WELCOME TO THE 2ND EDITION OF THE ATHENS CIRCULAR FORUM

MONDAY

WELCOME

3 PM

Andrei Geica, President of ACF

EU Green Week, a broad coalition towards Zero Pollution

Gerasimos Routzounis, Kapa Research 

The role of SMEs, consumers, and citizens in the Circular Transition: evidence from Greece

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MONDAY

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

3.30 PM

Maria Damanaki, frm European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries 

The Decade of Oceans for Sustainable Development: Why protecting our Seas and biodiversity is a driver for prosperity 

MONDAY

PLENARY SESSION

4 - 5:30 PM

Moderator: Prof. Plutarchos Sakellaris, Honorary Vice-President, EIB

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Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, Athens University of Economics and Business; Director of Sustainable Development Unit and EIT Climate-KIC Hub Greece, Athena RC; Fellow World Academy of Art and Science; President-Elect of the EAERE; Co-chair UN SDSN Europe, 

General overview of EU and national policy framework for the Green transition

Ioannis Tsakiris, Deputy Minister for Public Investments and the Growth Pact, Ministry of Development & Investments

How Green Investments can boost competitiveness, regional growth and new jobs

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions, Governor of Central Macedonia Region

Smart and Circular Regions: the way forward for EU integration

Ioannis Kaltsas, EIB, Head of Division for Greece and Cyprus

ESG as the new norm: the role of Institutional Investors for a sustainable & just transition

Dr. Yannis Tzortzis, President, Legal Experts Committee of the Greek Just Transition Development Plan

The Greek Way to decarbonisation: a success law story

Q&A

MONDAY

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Prof. Yannis Stournaras, Governor of the Bank of Greece

Sustainable Finance for Climate Neutrality: Bank of Greece initiatives

5:45

MONDAY

PANEL I – GREEN & RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENTS

6 - 7:45 PM

Moderator: George Kremlis, Principal Advisor to the Greek Prime Minister on energy, climate, environment & circular economy

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Prof. Yannis Maniatis, frm Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change
The geopolitics of Green investments and climate neutrality as a historic opportunity for Greece

Theodora Antonakaki, Coordinator of BoG Climate Change Committee

NGFS’s role in the greening of the financial system and the need for climate adaptation

Dimitris Koufos, Director, EBRD

EBRD’s initiatives in boosting the Circular Economy and climate resilience in the area of EU Taxonomy and ESG Investments

Teresa Farmaki, Partner, Astarte Capital Partners

The role of Forests towards a Net Zero Economy

Andrei Geica, Partner, Sporos Platform

Empowering the Circular Transition: The Sporos Approach

Q&A

TUESDAY

WELCOME ADDRESS

Dr. Konstantinos Antonopoulos, President of Symbiosis

2 PM

TUESDAY

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Dr. Christos Dimas, Deputy Minister of Development and Investments

Flagship Initiatives shaping a sustainable ecosystem

2:05 PM

TUESDAY

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Anna Diamantopoulou, President of DIKTIO Think Tank, frm European Commissioner

The global swift towards Green and Digital Growth: Opportunities for Greece and the Region

2:15 PM

TUESDAY

PANEL II – YOUTH PARTICIPATION FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE

2:30 - 3:45 PM

Moderator: Dr. Evangelia Stefanidaki, University of the Aegean, explaining the scope of the Students social innovation project and presenting the ACFII central message produced bottom-up.

Lydia Papadaki, General Manager, EIT-Climate KIC, presenting Greek Climate-KIC funded startups/spinoffs

Christos Nikoloudis, CEO, Mantis Business Innovation

Elevate Greece driving innovation and growth

Ioannis Lymperopoulos, CEO, ENEXAN

AI for climate resilience and sustainable electromobility – a smart best practice

Lydia Polychronopoulou, Head of Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility, Matrix Pack Group 

Sustainability in Single Use Products - exporting a new culture

Q&A

TUESDAY

PANEL III – BLUE ECONOMY & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

4 - 5:30 PM

Moderator: Prof. Maria Lekakou, Dean of the School of Business Studies, University of the Aegean

Setting the New Blue Growth Agenda

Suzanna Laskaridis, Director, Laskaridis Shipping – Founder, BlueCycle

Why Sea protection can drive local value creation

George Vernicos, President of ESC, General Secretary of SETE

A resilient Maritime Tourism sector post-COVID19 Pandemic

Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, EIT Climate-KIC

Presentation of ClimAccelerator – EIT Accelerator for the Maritime sector

Eleni Polychronopoulou, President of HEMEXPO

Maritime Equipment: Circular Remanufacturing boosting exports & jobs

Kyriakos Gialoglou, Director of Government Affairs, Seawind Ocean Technology

Floating Wind Energy Generation: a best practice for regional Blue Growth

Q&A

TUESDAY
KEYNOTE SPEECH

Kostas Skrekas, Minister of Environment and Energy

5:45

TUESDAY

PANEL IV – CIRCULAR AND BIO AS BUSINESS PRACTICE

6 - 7:30 PM

Moderator: Dimitris Homatidis, Circular Economy Officer, Green Fund, LIFE-IP CEI-Greece

Circular Economy & the role of the Green Fund: The Integrated LIFE project CEI-Greece and its key actions
Prof. Konstantinos Aravossis, Secretary General of Natural Environment & Water, Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy

The new Greek Circular Economy Roadmap as a driver for creative entrepreneurs

Effie Lazaridou, CEO, New Agriculture for a New Generation

Funding the local bioeconomy to empower young farmers
Athanasios Potsis, President, Hellenic Association of Space Industry

Integrating innovation, digitalisation and downstream space applications in existing business practices for the green transition of Greek SMEs

Vasilis Pyrgiotis, LIFE GAIA Sense, a Circular Best Practice

Innovative Smart Farming services supporting Circular Economy in Agriculture

Elias Demian, External Monitoring Team of the LIFE Programme, Close-2-Market contact point, SEE

The role of LIFE for SMEs sustainable growth

Q&A

TUESDAY

CLOSING REMARKS

Alexandros Karydis-Karandreas, Co-founder, Partner, Sporos Platform

7:30 PM