09:00 – 09:30 | Registration and Welcome Coffee

Kick off the event with coffee and networking opportunities as attendees arrive.

09:30 – 9:45 | Welcoming Speeches by Host Organisations

Speakers: Jai Mexis (Founder of Odyssea), Christina Achilleos (Founder of InnoEUsphere)

09:45 – 10:00 | Official Opening and Welcoming from the Municipality of Thessaloniki

Speaker: Representative from the Municipality of Thessaloniki

10:00 – 11:00 | Speed-dating

Meet and network: All attendees pitch their organisation profiles and areas of interest in a 5’ pitch session per organisation

11:00 – 11:30 | Thessaloniki Innovation Zone 

Ecosystem activator: Presentation by Stella Psaropoullou (Programme Management Officer)

11:30 – 12:30 | Pitch Sessions: Innovators on Stage 

Panel discussion on EU funding and how it transforms sectors at the intersection of academia and industry.

Moderator: Alexandra Pavlou (InnoEUsphere)

Speakers from industry: Jai Mexis (Founder of Odyssea), Stelios Procopiou (Director of Chrysalis Leap)

Speakers from academia: Manos Pavlakis (Acting Coordinator of M.A. in Educational Administration & Leadership Frederick University), Marina Stamatiadou (PhD Researcher Journalism and Mass Communication -Quality Management Shazaam Project – AUTh), Yiannis Charchantis (Founder & President Infinity Greece)

12:30 – 14:00 | Lunch Break

Enjoy lunch and open networking.

14:00 – 15:30 | Workshop: Funding the Future

Christina Achilleos (Founder of InnoEUsphere) & Konstantinos Potsis (Product Owner at Funding Gate) 

Focus: Strategies for securing European funding for collaborative projects.
Format: Open discussion with practical takeaways.

15:30 – 16:00 | Wrap-Up, Q & A and Networking

Summary and key takeaways of the day’s activities.

Presenters: Jai Mexis

10:00 – 10:30 | Morning Coffee and Networking 

A casual networking opportunity to start the day.

10:30 – 12:00 | Interactive Panel 

Topic: Cracking the Code of European Innovation: Insights, Opportunities, and Real-World Impact
Format: A dynamic exchange featuring experts from EU funding bodies, academia, and industry, offering actionable advice and thought-provoking perspectives.
Speakers:

Dr. Panagiotis Rodothenous (Post Doctoral MSCA – Co-fund fellow at UCY)
Dr. Fotis Chatzipapadopoulos (CEO of SmartAgroHub)
Dr. Nicholas Vretos (Research Fellow CERTH)

12:00 – 13:00 | Workshop: Innovation in Action 

Focus: Hands-on session exploring innovation processes and best practices.
Facilitator: Nasos Koskinas (POS4Work)

13:00 – 14:30 | Speed Dating 

Companies and organizations showcase their projects and services in an exhibition-style format, providing further networking opportunities. Optional demo stage available for live pitches.

14:30 – 15:00 | Closing Session

Wrap-up of the event with reflections, future steps, and a call to action.
Final Reflections: Jai Mexis