Web Event: KEDISA & ALLILON
Monday 5 May 2025, 17:30 – 20:00 (EEST)
“The Necessary Revival of the Defense Industry in Greece and the European Union”
The first joint event of ALLILON and KEDISA took place on 05/05/2025. 110 people participated in the event to watch the panel discussion, and around 80 young people took part in speed mentoring!
The first part consisted of a panel of top speakers presented the central dimensions of the event topic.
The second part consisted of speed mentoring led by 14 mentors and around 80 young people! Following this, approximately 30 individual mentoring sessions between young participants and ALLILON mentors were organized on for the following days!
A warm thank you to KEDISA, for their wonderful cooperation, as well as to the founder and president of KEDISA, Mr. Banoutsos, and to all the speakers, coordinators, and mentors for their valuable contribution!
A special thanks to Ambassador Vrailas, Permanent Representative of Greece to the EU, who once again honored ALLILON with his participation and delivered an inspiring opening speech.
ALLILON enthusiastically continues its mission, connecting young people with experienced professionals and creating networking and growth opportunities!
Watch the opening remarks of the event:
Event schedule:
1st Part: Opening Remarks and Panel (17:30 until 18:45)
Opening remarks (15 minutes)
- Andreas Banoutsos, founder and president of KEDISA
- Angelos Pangratis, founder and president of ALLILON, ex-ambassador of EU
- Ioannis Vrailas, ambassador, permanent representative of Greece to the EU
Panel of Speakers on the topic: “The Necessary Revival of the Defense Industry in Greece and the European Union” (60 minutes)
Coordinator: Koukakis Georgios, Secretary General KEDISA
Speakers:
1. Apostolos Nikolopoulos, Directorate of Defensive Investments and Technological Research of the General Directorate of Defense Equipment and Investments of the Ministry of National Defense, with the topic: “Contemporary trends in defensive technologies and financing”
2. Michalis Ketselidis, Senior Expert, Defense Industry and Space, General Secretariat of the European Commission, with the topic: “European Defence: From financing innovation to ensuring the necessary skills to support it”
3.Tasos Kounoudes, CEO SignalGeneriX, President of the Cyprus Association of Research and Innovation Enterprises (CRAI), Cyprus, with the topic: “The evolution of the Cypriot Defence industry and its relation to Greek Defence Industry”
4. Katerina Tzortzatou, Scientific manager of the Innovation Office of the National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos, with the topic “Dual Technologies and Defense Innovation”
5. Orfeas Boutiras, responsible for the space startups program within the Hellenic Space Agency’s incubator in Greece ESA BIC Greece, with the topic: “Space Industry in Greece”
6. Dimitris Papasotiriou, (BA, MSc, MA, ELA/ESLog, PhD.c), Managing Director DIGICOM Systems AE, Owner Beyond the BEST IKE, with the topic: “From Vision to Outcome, how a modern defense industry ecosystem is built – the pillars”
2nd Part: Speed Mentoring in Breakout Rooms (18:45 until 20:30)
Mentor Group 1: Careers and Entrepreneurship in the Defense Industry (18:45-19:30)
Coordinator: Giorgos Kotrotsios, ex-Vice President of Business Development CSEM SA
- Tasos Kounoudes, CEO SignalGeneriX, President of the Cyprus Association of Research and Innovation Enterprises (CRAI), Cyprus
- Orfeas Boutiras, responsible for the space startups program within the Hellenic Space Agency’s incubator in Greece ESA BIC Greece
- Koukakis Georgios, Secretary General KEDISA, Lieutenant Coronel, Academic Manager of the “Security Studies in the Mediterranean” program of the University of the Aegean
Mentor Group 2: Employment and Careers in the European Union Institutions and in Related Private/Public Bodies (18:45-19:30)
Coordinator: Dimitris Iliopoulos, former ambassador of Greece and the EU
- Ioannis Argyropoulos, European External Action Service Head Of Unit
- Evgenia Karatari, European External Action Service, Deputy Head of Division, EU Situation Room
- Theofanis Paraskevas Grammenos, (previous EU blue book intern) Junior Officer, International Advocacy at Hydrogen Europe
- Konstantinos Malandrinos, Tetra Pak, Head EU Public Affairs & Government Relations
- Dimitris Vartholomaios, Government Affairs Manager, DENSO Belgium
Mentor Group 3: Employment and Careers at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs (19:30-20:00)
Coordinator: Dimitris Iliopoulos, former ambassador of Greece and the EU
- Dionissis Kalamvrezos, ex-Ambassador
- Iakovidis Iakovos, Ambassador
- Diamessis Michael,President and Director of the Hellenic Diplomatic Academy
After the event, for those interested: Individual sessions between young people and ALLILON mentors can be organized for another day based on each person’s availability.