Pharos AI Factory will be presented by Dimitris Katsianis, Deputy Chairman of GRNET and Assistant Professor at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, at the Conference “Harnessing Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Enhance Education, Employment, and Environmental Sustainability” hosted by the SEDEC Commission of the European Committee of the Regions.
Dates: 16 June 2025
Location: Hotel AX The Palace in Sliema, Malta
Assistant Prof. Katsianis will represent Pharos during Session 2: AI for Smart and Sustainable Regions (10:50–11:50), a panel focused on AI’s role in enabling smart cities, promoting urban sustainability, and addressing climate change. The session will explore how AI is increasingly being used to enhance climate resilience, support sustainable urban planning, and strengthen environmental governance. Topics will include the use of predictive analytics and intelligent decision-support systems to improve energy efficiency, optimize resource management, and inform local climate action strategies.
In his intervention, D. Katsianis will highlight how Pharos, the Greek AI Factory, will strengthen regional AI ecosystems in Greece and Southeast Europe. He will emphasize efforts to support equal access to AI infrastructure across the country, including developments in Western Macedonia, and the importance of cross-border collaboration with countries like Cyprus, North Macedonia, and Serbia. He will also reflect on how such cooperation enhances innovation and sustainability, and share insights from Greece’s approach to aligning AI infrastructure with regional development priorities.
The session brings together distinguished experts from academia, industry, and public institutions to present real-world AI applications in environmental initiatives.
Speakers:
- Alberto Cirio, President of the Piedmont Region, CoR Rapporteur on AI, Chair of ECON commission, European Committee of the Region
- Professor Joel Azzopardi, University of Malta
- Carlos Torrecilla, Head of Unit “Innovation policies and economic impact”, Joint Research Center, European Commission
- Professor Dimitris Katsianis, National University of Athens, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Network for Technology and Research Infrastructures (GRNET SA) – Pharos, the Greek AI factory
- Josianne Cutajar, former Member of the European Parliament, Malta
More information and livestream can be found here.
