Athens, May 26, 2026
HETiA – Hellenic Emerging Technologies Industry Association, successfully organized the 1st Activation Day of the Hellenic Chips Competence Centre (HCCC) at the conference facilities of the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” in Athens, bringing together more than 100 participants from industry, academia, research organizations, innovation stakeholders, and the wider semiconductor and advanced digital technologies ecosystem.
Designed as a highly interactive and application-oriented event, the HCCC 1st Activation Day went beyond the format of a traditional conference, focusing on practical engagement, technology uptake and collaboration building. Participants had the opportunity to discover how the Hellenic Chips Competence Centre can support their innovation activities through access to advanced infrastructures, design tools, pilot lines, training programmes, technology transfer services, networking opportunities and investment support mechanisms.
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Emmanuel Zervakis, President of HETiA, who highlighted the strategic importance of the HCCC in strengthening the Greek semiconductor ecosystem. This was followed by a practical overview of the HCCC’s services, infrastructures and opportunities presented by Mr. Ioannis Kikidis, Vice President of the HCCC.
A key highlight of the event was the keynote address delivered by Dr. Robert Rudolph, CEO of Switzerland Innovation Park Innovaare, who shared Switzerland’s experience in developing integrated semiconductor ecosystems through close collaboration among industry, research organizations and innovation stakeholders. His presentation emphasized the critical role of clusters, pilot infrastructures, skills development and international cooperation in enhancing Europe’s competitiveness and technological sovereignty.
Throughout the day, representatives from leading Greek universities and research institutions showcased the services, infrastructures and technological capabilities available through the HCCC. Sessions covered access to European and national pilot lines, Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, High-Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructures, photonic integrated circuits, embedded systems design services and technology transfer mechanisms. Industry representatives also presented real-world use cases and technological applications in semiconductors and advanced digital systems, demonstrating how these capabilities can be leveraged to develop innovative products and solutions.
The programme also featured a dedicated session on Technology Transfer and Innovation Services. Through practical examples in photonic integrated circuits, semiconductor design and intelligent embedded systems, participants gained valuable insights into how HCCC services and technological capabilities can support industrial innovation, product development and the adoption of advanced technologies.
Another session focused on skills development and workforce upskilling, highlighting the evolving needs of the semiconductor and advanced digital technologies sectors. Participants were introduced to the training programmes, educational initiatives and skills development opportunities that will be offered through the HCCC to strengthen the talent pipeline and address future industry needs.
The final thematic session explored business development, innovation and collaboration opportunities capable of accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies. Discussions involving industry representatives, investors and innovation stakeholders highlighted the key factors required to transform technological knowledge into innovative products, services and new business ventures.
Throughout the event, participants had the opportunity to explore ServicePlace, the HCCC’s central digital gateway for accessing services, identifying technology providers and submitting collaboration and support requests. In parallel, thematic discussions, networking activities and 40 pre-arranged one-to-one meetings enabled companies, research organizations, technology providers and innovation stakeholders to exchange experiences, identify new collaboration opportunities and discuss concrete business and technology needs.
The strong participation and active engagement observed throughout the day confirmed the growing interest of Greek industry, research organizations and innovation stakeholders in semiconductor technologies and advanced digital systems. At the same time, the event highlighted the strategic role of the Hellenic Chips Competence Centre as a key connector between businesses, research organizations and technological infrastructures, contributing to the strengthening of national capabilities and to Greece’s integration into the broader European semiconductor and microelectronics ecosystem.
The Hellenic Chips Competence Centre continues to expand its activities and services, supporting companies, researchers and innovation stakeholders through access to advanced technologies, skills development, collaboration opportunities and innovation support services.
HETiA and the 15 partners of the HCCC would like to express their sincere appreciation to all speakers, participants and collaborating organizations for their valuable contribution to the success of the 1st HCCC Activation Day. The active engagement of industry, academia, research organizations and innovation stakeholders creates strong foundations for new collaborations, innovative applications and future initiatives with both national and European impact.
HCCC project is supported by Chips JU and its members, and is co-funded by European Union and the Greek Government via the “Competitiveness” Programme.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EYDE-VEK. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.