Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcomed the Head of the European Space Agency (ESA) Johann Dietrich Woerner at Maximos Mansion on Monday. During their meeting, they discussed the agency’s strategy for Greece and the country’s entry into ESA’s activity in the last few years.

They also discussed the content of the agreement signed between ESA and the ministry of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Media for the foundation of a Business Incubation Centre (BIC), whose aim is to support start-ups active in the new technologies sector. Woerner said every euro invested in space returns 6 euros in the national economy.

Tsipras and Woerner discussed a memorandum of cooperation also signed on Monday between the Telecommunications and Post Secretary General Vassilis Maglaras and Fritz Merkle, a member of the executive board of the German company OHB for the construction of satellites and other space systems.

These actions aim at halting the country’s brain drain and boosting the development of high value products and services.

Source: thegreekobserver.com