The Innovation Group, consisting of representatives of the Ministries of Interior, Digital Governance and Development and Investments, the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities, the Union of Regions and the newly established European Digital Innovation Hubs, met in the presence of the Secretary General of Public Administration of the Ministry of Interior Dimitris Kirmikiroglou. The main objective of the meeting was to coordinate and promote cooperation between the above bodies for the implementation of the policy framework of the Innovation System in the Public Sector, as formulated by Law 5027/2023.

The Innovation Team focused on the challenges and planning its work for the preparation of the first National Action Plan for Innovation in the Public Sector.

In particular, representatives discussed the following issues:

• the role of European Digital Innovation Hubs in the public sector innovation ecosystem;
• The presentation of the provisions of Law 5027/2023, "Introduction of the Innovation System in the public sector..." and the next steps for its implementation;
• The process of producing innovation in the public sector and supporting civil servants in their work by developing a toolbox for innovation,
• The implementation of Acceleration Programs in the Public Sector Innovation System for the development of prototype public services,
• The integration of the institution of innovation laboratories in the operation of the public sector for the development of the skills of civil servants and the improvement of the flow of information and knowledge produced in public bodies,
• The next steps for the organization of the first Innovation Forum and the National Prototyping and Innovation Competition, which are planned to be held in the coming period under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior

Closing the meeting, the Secretary General of Public Administration, Mr. Dimitris Kirmikiroglou, expressed his confidence in the newly established Group, saying: "I believe that this Innovation Group will soon bring tangible results and encourage civil servants to innovate, in a way that is perceived by citizens. Public administration can change and inspire its people to mobilize, focusing on the open and collaborative dimension of innovation in order for citizens to enjoy the greatest possible benefits."

The first meeting of the Innovation Team was attended by:

• Christos Kokkalas, Head of Department of Innovation and Best Practices, Ministry of Interior / General Secretariat of Public Administration,
• Irene Kougia, Associate to the Secretary General of Public Administration of the Ministry of Interior,
• Aikaterini Panagiotopoulou, Employee, PE of Administrative Economics, Directorate of Research & Innovation Planning & Planning, Department C of Innovation Planning, General Secretariat for Research & Innovation/Ministry of Development
• Konstantia Govari, Employee, Department of Administrative Economics, Directorate of Research and Innovation Planning & Planning, Department of Planning & Planning, General Secretariat for Research & Innovation / Ministry of Development
• Georgios Chalkias, Director of ITEK-PE Administrative Economics, seconded to the position of Special Scientific Staff of EKDDA, National Center for Public Administration & Local Government
• Alexandros Kourtesis, Head of Research and Innovation Department, Institute of Documentation, Research and Innovations (ITEK), National Centre for Public Administration & Local Government
• Sotiria Mamai, Head of the Department of Digital Accessibility and Social Affairs of the Digital Strategy Directorate, TE of Informatics, Ministry of Digital Governance / General Secretariat for Information Systems & Digital Governance / General Directorate for Digital Governance
• Liana Grigoriadou, Head of Department B ́ Monitoring of Sectoral Projects of the Public Sector Sectoral Projects Directorate, TE of Informatics, Ministry of Digital Governance / General Secretariat for Information Systems & Digital Governance / General Directorate for Digital Governance
• Gabriel Kougianos, Director of Information Technology & Development Documentation, Central Union of Greek Municipalities
• Georgios Vlachos, Regional Councilor of Attica, Union of Greek Regions
• Nikolaos Ploskas, Faculty Member (Associate Professor) at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, SYNERGiNN Hub / University of Western Macedonia,
• Maria Michalopoulou, Member of the Council of the Democritus University of Thrace, member of the faculty of the Democritus University of Thrace, Coordinator of the Democritus University of Thrace, DigiAgriFood, Democritus University of Thrace
• Periklis Terlixidis, Executive Director, Smart Attica EDIH (AHEDD) / NCSR Demokritos
• Konstantina Kanellopoulou, Collaborating Researcher, Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications, Smart Attica EDIH / NCSR "DEMOKRITOS",
• Tassos Vassiliadis, President and Founder, Institute of Entrepreneurship Development / JOIST Innovation Park,
• Maria Pournari, Executive Director, Health Hub / Member of the Department of Program Planning & Implementation, Institute of Entrepreneurship Development,
• Thomas Halatsis, Member of the Department of Program Planning & Implementation, Health Hub / Institute for the Development of Entrepreneurship
• Ioannis Kotsis-Giannarakis, Associate of GRNET, GRNET, GR-Digi-GOV-Inno HUB / GRNET
• Catherine Kyprianou, Head of Digital Competence Development of GRNET Digital Transformation & Digital Competences Division, GR-Digi-GOV-Inno HUB / GRNET
• Dimitrios Katehakis, Head of Center of eHealth Applications & Services, Institute of Computer Science FORTH, Smart Health / Foundation for Research & Technology-Hellas, Institute of Computer Science
• Ioannis Dimakopoulos, Director of the Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Rheology, Easy HPC / University of Patras
• Gerasimos Mentzelopoulos, Chemical Engineer, Manager / Project Manager, Easy HPC

The meeting was attended by the invited experts:

• Dr. Leonidas Anthopoulos, Professor and President of the Department of Business Administration, University of Larissa,
• Anastasia Tsartsara, Head of the Interior, Digital Governance, Justice and Institutions Sector, General Secretariat for Coordination.