Enterprise Greece at the 5th Emerging Tech Forum of HETiA
Enterprise Greece at the 5th Emerging Tech Forum of HETiA
Greece as an Emerging Hub for Space Technologies
Athens, 18 December 2025 | Enterprise Greece actively participated in the 5th Emerging Tech Forum of the Hellenic Emerging Technologies Industry Association (HETiA), which took place on 11 December 2025 in Athens. As every year, it took part in a fireside chat aimed at highlighting the momentum and prospects of high-technology foreign direct investment in Greece.
The discussion focused on the space technologies sector, with emphasis on the significant growth recorded in recent years in Greece and on the country’s prospects to emerge as a regional hub for research, development, and selective production of space applications. The discussion featured Mr. Vassilis Chaloulakos, CEO of ICEYE Hellas, representing one of the most dynamic international players in the small satellite sector.
ICEYE was founded in 2014 as a spin-off of Aalto University in Finland. The company developed the pioneering Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology for small satellites, which is internationally used in strategic Earth observation applications such as security, defence, environmental monitoring, and natural disaster management. Today, ICEYE has launched more than 60 satellites, employed approximately 1,000 people and operated in 10 countries, while already maintaining a production facility in Greece, with plans for further expansion.
During the fireside chat, it was highlighted that Greece has already launched the first five small satellites of a broader national programme, two of which were built in the country by ICEYE. This development confirms the capacity of the Greek ecosystem to support complex, high-technology projects. At the same time, it was underlined that Greece offers an attractive investment environment, targeted incentives and a highly skilled talent pool.
Mr. Chaloulakos noted that in the coming years ICEYE aims to establish Greece as one of its key Research and Development centres, stressing that the country can play a pivotal role in supporting space programmes in neighbouring markets as well. As he characteristically stated, the company’s goal is for Greece to evolve into a hub for the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region, leveraging the growing technological ecosystem and its potential for further maturation through appropriate financing and market development.
The CEO of ICEYE also emphasised the decisive role of Enterprise Greece as a catalyst for the company’s further growth in the country, highlighting its contribution to connecting with institutional stakeholders and supporting complex B2G activities.
Enterprise Greece’s participation in the 5th Emerging Tech Forum reaffirms its steady and active role in promoting Greece as a hub for technological development, connecting international investors with the Greek ecosystem and supporting investments that strengthen innovation, extroversion, and the long-term competitiveness of the Greek economy.
The CEO of Enterprise Greece, Dr. Marinos Giannopoulos, stated: “Greece is entering a phase of strategic development in the field of space technologies, where the ecosystem’s momentum is reflected not only in the number of satellites or investments, but in the capability for integrated research, development, and high-technology production. Within this framework, Enterprise Greece supports international investors with data and measurable indicators, offering guidance and credibility, so that every investment aligns with the country’s strategic priorities and enhances the sustainable growth of the technological ecosystem.”