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The impact of technological progress on the economy and society was the central theme of the 3rd Future Unfold | Framing the Future of Technology, an initiative by Grant Thornton Greece, which has now been established as one of the most important forums for discussing the future of technology and innovation in Greece. The event took place with great success on December 2, 2025, at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall.

 

Distinguished figures from the fields of industry, energy, construction, information technology, innovation, economics, as well as academia participated in the discussions and the fruitful dialogue that emerged. The talks focused on ways in which new technologies can shape the future of key sectors in the country through collaboration, foresight, and a shared vision, with the aim of empowering human capital and strengthening trust. The conference was attended by important business and government leaders, including Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, and the CEO of Bespoke SGA Holdings and President of SEV, Spyros Theodoropoulos.

 

Of particular note was the presence of Professor Minos Garofalakis, Director of the Information Management Systems Institute (IMSI) at the Athena Research Center, in the session titled: “In-depth Sector Analysis: Technological Transformation Across the Industrial Spectrum.” Mr. Garofalakis presented a comprehensive view of how Artificial Intelligence can contribute substantially to the productivity of both businesses and the public sector, emphasizing that large AI models require high technical expertise and access to modern infrastructures. He specifically referred to the “PHAROS” and “DAEDALUS” computing infrastructures, through which the country’s productivity and competitiveness can be strengthened.

 

Mr. Garofalakis highlighted that Greece has excellent researchers with international recognition and that a critical challenge is the transfer of Greek research into innovative enterprises that operate and generate impact within the country. He also emphasized the importance of data quality as a fundamental prerequisite for developing reliable AI models, raising key questions about potential distortions, biases, and the transparency of the outputs produced by these models.

 

He made special reference to medical data, stressing the need for strict privacy protection and the development of techniques that ensure the security of sensitive information. Despite the maturity of technological capabilities for safeguarding sensitive data, he noted that a gap still exists between the solutions technology can offer and the current regulatory framework based on GDPR which makes the adoption of innovative applications more difficult.

 

The conference brought together representatives from banks (Eurobank, Alpha Bank, Piraeus Bank), industry and energy (METLEN, TITAN), technology companies (Microsoft), and public authorities (IAPR), while the research and academic sector was represented by the Athena Research Center, reflecting the multifaceted nature of the digital transition.