The enhanced political dialogue regarding the national Research and Innovation system was the main theme of a meeting held on Monday, July 11, 2022, at the Ministry of Development and Investments.
The meeting was attended by Jean-Eric Paquet, General Director of Research and Innovation of the European Commission, and Julien Guerrier, Director of the European Innovation Council and Executive Office of Enterprise Media. Adonis Georgiadis, The Minister of Development and Investments, Christos Dimas, the Deputy Minister of Research and Innovation, as well as Athanasios Kyriazis, the Secretary General of Research and Innovation, were also present.
The dialogue was attended by representatives of the six Greek municipalities participating in the Cities Mission. The Municipality of Kozani was represented by John Tziouras (Mayor’s Consultant). There also was Mrs Konstantina Siountri (special advisor of the general secretary of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, responsible for the Cities Mission).
Mr. Paquet and Mr. Guerrier talked about the central role that research and innovation are expected to play in the European Mission of “100 Climate Neutral and Smart Cities”. The director general of Research and Innovation of the European Commission underlined that municipalities are encouraged to develop cooperation with each other, as well as with the country’s research community, aiming to strengthen research and innovation while participating in research programs.
The Municipalitites’ representatives presented the problems they face regarding their actions’ financing, the institutional obstacles and the ability to respond to the Mission’s requirements, due to lack of staff. In this direction, they received the verbal commitment of the European officials that the Commission will support the Municipalities so that this Mission succeeds.
