Today should be considered a special day for the Greek Defence Industry, as the Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Material Association (SEKPY) seeks to overarch the University Institutions with the Defence Industry of Greece.

SEKPY has long initiated a systematic effort in order for this project to be established on solid foundations and to ensure its sustainability.

This effort is now realized at the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) in an event jointly organized by SEKPY and AUTH in view of an emblematic cooperation between SEKPY and the Academic Community.

Specifically, in full cooperation with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Macedonia, the International Hellenic University, the Democritus University of Thrace, the University of Ioannina, the University of Western Macedonia, and EKETA, SEKPY announced the formation of the “Hellenic Defence,  Higher Education, and Research Cluster” known as “DefencEduNet”.

In fact, this is the first institutionalized initiative for the overarching of Hellenic Academic Institutions with the Greek Defence Industry, which has been a solid position of SEKPY, but also an immense need for the country’s Defence.

Also read: CYPSEC 2021 | Interview of Mr. Tassos Rozolis, President of Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Material Association (SEKPY) to DЯ

Among the objectives of this initiative are:

• Enhancing the scientific cooperation of the Hellenic Academic Institutions and Research Centers with the defence industry for the benefit of the Hellenic Armed Forces, the National Economy, and the Scientific Community
• The promotion of research, innovation, and joint actions, expanding the production and new technologies
• Strengthening the research and development mechanisms of Universities and Research Centers for the development of European defence technology, while increasing the participation of scientific potential in European programs and initiatives, such as the European Defence Fund
• The promotion of the cooperation of the domestic scientific and technological potential with that of the Universities and Research Centers of the Balkan countries.

Also, Western Macedonia will have an important role in the said cluster, in order to evolve into a modern center of knowledge and technology production, capable of responding to the challenges of de-lignitization, attracting significant investments in this sector.

According to exclusive information, the Cluster will thus create an incubator in Western Macedonia to welcome businesses and research groups from both Greece and the Balkan Peninsula.

Also read: IHU | Signs Memorandum of Cooperation with Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Material Association (SEKPY)

The DEFENCE ReDEFiNED team will revert with more relevant information, which is drastically changing the landscape in the defence sector of Greece.