PHAROS AI Factory, Greece’s national ecosystem for accelerating Artificial Intelligence innovation, participated in InnoDays 2025, held from 28 to 30 November 2025 in Crete.
Organized by the Observatory of Innovative Entrepreneurship (IBO) of Crete Region, InnoDays is an annual event that serves as a dynamic meeting point for innovation, entrepreneurship, and research through exhibitions, discussions, and networking activities. The 2025 agenda featured three days of interactive sessions, workshops, and panel discussions on key areas, including Artificial Intelligence, Health and Personalized Medicine, and Startup Entrepreneurship, further reinforcing Crete’s role as a dynamic hub of creativity and technological progress. The event was formally opened by the Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, D. Papastergiou, who delivered the official inauguration of InnoDays 2025.
Prof. D. Plexousakis, Professor at the University of Crete and Head of the Information Systems Laboratory at the Institute of Computer Science (ICS) – FORTH, and Dr. K. Tolias, Director of the National Documentation Centre (EKT), represented PHAROS, joining the panel discussion “Artificial Intelligence: The Opportunity for a Digital Leap in Businesses and Public Administration”.
During the discussion, the PHAROS representatives examined how Artificial Intelligence can act as a catalyst for digital advancement across both the private and public sectors. They presented PHAROS as a national initiative that enables the development of AI solutions by offering robust infrastructure, trusted data resources, and an environment that supports collaboration among research organisations, industry stakeholders, and public bodies. The panel focused on the practical steps needed to harness AI for operational improvement and innovation uptake, highlighting the transformative potential of coordinated AI ecosystems.
In his intervention, Prof. Tolias underlined that effective and trustworthy AI depends on well-structured, secure and usable data, emphasising the need for strong ethical foundations and reliable data-handling practices. He highlighted EKT’s contribution to this direction through its specialised activities in data anonymisation and processing, ensuring both utility and protection of sensitive information. He also noted that PHAROS AI Factory stands as a flagship national infrastructure that supports Greece’s technological autonomy and strengthens its participation in the European AI ecosystem.
Through its participation, PHAROS contributed to a constructive exchange of ideas around the role of Artificial Intelligence in modern organisations. The project’s involvement underscored the importance of coordinated efforts, strong research foundations, and open collaboration in shaping a digital future that supports both public-sector transformation and entrepreneurial growth.
More information about the event, including the full programme and the list of sessions, can be found here.
