News

More than 70 professionals from companies, organizations, and institutions in the Thessaloniki area gathered on the evening of Monday, September 9, at the multipurpose space Υpsilon to take part in the open discussion organized by the Athena Research Center, titled “LLMs Made in Greece: From Research to Business".

 

In a dialogue where scientific insight met strategic thinking and market needs, the audience had the opportunity to hear from experienced researchers, entrepreneurs, and tech professionals who shared practical applications, development experiences, and open questions about the future of Greek-speaking Large Language Models (LLMs).

 

The event was opened by Vassilis Katsouros, Director of the Institute for Language and Speech Processing (ILSP) of Athena Reserarch Center, who outlined the international LLM landscape and set the stage for the discussion: why and how Greece can strategically invest in the development of Greek language models.

 

Following that, Maria Giagkou, Language Technology Specialist at Athena, addressed the gap between hype and business reality, identifying key barriers such as high costs, language adaptation challenges, and lack of training. She also presented several projects and initiatives supported by Athena that help businesses explore AI solutions with reduced financial risk.

 

Next, Sokratis Sofianopoulos, senior research collaborator at Athena and one of the lead contributors to the Greek LLMs Meltemi and Krikri, presented the technological challenges and potential of developing such models. He emphasized the need for high expertise, technical readiness, computational infrastructure, and long-term sustainability strategies in a highly competitive field.

 

The panel discussion that followed brought together representatives of companies already developing or applying LLM-based solutions, highlighting the technology’s potential across sectors such as energy, health, culture, and tech entrepreneurship. Participants included:

During the discussion, panelists addressed critical questions regarding the evolution and sustainability of the Greek LLM ecosystem. Topics included how SMEs and under-resourced organizations can access and benefit from LLMs, the importance of Greek-language datasets in model training, and how to ensure quality and ethical use. The role of public administration and EU regulations was also debated, whether they enable or hinder innovation. The interplay between research and entrepreneurship was highlighted, emphasizing the need for infrastructure that supports the continuous development of Greek language technologies.

 

Speakers shared how LLMs are already transforming multiple domains from smart energy applications and healthcare interoperability to cultural heritage documentation and startup growth strategies powered by generative AI.

 

As the event concluded, it became clear that collaboration between research and industry is key to developing impactful, sustainable LLM-based solutions. These partnerships act as catalysts for innovation and growth in the emerging Greek AI ecosystem.

 

Photos available here.