The conclusion of new agreements with a strong international footprint and the undertaking of major development initiatives, aiming atstrengthening and expanding the innovation ecosystem, is progressing egg - enter-grow-go . The program that has been designed and implemented since 2013 by Eurobank, in collaboration with the Corallia Unit of the E.K. Athena. The network of egg's new initiatives, which marks a successful ten-year course in the Greek market, was presented yesterday Thursday at an event at the EGG Hub, in the new building facilities of egg in Moschato. The facilities were inaugurated by the Minister of State and Digital Governance, Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis.

Eurobank's firm commitment to supporting innovation that promotes extroverted entrepreneurship was underlined by Eurobank's CEO, Mr. Fokion Karavia, pointing out:

"The successful ten-year course of egg is a strong message for the dynamics of Greek pioneering entrepreneurship", speaking at the beginning of the event, in the presence of the chairman of the Board of Directors. of the Bank, Mr. Georgiou Zanias and the Deputy Managing Directors, Mr. Andreas Athanasopoulos, Konstantinou Vassiliou and Stavros Ioannou.

It was preceded by a conference of three thematic sections with the participation of the Deputy Ministers of Research & Technology, Mr. Christou Dimas, Tourism, Mr. Sophia Zacharakis and, among others, representatives of Toronto Metropolitan University, the Cyprus Seeds Organization, as well as representatives of the Israeli ecosystem start-up entrepreneurship ecosystem. The opening of the EGG Hub was honored with the presence of representatives of institutional bodies, among them SEB, SETE, of Enterprise Greece and Elevate Greece, with whom egg has strategic partnerships, Rectors and distinguished academics from Greece and abroad, as well as the members of the Advisory Board and the Coordinating Committee of egg as well as bank executives.

The Minister of State and Digital Governance, Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis, said:

"In a decade of economic challenges for the country and for businesses, egg has been a benchmark for start-ups, acting as a solid ground to take their first step. Today, at the opening of the EGG Hub, we see the egg itself growing and progressing, just as many startups did thanks to his own contribution. I wish from the bottom of my heart that the new facilities will host a dynamic and extroverted innovation ecosystem that, through international synergies, will highlight the next generation of Greek startup companies".

New initiatives and partnerships with Eurobank

The new initiatives and partnerships of egg were presented by the Deputy CEO, Mr. Stavros Ioannou. Their goal is the internationalization and strengthening of the Greek innovation system in three (3) main axes:

Extroversion,

Financing

Business Networking

Specifically, the egg:

• Extends for an additional five (5) years the collaboration that began in 2018 with the internationally prestigious Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), based in Canada. At the heart of the partnership are synergies with the leading business accelerator DMZ. As part of the collaboration, egg companies will be provided with upgraded consulting services as well as expanded opportunities to connect with investment funds, in Canada and more widely in North America, with the opportunity to establish the new DMZ in New York, one of the three most important innovation ecosystems in the world classification. Particular emphasis will be placed on supporting spin-offs of Greek University & Research Institutions, with female founding members.
• It signs a cooperation agreement with Cyprus Seeds, with the mission of connecting the innovative academic research produced in Cypriot universities and research institutions, with the real economy. Networking opportunities for young Greek and Cypriot entrepreneurs are thus ensured.
• It supports the first Greek Collaborative Formation of Innovation in Digital Technologies in the Tourism & Culture Sectors. This Cluster, with a total of 13 companies, secured funding from the General Secretariat of Research & Innovation, of the Ministry of Development and Investments, for the implementation of a technology project with a budget of 2.8 million. euros with the aim of the digital modernization of the tourist and cultural product.
• Ensures possibility of extension for three (3) years of the externship program in Israel. The main subject is business consulting, knowledge transfer and international collaborations.
• It expands the actions of connecting the Greek Universities and the research academic community with the market, through Memorandums of Cooperation (MOU) with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Agricultural University of Athens and the University of Patras, to support Greek spin-offs with an emphasis on the empowerment of female researchers , students and entrepreneurs.

Eurobank will participate as a private investor in five (5) Venture Capital funds. Funds supported by the Hellenic Development Investment Bank. The bank will investadditional five (5) million euros doubling its stake in VCs of that nature. It will also be joined by, initially, 19 million euros to the new "Innovation Guarantee Fund" program. An initiative set up by the Hellenic Development Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Development & Investments.

The opening of the conference was announced by Mr. Michalis Vlastarakis, chairman of the egg Coordinating Committee and general manager of Marketing and Corporate Communication of Eurobank Group, Mrs. Roula Bakhtalia, Director of egg and Mr. Nikos Vogiatzis, co-founder & member of Corallia's Management, members of the egg Coordinating Committee.

The three thematic panels, "Internationalization & Extraversion", "Tourism/Culture Innovation Collaborative Formations" and "Interconnection of Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship", as well as the opening ceremony of the EGG Hub, had the opportunity to attend more than 1000 guests.