AGP Executive Report

Health Research: EU innovation funding is supporting Greek research into treatments for Alzheimer’s and other diseases linked to misfolded proteins. Separately, cholera-associated bacteria were found in the Asopos River, underscoring the need for water monitoring. Energy Links: Seabed surveys are set to resume for the Crete–Cyprus power cable, a key step toward the planned interconnector. Digital Policy: Greece is moving toward a social-media ban for children under 15, with implementation planned for January 2027. Clean Technology: Three Greek projects are among 46 named strategic by the EU to strengthen critical-material supply chains; Metacon has also secured EU support for a project producing high-purity green hydrogen from biogas.

Marine Infrastructure: Greece approved seabed surveys for the Crete–Cyprus electricity link, with the French vessel Abeille Marengo set to map the route; Cyprus expects a navigational warning before month’s end. Biomedical Research: The European Innovation Council is backing Greek project Mini-Me, which uses AI to help develop mini-protein treatments for diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS. Public Health: Researchers detected Vibrio bacteria at five of 12 sites along Greece’s Asopos River, but the findings do not establish that cholera-causing bacteria were present. Digital Policy: Greece is considering a minimum age of 15 for social media use. Clean Energy: Greek company Metacon secured EU funding for a project to produce high-purity renewable hydrogen from biogas.

Autonomous Naval Systems: Greece is seeking at least 30 US-made Corsair sea drones after navy trials, while a new training centre supports its ambition to lead Europe in autonomous maritime technology. Undersea Power Link: Greece is checking whether Greek-flagged ships can survey the route for the Crete–Cyprus electricity cable before deciding whether to grant a French research vessel an exception to work in its waters. Energy Infrastructure: The Alexandroupolis LNG terminal has won a top EU regional award; the project received more than €178 million in European funding and is designed to diversify gas supplies. AI and Rights: An Athens conference put safeguards in focus, with speakers warning that poorly governed AI could deepen inequality and discrimination.

Defence Technology: Greece is moving toward mass production of Navy-built uncrewed surface vessels, while talks with Israel on co-producing LORA missiles have advanced; reports put the system’s potential range above 500 kilometres. Critical Materials: Three Greek projects are among 46 selected by the EU to strengthen access to strategic raw materials and reduce reliance on dominant suppliers. Energy Storage: HELLENiQ ENERGY has launched a €50 million battery-storage project, adding capacity to Greece’s clean-energy infrastructure. Space Communications: Astrolight and Greek university partners have achieved autonomous laser links between space and ground, advancing a home-grown role in satellite communications. Agritech: AI-powered robots in Greece are sorting peaches at a reported rate of 15 tonnes an hour.

Autonomous Defence: Greece plans mass production of its home-designed Pyrpolitis unmanned naval vessel, as it aims to lead Europe in autonomous maritime systems by 2030. Defence Technology: Shield AI and a Greek partner plan a European hub for X-BAT drones, while METLEN and Thales are working together on Greece’s defence satellite communications system. Clean Energy: HELLENiQ ENERGY has launched a €50 million battery-storage project; separately, Greece plans to turn a former coal mine into a 320-megawatt renewable-energy battery. Digital Policy: Greece plans to ban social media for children under 15 from January 2027. Space and Hydrogen: Greek university partners and Astrolight have achieved autonomous space-to-ground laser communications, while Metacon has secured EU funding for a renewable-hydrogen pilot in Crete.

Startup Funding: Cyprus startups raised €112.8 million across 28 deals in 2026, nearing last year’s total; Athens-founded AI voice-agent company Omilia led with a €57.8 million round. Space Technology: METLEN is partnering with Thales Alenia Space and Thales Hellas on Greece’s defence satellite communications system. Clean Energy: Metacon won EU funding for a biomethane-to-hydrogen pilot in Crete, while Agios Efstratios is advancing wind and solar power to reshape its energy supply. Digital Policy: Greece plans to ban social media use for children under 15 from January 2027. Data Infrastructure: New Greek data-centre rules could give energy companies an edge in securing grid access.

Digital Safety: Greece plans to bar children under 15 from social media from January 2027, with platforms responsible for age checks. Parliament is due to debate the bill and vote on 22 October. Space Technology: METLEN, Thales Alenia Space and Thales Hellas are teaming up on Greece’s defence satellite communications system. Clean Energy: Metacon has secured €241,920 in EU funding to demonstrate renewable hydrogen production in Greece. AI and Agriculture: A report on Greek farms highlights robots that can grade 15 tonnes of peaches an hour, showing how automation is entering food production. Digital Infrastructure: Proposed rules for Greek data centres could affect how energy-intensive facilities compete for access to the power grid. Research: A Leiden University scholar argues Greek alphabetic writing may have reached the Aegean around 1050 BC—centuries earlier than the conventional timeline.

Space Technology: METLEN, Thales Alenia Space and Thales Hellas will explore contributions to a Greek defence satellite communications system, including potential use of METLEN’s gallium supply. The agreement is exploratory; no contract has been signed. Clean Energy: Greece’s Metacon has secured an EU grant covering 80% of its share in a project to produce high-purity hydrogen from biogas and capture CO₂, alongside Greek partners BIOGAS LAGKADA, Demokritos and CERTH. Agricultural Research: University of Thessaly scientists are investigating how insects can turn olive-processing waste into animal feed and soil improvers, putting an abundant Greek by-product to use. Digital Policy: The European Commission has proposed barring under-13s from social media and limiting access for younger teens; Greece was among the countries pressing for EU-wide rules.

Greek Health Innovation: Athens-based Armatura will take its nutraceutical product Viusid to the international Prix Galien awards in New York after it was named among 13 global nominees. Clean Energy: Metacon secured a €241,920 EU grant to demonstrate renewable hydrogen production in Greece. Space Technology: Astrolight and Greek university partners have achieved an autonomous space-to-ground laser communications downlink, while the company has also delivered laser links for space communications. Medical Research: Greek scientists are joining the global search for cosmic neutrinos, and a Greek hospital has performed the country’s first leadless pacemaker implant. Banking and AI: National Bank of Greece is investing in AI agents and embedded banking, bringing automation deeper into financial services.

Green Hydrogen: Metacon has secured a €241,920 EU grant to demonstrate renewable hydrogen production in Greece, backing local clean-energy technology. Digital Policy: Greece is among the countries planning new social-media rules for minors, as debate grows over whether age checks and account restrictions can keep children safe online. Medical Technology: A Greek hospital has performed the country’s first leadless pacemaker implant, marking a step forward in less invasive heart care. Space Research: Greek scientists have joined the global hunt for cosmic neutrinos, contributing to research that probes some of the universe’s most elusive particles. AI and Banking: National Bank of Greece is investing in AI agents and embedded banking, bringing automated services deeper into financial products.

Vision Research: An Athens-based ophthalmologist presented a study suggesting ray-tracing-guided laser treatment could ease glare, halos and other visual problems that persist for some patients after cataract surgery. AI & Agriculture: AI-powered robots in Greece can grade up to 15 tonnes of peaches an hour, bringing automation to fruit processing. Computing in Cyprus: A €6 million initiative will expand access to advanced AI and supercomputing resources. Space Technology: Cyprus is investing €13.5 million to grow its role in the space economy. Environmental Research: Greek analysis estimates pharmaceuticals account for 7% of the toxic load in wastewater.

Critical Minerals: The EU’s €21 billion minerals initiative includes a gallium plant in Greece, part of efforts to secure materials for clean energy and technology. Smart Agriculture: AI-powered robots in Greece can grade 15 tonnes of peaches an hour, bringing automation to the fruit industry. Energy Storage: Greece plans to turn the Kardia former coal mine into a 320-megawatt renewable-energy battery, using its pit as a water reservoir. Research: A Greek analysis found pharmaceuticals account for 7% of the toxic load in wastewater. Language Technology: AI is being developed to help preserve Greece’s endangered regional languages, including Tsakonian.

Agricultural AI: Robots in Greece are grading up to 15 tonnes of peaches an hour, bringing high-speed automation to food production. Clean Energy: The Kardia project will turn a former coal mine into a 320-megawatt renewable-energy battery, using its pit as a water reservoir. Critical Materials: The EU has designated Eldorado Gold’s Skouries copper-gold mine a strategic project, recognizing its potential role in securing raw materials for electrification and industry. Space Technology: Astrolight and Greek university partners have begun operational laser downlinks, advancing autonomous communications between spacecraft and ground stations. AI and Health: Greek researchers report a promising drug candidate for Alzheimer’s disease, while AI work is helping document Greece’s endangered regional languages, from Romani to Tsakonian.

Clean Energy: Greece plans to turn a former coal mine into a 320-MW pumped-hydro battery, using its basin as a reservoir to store and generate power. Space Technology: Astrolight and Greek university partners have achieved an autonomous laser communications link from space to the ground. Cybersecurity: A European scan found 8,547 internet-facing systems at wind and solar sites, with Greece among the countries accounting for many of the exposed systems. AI and Language: The Austrian Academy is training AI on 600 million words of Ancient Greek, while Greek researchers are also using AI to preserve endangered regional languages and dialects. Medical Research: A Greek hospital has performed the country’s first leadless pacemaker implant, and Greek scientists are contributing to the international search for cosmic neutrinos.

Ancient Greek, Meet AI: The Austrian Academy of Sciences is training a language model on 600 million words of Ancient Greek to help scholars restore damaged texts and search inscriptions. Space Technology: Astrolight and Greek university partners achieved an autonomous laser communications link from space to the ground, a step toward faster data transmission. Medical Science: A Greek hospital has performed the country’s first leadless pacemaker implant. Research Frontiers: Greek scientists have joined the global search for cosmic neutrinos, spanning detectors in Antarctic ice and the Mediterranean. AI in Greece: Nearly half of Greek businesses now use AI tools, while researchers are also applying AI to Greece’s less widely spoken languages, including Romani and Tsakonian.

Medical Innovation: Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki has performed Northern Greece’s first implant of a leadless dual-chamber pacemaker, offering a new option for patients who may not be suited to conventional devices. Cosmic Research: Greek scientists at Demokritos are part of the KM3NeT neutrino telescope project in the Mediterranean, helping track particles from distant cosmic events. Cybersecurity: Researchers identified 1,860 exposed solar-farm systems in Greece—part of 8,547 systems found across Europe that should not be accessible from the public internet. AI Adoption: A recent report says 47% of Greek businesses now use AI tools, one of the fastest adoption rates in Europe.