Representatives by the Ministry of Development and Investments of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Albania, 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
– Georgios Konstantopoulos, President of Greek Exporters Association (SEVE), Greece, tbc
– Eleonora Negulova, Chairperson of National Association of Small and Medium Business (NASMB), Bulgaria
– Florin Jianu, President of National Council of Small and Medium Sized Private Enterprises (CNIPMMR), Romania – TBC

2.2. Business Ecosystems Institutions and Infrastructures

Moderator: Nikos Katsiadakis, Electrical Engineer, Extroversion and Networking Services Unit of CERTH
Speakers (8΄):
– Vladimir Velichkovski, Head of Department for support of business sector, Center for development of Pelagonija Region, Republic of North Macedonia
– Aristotelis Spiliotis, Bank’s Secretary General, Black Sea Trade & Development Bank, Greece
– Jelena Stojovic, NALED, Serbia
– Dr.-Ing. Matthias Kuenzel, Programme Director, Dept.Future Mobility and Europe, VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, Germany
– Athanasios Savvakis, President of Federation of Industries of Greece (SBE) – TBC

Representatives by M.A. Interreg, BalkanMed, Adrion, DG Regio, academia, national authorities

Speakers (8΄):
– Lodovico Gherardi, Coordinator of the Managing Authority Unit, Italy
– Zulieta Gjurkova, Head, Centre for development of the South-East planning region, Republic of North Macedonia, tbc
– Sand Simic, Assistant Director, Ministry of European Integration, Serbia
– Dr. Ioannis Bakouros, Professor, University of Western Macedonia Faculty of Engineering, Greece
– Niki Dandolou, Special Secretary for ERDC, CF & ESF programmes, Ministry of Development & Investments, Greece, tbc

4.1. Regional research and innovation policies and programmes.

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Nicos Komninos, Urenio Research, Aristotle University Thessaloniki
Speakers (8΄):
– Stratos Stylianidis, Vice Rector for Research and Lifelong Learning, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
– Mirela Koci PhD, Executive Director, Albania, tbc
– Adrijana Bogdanovska Gj. PhD, MBA, Director, Center for Knowledge Management, Republic of North Macedonia
– Vladimir Danailov, Deputy Mayor of Sofia for Digital Transformation, Innovation and Economic Development, Bulgaria, tbc

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
– Todor Mladenov, Executive Director “Sofia Tech Park” Jsc Sofia, Bulgaria
– Paris Kokorotsikos, IASP Expert
– Remus Trandafir, Head of Development of Bucharest MSP Technology Park, Romania, – TBC
– Gordana – Danilovic Grkovic, Director, Belgrade Science and technology park, Serbia – TBC

5.1. Transition towards sustainable energy and environmental future practices

Moderator: Nicolas Moussiopoulos, Professor, 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, tbc
– Athanasios G. Konstandopoulos, Chairman of the Board and Managing Director, CERT Director, Aerosol & Particle Technology Laboratory CERTH/CPERI
– Teodora Polimerova, Director of directorate “Climate, energy and quality”, Sofia Municipality, Bulgaria
– Dr. Marija Kacarska, Professor, Ss Cyril and Methodius” University. Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, Republic of North Macedonia

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

Moderator: Maro Vlachopoulou, Professor of Digital Marketing & e- Business, University of Macedonia
Speakers (8΄):
– Emmanuel Vlachogiannis, First Vice President, Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Greece
– Jovan Despotovski, Director of FITD, Republic of North Macedonia, tbc
– 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, tbc

Moderator: Georgios Theodorakis, Deputy Director of North Greece Branch at German – Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Speakers (8΄):
– George Emmanuel, General Director, Ministry of Interior (sector Macedonia and Thrace), Greece
– Prof. Dr. – Ing Athanassios Kelemis, General Manager and BoM Member, German – Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry
– Holger Hey, Team Leader German Pavilions Worldwide, Koelnmesse GmbH, Germany
– Anastasios Tzikas, President HELEXPO SA – TBC
– Patrick Specht, Head of Division Policy on Fairs and Exhibitions/EXPO Participations, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy – TBC

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