The event was attended by representatives from political, academic, and research communities, as well as many visitors who explored the interactive exhibition. It showcased the latest technological expertise and technical information from the specialized platform created by the EPO.
In his speech, the Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, emphasized the contribution of technology, artificial intelligence, and modern equipment in disaster prevention and management. He pointed out that “we need to find a way to integrate these technologies into prevention, response, and restoration efforts.”
“The people of the Fire Department, all the security forces, and the armed forces go to work in the morning, and it is not certain that they will return in the evening to protect us, our property, and the natural beauty. They deserve our support and assistance in this difficult effort.”
Deputy Minister of Development and Investments, Anna Mani Papadimitriou, highlighted the urgent need for organised and quick interventions in the event of wildfires to speed up restoration processes and bring back normalcy to ecosystems and citizens’ lives. She also stressed that “this issue is a major concern for the scientific community in Greece,” urging the integration of innovative solutions into operational planning for disaster management. The Deputy Minister emphasized that “the government has already proceeded with the establishment of a High-Level Advisory Committee on Artificial Intelligence to make our country a leader in technological developments, while the Ministry of Development is implementing programs to strengthen research and development, in order to encourage entrepreneurship and the development of innovations by the industry.”
During the inaugural speech, Antonio Campinos, the President of the European Patent Office (EPO), stated: “With the UN warning of a 30% increase in wildfires by 2050, our collective response must go beyond individual efforts. We must pool as many resources as possible and empower innovators to bring new technologies to market. I believe we will not necessarily be defined by the challenges we face, but by the collective efforts with which we address them. This exhibition is proof of that.”
Panagiotis Kanellopoulos, the Director General of the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI), welcomed the speakers and guests and emphasized: “According to the EU’s ‘Advance report on forest fires in Europe, Middle East and North Africa 2022,’ the total area burned in the EU alone in 2022 was 8,300 square kilometers, an area equivalent to three times the size of Luxembourg or 6.28% of Greece’s surface area. Moreover, 2022 was the second-worst year for Europe in terms of the area burned and the number of fires since 2006.”
He continued, “Greece is a Mediterranean country severely impacted by wildfires. This initiative is part of the creation of a national Technology Foresight Mechanism to address climate change mitigation and adaptation, with a horizon set for 2050.”
The exhibition, which is organised in valuable collaboration with the Hellenic Fire Service, the National Observatory of Athens, and the Agricultural University of Athens, will be open to visitors from March 13 to March 27, 2024.
The event concluded with an engaging panel discussion, featuring Christos Karavitis, Professor and Dean of the School of Environment and Agricultural Engineering at the Agricultural University of Athens; Emmanouil Pleiounis, President of the National Observatory of Athens; and Anastasios Michalopoulos, Chief Firefighter and Deputy Commander of the National Crisis Management and Operations Coordination Center. The discussion was moderated by journalist and author, Makis Provatas.
