The Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Chardalias attended today, Thursday 26 May 2022, the awards ceremony for the winners of the 1st Defence Innovation Challenge titled “Situational Awareness Innovation”, hosted by the General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments of the Ministry of National Defence in the year 2021. The event was held in the “IOANNIS KAPODISTRIAS” hall, at the Ministry of National Defence.
The awards were presented to the winners of the eleven innovation proposals (ten front runners and the top youth innovation proposal) with the highest ranking, by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Chardalias and representatives of the INTRACOM DEFENCE and DEES GROUP companies, which are the competition’s sponsors.
A total of two hundred and twelve interesting innovation proposals were submitted and evaluated during the first phase of the competition, while four of them were distinguished and were presented during the awards ceremony.
The Deputy Minister of National Defence mentioned the following in his address:
“It constitutes a particular honour and pleasure for me to attend today’s event, an essential action for Innovation and Technology in the Armed Forces, which is hosted for the first time by the Ministry of National Defence. An action initiated by my good friend and predecessor Alkiviadis Stefanis, who would like to be with us today, but his obligations did not allow him to, and which, composed and coordinated with the General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments and the guidance of the Minister, was promoted by us and realised up until now.
Besides, for all of us at the Ministry of National Defence, continuity and consequence constitute the basic principles with which we move forward. Thus, on the occasion of the declaration of 2020 by HMoND as the year of “Research, Technological Development, Innovation and Environmental Protection”, it was decided to conduct an innovation competition and conference. The pandemic may have delayed the said actions, however we managed to regroup and finally proclaim within 2021, the 1st Defence Innovation Challenge by HMoND titled “Situational Awareness Competition”.
Innovation and technology constitute a pillar of development and outreach for all organisations and bodies of the private as well as the public sector, accelerating progress and evolution in sensitive and key sectors.
Riding together on the chariot of the “innovation community” and the “innovation ecosystems”, as the development and integration of new cutting-edge technologies are characteristically called, constitutes a priority for the Political and Military Leadership of HMoND. Our Ministry always acts, having the securing of defence, superiority and the planning for the next day as our main criterion.
National Defence already has and is constantly reinforced with new modern weapon systems, with last generation technology and high-level know-how. Through collaborations and interoperability with services and bodies of the private and public sector, it can develop a competitive advantage throughout the levels.
Finding and appropriately funneling innovative solutions can provide a strategic advantage in a disproportionately small amount of time, in relation to the traditional development of military capabilities.
The benefits of innovation are extended to the reinforcement and development of the defence industry and its connection to the domestic and foreign bodies, creating the required technological advantage, which will effectively face the current but also the rising security challenges, operating as a powerful embankment, deterring or minimising the imprint of crises.
The whole effort would not have been successful without the contribution and the connection of the private initiative and entrepreneurship, through cutting-edge companies, but also academia. The research and experience which the universities and research centres possess and the capabilities of their scientists and technicians, constitute a guarantee and a powerful development lever, which, combined with the capabilities of corresponding bodies and members of the Armed Forces, could result in the technological upgrade and superiority in the field of our country’s defence.
Private initiative, mainly through recently established enterprises and start-ups, which constitute the living origin of innovation, talents and ideas, has to offer a momentum in technological superiority, with the human workforce constituting a precious capital for the country.
We are here today to congratulate the hosts, the front runners and along with them all the participants in the first Defence Innovation Challenge. All those who contribute so that innovation and technology can become the “weapons” to face the modern international challenges, thus making Greece a beacon of defence development. That way we materialise the Governmental policy for the establishment and consolidation of technological development, making the country a key node in the wider geopolitical region of Southeastern Mediterranean, the Balkans and Europe.
The following individuals attended the event: the MP of Fthiotida and A’ Vice President of the Special Standing Committee for Research and Technology of the Hellenic Parliament Mr Ioannis Sarakiotis, the General Director of the Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments of HMoND Vice Admiral (retired) Aristides Alexopoulos, the Deputy Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Georgios Kellis, the Directors of the C’ Staff Directorates of HAFGS Major General Dimitrios Boznos and of HNGS Commodore Spyridon Lagaras and the Director of the Evolution Directorate of HNDGS Brigadier General Konstantinos Zolotas. The Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos was represented by the Director of the Minster’s Office Mr Athanasios Valaris.
