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Focused on the challenges and opportunities emerging in the era of Artificial Intelligence and deep tech, the student conference “Engineering the World” was held in Athens from April 28 to 30, organized by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), with “Data Scarcity” in cutting-edge technologies as its central theme.

Professor Ioannis Emiris, Chairman of the Board and Director General of Athena Research Center, participated in the conference session entitled “Innovators Blueprint”, alongside distinguished figures from the fields of research, investment, and innovation, including Dr. George Nounesis, Markos Veremis, Vasilis Nikolopoulos, and Katerina Glava.

During the discussion, Prof. Emiris highlighted the critical role of fundamental research and human capital in the development of Artificial Intelligence and deep-tech technologies, placing particular emphasis on the importance of data quality and organization. As he noted, the success of AI applications depends to a large extent on the proper management and utilization of reliable data, as demonstrated by landmark cases such as AlexNet and AlphaFold.

He also referred to Greece’s potential to develop internationally competitive solutions in sectors where the country holds comparative advantages, stressing that the development of deep-tech solutions requires the creation of strong ecosystems combining infrastructure, data, software, financing, and operational deployment.

The President of Athena Research Center further emphasized the important role of the Greek diaspora and international experience, noting that the mobility of young scientists can become a significant advantage for the country, provided that the right conditions for “brain gain” are established.

Addressing younger generations of scientists, Prof. Emiris underlined that the transition from theoretical knowledge to the development of real-world products requires interdisciplinary thinking, collaboration, and continuous experimentation. At the same time, he stressed the importance of a supportive environment for young researchers and entrepreneurs, highlighting the role of research centers as spaces for developing and testing new ideas that can effectively bridge research, innovation, and real-world applications.

Athena Research Center’s participation in the conference highlighted the significant role it plays within the research and innovation ecosystem in Greece and internationally, as well as its contribution to the advancement of cutting-edge technologies with tangible benefits for society and the economy.