Moderator: Nicole Kazantzidou, journalist

Speakers:
– Panagiotis Theodorikakos, Minister of Interior
– Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of European Commission
– Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Development and Investments
– Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Minister of Digital Governance

Welcome speeches/presentations by governmental representatives from Balkans
– Liviu Rogojinaru, State Secretary of Economy, Energy and the Business Environment, Romania
– Goran Milevski, Minister of Local Self-Government, Republic of North Macedonia

2.1. The EU role in supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Moderator: Ignatiadis Spyros, General Director of Greek Exporters Association (SEVE)

Speakers (8΄):
– Georgios Kavvathas, President of Hellenic Confederation of Professionals Craftsmen & Merchants (GSΕVEE), Greece
– Aleksandar Stevanovic, President of the SASME Economic Council, Serbia
– Lakassas Dimitrios, Ex President of Greek Exporters Association (SEVE), Greece
– PhD Mladen Perazic, Director of the Department for Education and Quality, Montenegro
– Florin Jianu, President of National Council of Small and Medium Sized Private Enterprises (CNIPMMR), Romania

2.2. Business Ecosystems Institutions and Infrastructures

Moderator: Nikos Katsiadakis, Electrical Engineer, MSc in Management of Production Systems, CERTH Extroversion Unit

Speakers (8΄):
– Vladimir Velichkovski, Head of Department for support of business sector, Center for development of Pelagonija Planning Region, Republic of North Macedonia
– Aristotelis Spiliotis, Bank’s Secretary General, Black Sea Trade & Development Bank, Greece
– Dr.-Ing. Matthias Kuenzel, Programme Director, Dept.Future Mobility and Europe, VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, Germany
– Jelena Stojovic, NALED, Serbia

Moderator: Ivana Lazic, Interact programme

Speakers (8΄):
– Georgios Zervos, Special Secretary for European Regional Development Fund, Ministry of Development & Investments, Greece
– Dr. Ioannis Bakouros, University of Western Macedonia, Regional Development and Cross Border Studies, Greece
– Zulieta Gjurkova, Head, Centre for development of the South-East planning region, Republic of North Macedonia
– George Emmanuel, General Director, Ministry of Interior Sector Macedonia and Thrace, Greece
– Sanda Simic, Head of Division, Ministry of European Integration, Government of the Republic of Serbia
– Lodovico Gherardi, Coordinator of the Managing Authority Unit, Italy

4.1. Regional research and innovation policies and programmes.

Moderator: Fokion Tzourdas, Chief Commercial Officer of Thessaloniki Innovation & Technology Center, Thess INTEC

Speakers (8΄):
– Georgia Valatsou, Permanent Secretary General, Ministry of Interior, Greece
– Adrijana Bogdanovska Gj. PhD, MBA, Director, Center for Knowledge Management, Republic of North Macedonia
– Eleni Kallinikou, Head of the Bureau of the Permanent Secretary General, Ministry of Interior, Greece
– Dr. Antonios Karvounis, EGTCs National Contact Point, Ministry of Interior, Greece
– Styliani Kostopoulou, Professor, School of Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
– PhD. Mirela Koci PhD, Executive Director of AULEDA- Local Economic Development Agency Albania

4.2. Boosting innovative technology infrastructure in the Balkan region: Current situation and future possibilities

Moderator: Kyriakos Loufakis, President of Alexander Innovation Zone S.A

Speakers (8΄):
– Prof. Dr. Radmil M. Polenakovikj, Director of Business Start-up Centre Faculty of Mechanical Engineering University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” & President of National Center for Development of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning, Republic of North Macedonia
– Dr. Paris Kokorotsikos, IASP Expert
– Todor Mladenov, Executive Director “Sofia Tech Park” Jsc Sofia, Bulgaria
– Dr. Georgia Aifadopoulou, Board Member of Technology Center Thess INTEC, Greece

5.1. Transition towards sustainable energy and environmental future practices

Moderator:  Prof. Nicolas Moussiopoulos, Director of Energy Department, School of Mechanical Engineering – Aristotle University Thessaloniki

Speakers (8΄):
– George Kremlis, Honorary Director, European Commission & Principal Adviser to the Prime Minister for energy, climate, environment & circular Economy
– Prof. Agis M. Papadopoulos, Chairman of the Board EYATH S.A.
– Dr. Marija Kacarska, Professor, Ss Cyril and Methodius” University. Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, Republic of North Macedonia
– Teodora Polimerova, Director of directorate “Climate, energy and quality”, Sofia Municipality, Bulgaria

5.2. Supporting green growth, entrepreneurship and circular economy through cooperation in the Balkans

Moderator: Prof. Maro Vlachopoulou, Professor of Digital Marketing & e- Business, University of Macedonia

Speakers (8΄):
– Emmanuil Vlachogiannis, First Vice President, Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Greece
– Jovan Despotovski, Director of FITD, Republic of North Macedonia
– Armida Hemeling, Chair South Eastern Europe at German RETech Partnership e.V. and CEO of Goduni International, Germany
– Petar Petrov PhD, University of Forestry, Bulgaria