As part of the informative actions of RIS3 Thessaly and of strengthening the connection between businesses, research entities, public authorities and innovation organisations, took place on the Friday 26 June 2026, to JOIST Innovation Park in Larissa, the information seminar “European Defence Innovation and the Dual-Use Imperative: From Regional Capabilities to Strategic European Opportunities”.
The event focused on dual-use technologies, meaning in technologies that can be utilised in both civil and strategic or defence applications. The theme is directly linked to the rationale of smart specialisation, as it highlights how existing technological, research and manufacturing capabilities can gain new value through cross-sectoral applications, European collaborations and funding tools.
The seminar was co-organised by JOIST Defence Innovation Hub along with the RIS3 Thessaly, the Hellenic Development Bank, the NCSR Demokritos / Innovation Accelerator@Demokritos, the NATO DIANA Accelerator and the HETiA, and was structured around three thematic panel discussions and a networking session.
The aim of the event was to present the new European environment being shaped around dual-use innovation and to highlight the opportunities created for businesses, research organisations and innovation bodies in Thessaly. The discussion was linked to sectors of particular importance for the regional ecosystem, such as digital technologies, and cybersecurity, and agri-food, the logistics, and Cheers, the advanced materials, the sensors, the data, the autonomous systems and the industrial innovation.
Dual-use technologies and smart specialisation
The conference highlighted that dual-use technologies now constitute a firm European direction, which concerns not only the defence sector, but also the broader technological, productive and research base of the regions.
Technologies initially developed for civilian or commercial uses can, with the appropriate adaptations, also meet the needs of security, resilience, civil protection, critical infrastructure or defence. For Thessaly, this discussion is of particular importance, as the Region possesses business, research and production capabilities in fields that can be linked to the dual-use concept.
Within the framework of Thessaly's RIS3, highlighting such capabilities contributes to a better mapping of regional capacities, the connection of businesses and research organisations, and the creation of new pathways for participation in European collaborations.
First panel: From political technology to dual-use applications
The first panel, entitled “Dual-Use Innovation from the Ground Up: The Civilian Perspective”, it focused on how dual-use innovation can emerge through policy technologies, small and medium-sized enterprises, research results and regional innovation ecosystems.
The discussion coordinate ο Yannis Tolias, Managing Partner of the Innovatia Systems. To panel participated the George Stamoulis, from the Department Electrical engineers Engineers and Engineers Computers of the University Thessaly, Athan Gkegkas,
Nikos Kioroglou from the ALTUS LSA S.A., Aristidis Iacovou from the Analysis S.A., and Varvara Vasilaki, Head of TTO of the NCSR Demokritos Democritus and Site Lead of the Innovation Accelerator@Demokritos.
The discussion highlighted that a large part of the technologies currently supporting defence, security and resilience already originates from the civilian sector. Solutions related to sensors, drones, data, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, logistics, civil protection and critical infrastructure can acquire a dual-use dimension, provided they are linked to specific needs and appropriate implementation frameworks.
A key conclusion was that many businesses and research organisations already possess technologies with dual-use potential, without necessarily recognising them as such. The challenge relates not only to technological maturity, but also to access to information, testing, certification, specialised guidance and collaborative networks.
For the ecosystem of Thessaly, the panel highlighted the importance of recognising existing capabilities and transforming them into practical opportunities for collaboration, innovation and outward-looking growth.
Second panel: Funding, access and European partnerships
The second panel, entitled “The European Defence Innovation Landscape: Funding, Access and the Dual-Use Imperative”, it focused on the European funding environment and the mechanisms supporting the development and commercialisation of dual-use technologies.
The panellists included the Constantinos Angelopoulos, General Manager of Financial Products of Hellenic Development Bank, or Nik Antoniou, Founding Partner of Apeiron Venture Capital, or Dr. Ilja Nothnagel, General Director of German-Hellenic Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and the Panagiotis Papageorgiou, Executive Board Member of Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation S.A.. The discussion was chaired by Dimitris Mallas, a journalist with CNN Greece.
During the discussion, the role of modern financial tools, development banks, investment funds and European programmes in supporting innovation, entrepreneurship and competitiveness was highlighted.
The central message of the panel was that access to European opportunities does not depend solely on having a worthwhile technological solution. An understanding of the rules of participation, eligibility requirements, procurement mechanisms, the formation of consortia, and each organisation's strategic positioning within the European ecosystem is also required.
From the perspective of the Thessaly RIS3, this conclusion is particularly important: the region's businesses and research organisations can seize new opportunities, provided they are supported in networking, finding suitable partners and connecting their solutions with real European needs.
Third panel: Critical technologies and regional capabilities
The third panel, entitled “Critical Technologies for European Defence: Where Civilian Innovation Meets Military Need”, focussed on the critical technologies that lie at the intersection of civilian innovation and strategic needs.
The discussion was moderated by Dimitris Mallas, journalist for CNN Greece. The panel featured Nikos Zachariadis, COO & Partner of LANCOM, Babis Papaspyros, retired Air Force Brigadier General, former Vice President of the Hellenic Aerospace Industry and former General Secretary of HASDIG, Ioannis-Marios Tsaltas, Public Affairs Lead of EFA GROUP, and George Tzamtzis, Defense Innovation & European Programs Principal of M Technologies.
The discussion highlighted technological fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, advanced materials, digital infrastructure, and technologies related to the resilience and security of critical infrastructure. A common finding was that the boundaries between civil and defence applications are becoming increasingly fluid, as technologies initially developed for civil, business, or industrial needs can acquire strategic value through dual-use applications.
For Thessaly and the RIS3 framework, the panel highlighted the importance of recognising and exploiting existing technological and productive capabilities. The challenge for the regional ecosystem is to make these capabilities more visible, match them with real needs, and connect them with suitable European networks, partnerships and funding instruments.
The role of intermediate structures and the JOIST Defence Innovation Hub
During the conference, his role was also presented JOIST Defence Innovation Hub, which operates in Larissa as a structured connection point between Greek and European tech innovators and the European defence and dual-use innovation ecosystem.
The reference to the Hub was integrated into the wider discussion on the need for intermediary structures capable of supporting businesses, research institutions and innovation bodies in accessing European networks, funding instruments and partnerships. Such structures can contribute to reducing barriers to entry and transforming information into practical opportunities for participation.
Key conclusions for Thessaly
The discussions from the three panels yielded useful conclusions regarding the regional innovation ecosystem of Thessaly.
Firstly, dual-use technologies are now a permanent European direction rather than a temporary trend. The connection between civilian technologies and strategic needs is being gradually integrated into the design of European policies, programmes and funding.
Secondly, many businesses, research laboratories and technology providers may already possess solutions with dual-use potential. The objective is for these capabilities to be recognised, evaluated and connected with appropriate application frameworks.
Thirdly, access is often a greater challenge than the technology itself. Participation in European opportunities requires partnerships, an understanding of the rules, networking and the ability to join appropriate consortia.
Fourthly, regional capabilities can acquire strategic value when they are linked with European needs. For Thessaly, this particularly concerns sectors such as agri-food, health, logistics, digital technologies, cybersecurity, industrial innovation and resilience applications.
Fifthly, intermediate support structures, hubs, research bodies, chambers of commerce, public authorities and innovation organisations play a critical role in connecting the local ecosystem with European partnerships and funding.
Next steps
The informative conference concluded with a networking session, giving participants the opportunity to exchange views, explore synergies and discuss potential future collaborations.
Within the framework of Thessaly RIS3, the discussion on dual-use technologies can serve as a starting point for the further mapping of capabilities, needs and areas of collaboration. The leverage of such technologies can strengthen the connection between research and the market, support the extroversion of businesses and create new pathways for the participation of the Thessalian ecosystem in European innovation chains.
The event highlighted that Thessaly possesses technological, research and productive capabilities that can acquire new strategic value through their connection with dual-use applications, European partnerships and financial instruments.
