Greece – Austria Bridge of Innovation & Investments in Technology 2025

Athens, March 21, 2024 – Greece is solidifying its position as a high-tech investment destination, as demonstrated at the “Greece-Austria Business Forum: A Hidden Gem of Creativity, Innovation, and Tech in SEE” held on March 11 in Vienna. The event, initiated by the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO) and the trade promotion agency Advantage Austria, brought together more than 50 Austrian entrepreneurs and investors, highlighting the significant developments that make Greece a key player in innovation and investments.

During the forum, Mr. Ilias Iliadis, Director of Investment Promotion at Enterprise Greece in the fields of Industry, Technology, and Innovation, highlighted the significant investment prospects of the Greek market. He focused on the dynamic growth of the technology ecosystem, the rapid development of start-ups, and the attractive and robust investment incentives that strengthen Greece’s position as an emerging hub for international investments, particularly in innovation, research, and development.

Mr. Iliadis also provided an in-depth overview of the significant and successful efforts made in recent years to modernize and redefine the country’s productive model, focusing on modern technologies, research and development, and innovation as the areas that can make Greece a leading investment power in the broader region of Southeast Europe. This is a fully achievable goal, given the many and important investments made in the country in recent years, both by large tech giants and small to medium-sized foreign companies in areas such as software development, data centers, cybersecurity, health sciences, and more.

Several other speakers also made important contributions regarding the dynamics of Greek Austrian trade relations and the favorable tax and legal environment that promotes investment in Greece. Additionally, the potential of geoinformatics was highlighted, while the panel on start-ups and innovation presented specific examples of successful technological ventures in the country.

Commenting on the Greece-Austria Business Forum, Dr. Marinos Giannopoulos, CEO of Enterprise Greece, stated: “Greece and Austria share a common commitment to innovation and business development. The investment opportunities highlighted at the Forum confirm that our cooperation can serve as a guide for the new era of technological investments in Southeast Europe. The forum simultaneously highlighted the areas that can significantly contribute to the further development of our bilateral investment relations and the increase of foreign direct investment flows between two traditional partners.“