage civil servants to innovate in a way that is perceived by citizens. The Civil Service can change and inspire its people to get motivated by focusing on the open and collaborative dimension of innovation so that citizens can enjoy the greatest possible benefits.“

The first meeting of the Innovation Team was attended by:

• Christos Kokkalas, Head of Innovation and Best Practices Department, Ministry of Interior / General Secretariat of Public Administration,
• Irini Kougia, Associate of the Secretary General of Public Administration, Ministry of Interior,
• Ekaterini Panagiotopoulou, Employee, Administrative Finance, Department of Research & Innovation Planning & Programming of the Department C of Innovation Planning, General Secretariat for Research & Innovation/Ministry of Development
• Konstantia Govari, Employee, Administrative Economist, Research and Innovation Planning & Programming Division, Department A’ Planning & Programming, General Secretariat for Research & Innovation / Ministry of Development,
• Georgios Chalkias, Director of ITEK-PE of Administrative Economics, Seconded to a Special Scientific Staff Position at the National Centre for Public Administration and Local Government, National Centre for Public Administration and Local Government,
• Alexandros Kourtesis, Head of the Research and Innovation Department of the Documentation, Research and Innovation Institute (ITEK), National Centre for Public Administration and Local Government,
• Sotiria Mamai, Head of the Department of Digital Accessibility and Social Affairs of the Directorate of Digital Strategy, TE IT, Ministry of Digital Governance / General Secretariat for Information Systems & Digital Governance / General Directorate for Digital Governance,
• Liana Grigoriadou, Head of the Department B Monitoring of Sectoral Projects of the Directorate of Sectoral Projects of the Public Sector, TE IT, Ministry of Digital Governance / General Secretariat for Information Systems & Digital Governance / General Directorate for Digital Governance,
• Gavriel Kouyianos, Director of IT Documentation & IT Development, Central Union of Municipalities of Greece,
• Georgios Vlachos, Regional Councillor of Attica, Union of Greek Regions,
• Nikolaos Ploskas, Faculty Member (Associate Professor) at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, SYNERGiNN Hub / University of Western Macedonia,
• Maria Michalopoulou, Member of the DUTH Council, Faculty Member of DUTH, Coordinator of EDIH, DigiAgriFood, Democritus University of Thrace,
• Periklis Terlixidis, Executive Director, Smart Attica EDIH (AHEDD) / NCSR “DEMOKRITOS”
• Konstantina Kanellopoulou, Associate Researcher, Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications, Smart Attica EDIH / NCSR “DEMOKRITOS”,
• Tasos Vassiliadis, President and Founder, Entrepreneurship Development Institute / JOIST Innovation Park,
• Maria Pournari, Executive Director, Member of the Planning & Programme Implementation Department, Health Hub / Institute for Entrepreneurship Development,
• Thomas Halatsis, Member of the Department of Programme Design & Implementation, Health Hub / Institute for Entrepreneurship Development
• Ioannis Kotsis-Giannarakis, Associate of the Digital Transformation & Digital Capabilities Division of EDYTE, GR-Digi-GOV-Inno HUB / EDYTE,
• Ekaterini Kyprianou, Head of Digital Capability Development, Digital Transformation & Digital Capabilities Division, EDYTE, GR-Digi-GOV-Inno HUB / EDYTE,
• Dimitrios Katehakis, Head of e-Health Applications & Services Centre, FORTH Institute of Informatics, Smart HEALTH / Foundation for Research & Technology-Hellas, Institute of Informatics,
• Ioannis Dimakopoulos, Director of Fluid Mechanics and Rheology Laboratory, Easy HPC / University of Patras
• Gerasimos Mentzelopoulos, Chemical Engineer, Director / Project Manager, Easy HPC

The meeting was also attended by invited experts:

• Dr. Leonidas Anthopoulos, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Business Administration, University of Larissa,
• Anastasia Tsartsara, Head of the Internal Affairs, Digital Governance, Justice and Institutions Sector, General Secretariat for Coordination.