Kostis Hatzidakis, Minister of Development and Competitiveness stated that the meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and startup and innovative businesses was probably the most important occurance of said visit.

Hatzidakis continued to underline Greece’s dynamics, adding that a country which never gives up, will always fight and pull through. “This is the kind of Greece we aim to support, with a strategy for innovation”, he stated characteristically.

The issues raised during the meeting are based on boosting the Venture Capital institution, the appointment of a Chief Technology Officer, facilitating connections between research and production, promoting the “incubators” of new minds, and new people, in order to support young entrepreneurship and offer incentives.

“We consider innovation to be a key pillar of the new Greek economy. The economy will be reborn through the trials and tribulations of the crisis”, noted Minister Hatzidakis, adding that it is also the ready why Prime Minister Antonis Samaras decided to double the funding allocated to innovation, on that which concerns the national budget (from 4% to 8%).