The London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE) was abuzz with discussions and insights on Thursday 14th March, as the Embassy of Greece hosted “The MedTech Scaleup Journey: Opportunities for UK-Greece Collaboration.”
With a line-up of distinguished speakers and engaging panellists, the event shed light on the potential for collaboration between the UK and Greece in the field of medical technology.
The event commenced with welcoming addresses from esteemed figures including H.E. Ioannis Tsaousis, the Ambassador of Greece to the UK, and Prof. Sebastien Ourselin, Head of the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences at King’s College London reflecting on the need for synergies and the contribution of the chosen venue to research and science as well as its links to Greece.
Prof. Athanasios Kyriazis, the General Secretary for Research & Innovation at the Hellenic Ministry for Investment, delivered a keynote address, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in driving innovation forward, highlighting the impressive fund distribution and investment success over the last few years in Greece.
The first panel, moderated by Marina Antoniou, Vice Chair ExCo of the Hellenic Tech Network, delved into the capabilities and opportunities of MedTech scale-ups from Greece. Presentations by industry leaders such as Maggie Athanassiadi, Director at SEV, highlighted the innovation ecosystem in Greece, while Founders and CEOs from Greece Ioannis Gkouzionis, Aisthesis Medical, George Loudos, BioEmTech, Evangelos Pappas RTsafe, Fragiskos Theofylaktos, Elevate Greece, and Harry Yeremtzes, AidPlex, shared insights into their companies’ contributions, operations and innovations.
Following this, a fireside chat moderated by Nicolas Huber, LIHE, featured Greek founders in the UK discussing best practices and lessons learned. The panellists, including Manios Dimitrakakis, Panda Surgical, Maria C. Dunford, Lifebit, Emilia Molimpakis, Thymia provided valuable perspectives on navigating the entrepreneurial landscape.
The event continued with a panel establishing links between Greece and the UK in the MedTech sector, moderated by Tony Kypreos, Advisory Council Member & VP, with Prof. Haris Lambropoulos, Hellenic Development Bank of Investments (HDBI), Maritina Grelloni, Endeavor Greece, Thanasis Kotsanis, Bayer, Ioanna Michalopoulou, Michalopoulou & Associates Law Firm, Alexandros Nousias, Envolve Entrepreneurship, outlining the opportunities for collaboration and investment.
Throughout the evening, common themes emerged, emphasising synergy and collaboration between Greece and the UK, the importance of technology, research, and academia working in tandem with the market, and the need for increased funding and support for startups.
Discussions also touched on regulatory challenges, particularly regarding data and the over-regulation of AI, as well as the necessity of access to secure and trustworthy data sources.
The event highlighted Greece’s promising outlook, with its abundant human capital, excellent knowhow, growing economy, and favourable business environment. Positive developments in legislation, taxation, and intellectual property were noted, alongside the commitment of both governments to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
A cross-sector and cross-border synergy is necessary with the right talent and scientific background making critical decisions on fund allocation, supporting MedTech scale-up journeys at the right time.
As the evening concluded with a networking reception overlooking River Thames, from LIHE’s top floor, participants reflected on the wealth of opportunities for collaboration and the potential for impactful advancements in the field of medical technology.
The evening showcased the immense potential for synergy between the UK and Greece, with participants expressing optimism for future collaborations and advancements in the MedTech sector, recognising how the key factors of regulation, tech, investment, and human capital are forming right now the perfect storm for success.
Vasiliki Prestidge
