Greece's Deputy Minister for Development, responsible for Innovation and Research, Stavros Kalafatis, has called for artificial intelligence to be widely embedded across both society and business, arguing that companies of all sizes must be equipped to innovate.
In an interview with Voria, he described the technological shift as unavoidable, stating: "The question is not whether the way we do business will change, but whether we will be the architects or the victims of this transformation. We have a responsibility to respond with boldness and vision."
Read more: How is AI used by Greece’s hotel sector - and why are most yet to adopt it?
Figures cited by the deputy minister indicate that more than 400,000 businesses in Greece are already using AI solutions, with adoption up by 55% over the past year, described as the second-highest growth rate in Europe. He added that 89% of businesses that have adopted AI report revenue increases, with an average rise of 18%.
Kalafatis also highlighted Greece's national AI strategy, noting that the country is among the first to implement a comprehensive plan aligned with the European Union's AI Act. "We are not complacent, but we still have a long way to go, and we are working intensively with the innovation ecosystem," he said.
He highlighted northern Greece's leading role in this effort, with Thessaloniki emerging as a technology hub in Southeast Europe. Central to this development is the new AI Nucleus research centre, part of CERTH 2.0, which he said is helping drive the city's evolution into a "technology capital" of the region.
In his interview with Voria, Kalafatis described artificial intelligence as a turning point of historic scale, stating, "We are at one of the most decisive crossroads in human history, and this time it is not an exaggeration." He said AI is "a new culture and a new way of thinking, an exponential transformation" advancing faster than previous industrial revolutions.
Citing Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind, Kalafatis said AI's impact could be "10 times greater and faster than the industrial revolution", while international studies estimate its contribution to global GDP could exceed 15 trillion dollars by 2030.
Kalafatis stressed that AI is already embedded in everyday life, "from internet searches and healthcare to education and public services", with what he described as a "silent but universal" penetration. He highlighted that Greece ranks first in the EU for AI tool usage among young people at 83.5%, calling this a key national asset. He added: "We have a responsibility to respond with boldness and vision."
According to Kalafatis, companies integrating AI achieve four times the productivity growth of competitors, while "89% of businesses that adopted AI report revenue increases", averaging 18%. He cited examples ranging from AR and VR applications in industry to logistics optimisation and personalised services in fintech and e-commerce.
At the same time, Kalafatis acknowledged challenges, particularly skills shortages. He said 75% of European employers struggle to fill AI-related roles, while 41% of workers in Greece recognise the need to develop their skills further, adding that "the keyword is specialisation". He linked this to the government's strategy, which focuses on education, training and partnerships with companies such as OpenAI, Google and Mistral AI.
Kalafatis also outlined policy measures to support innovation, including startup funding, tax incentives for research and development, and rising venture capital investment, which he said increased by 722% in 2025. He added that major infrastructure projects, such as the "AI Pharos" factory and the "Daedalus" supercomputer, are underway.
Focusing on northern Greece, Kalafatis said the region "is now leading in practice", with Thessaloniki developing into a regional technology hub centred on the AI Nucleus research centre. He cited applied research projects, including a traffic-prediction system with 93% accuracy that reduces congestion by 10-15%, benefiting around 600,000 citizens annually. He concluded that northern Greece "has found its role", delivering practical, technology-driven solutions to real-world problems.
by Lazaros Theodorakidis - adapted from Greek by Vassia Barba
First published in Voria.gr special edition on AI - See the print version here
