Good morning to all attendees,

It is with great pleasure that I address the proceedings of this meeting organized by the German-Greek Chamber of Industry and Commerce, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

In fact, as a businessman for many years I was also its member.

The topic of the meeting is particularly interesting and current.

The transition to smart and sustainable cities requires the development of integrated solutions for electric and urban mobility in order to achieve the goal of net-zero carbon emissions.

Electric mobility, as a key pillar of this transition, offers the potential to drastically reduce emissions and pollution, while also improving the quality of life in urban areas.

The electric mobility has to face many challenges.

One challenge concerns charging infrastructure. Current charging stations are insufficient to meet the needs of the continuously growing number of electric vehicles.

Research is focusing on fast-charging technologies, such as ultra-fast chargers, as well as innovative solutions like wireless charging and portable chargers.

The success of electric mobility depends on interdisciplinary collaboration. The synergy between the fields of engineering, chemistry, computer science, and energy is essential for addressing the complex challenges.

For example, artificial intelligence and big data can be used to predict energy demand and optimize charging networks.

Collaboration between public and private sectors, alongside the use of new technologies and data, is critical in creating cities that promote sustainability and continuous innovation in mobility.

This leads to cleaner, more accessible urban spaces, enhancing both environmental sustainability and the mobility experience for all city residents.

During the conference, the participants will have the opportunity to participate in targeted B2B meetings with German companies and discover new business opportunities and potential collaborations.

I strongly believe that this event is the perfect opportunity to network with German entrepreneurs that are experts in the fields of electromobility and urban mobility, strategic partnerships, or investments.

In this context, the cooperation between Greek and German companies will be further strengthened.

As chairman of the Special Permanent Committee on Research and Technology of the Hellenic Parliament please accept my best wishes for a very successful event!