Since its establishment two and a half years ago, Komvos-Node has been working with a vision to utilize the potential of Global Hellenism for the development of our country in an ever-changing global environment that constantly faces new challenges.
It is not our aim to be limited to being just another think tank, but rather to be an incubator of concrete initiatives with visible results, in the medium and in the long term.
The Conference Proceedings
Komvos-Node’s 2nd Annual Conference, which was held on the 29th of November 2024, presented the course of its initiatives that have already started taking form, following the actions of the members of the Board of Directors Konstantinos Drosatos (Biotechnology), Michael Haliassos (Economy) and Angelos Chaniotis (Expatriates).
Prof. Michael Haliassos, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and organizer of the conference, and the President of Komvos-Node, Prof. Angelos Chaniotis, welcomed the participants and thanked the sponsors of Komvos-Node and of the event itself. More specifically, they thanked the National Bank for sponsoring both the ENNOIA initiative and the conference by kindly providing the venue, and Piraeus Bank for sponsoring Komvos-Node, enabling it to start implementing its vision, Accenture Greece for its contribution to the ENNOIA initiative, DEMO ABEE pharmaceutical industry for supporting the Biotechnology initiative, Ecovis-Onetax for its accounting support, Informal Advertising for the conference creatives and for creating Komvos-Node’s new logo, and Natech for hardware and software support.
Komvos-Node’s Initial Core
The President of Komvos-Node, made a brief review of the past year, referring to the loss of George Provopoulos, who, along with the late Achilles Kyriakopoulos, the Honorary President of Komvos-Node John Papanikolaou and the Chairman of the Board, formed its original core.
The President also announced the names of the members of Komvos-Node’s newly formed International Advisory Committee which will be constituted in the coming days. Its members include:
- Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas – Professor Emeritus of Cell Biology, Harvard University, Chairman of the National Council for Research, Technology and Innovation,
- Petros Koumoutsakos – Professor of Applied Mathematics, Harvard University, Member of the National Council for Research, Technology and Innovation,
- Danae Kyriakopoulou – Economist. Co-Head of the Bank of England’s Climate Hub,
- Christos Megalou, CEO of Piraeus Bank,
- Nikandros Bouras – Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, King’s College London,
- Athanasios Orphanides – Professor of the Practice (Global Economics and Management), MIT, former Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus,
- Evi Pappa – Professor of Economics and holder of the Santander Chair, Carlos III University Madrid,
- Christos Pitelis – Director of the Centre for International Business and Management, University of Cambridge,
- George Prokopiou – Founder of Dynacom Shipping, President of Skaramangas Shipyards,
- Rena Rouvitha-Panou – Member of the Board of Directors of Eurobank Group, KEDIPES, Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, Advisory Board of the School of Economics & Management of the University of Cyprus. Former Chairman of the Board of Directors of CYTA, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cyprus Development Bank,
- Anezina Solomonidou – Astrophysicist, Hellenic Space Centre, and
- Kevin Featherstone – Professorial Research Fellow and Director of the Hellenic Observatory in the European Institute at LSE.
The Chairman of the Board also mentioned that Komvos-Node’s network is gradually expanding with corresponding members interested in active participation in its activities.
Lack of Financial Literacy of the Greek Households
The CEO of the National Bank of Greece, Pavlos Mylonas, addressed the event, referring to the significance of one of Komvos-Node’s initiatives called ENNOIA, which the National Bank supports, along with Accenture Greece. This initiative addresses the lack of financial literacy in Greek households and the importance of their empowerment concerning financial decisions. It is well known that Greeks do not have a saving policy. At a time when the Greek state can no longer guarantee pensions or build real estate if e.g. there is a major earthquake, the concept of savings and security becomes particularly important. The ENNOIA initiative by Prof. Michalel Haliassos, which is supported by the National Bank of Greece, mainly aims in educating and training Greeks in savings and investments enabling them to face future economic challenges.
In this context, the effort is also aimed at regaining confidence in financial institutions and products.
Review of the Initiatives
Prof. Konstantinos Drosatos presented the development of Komvos-Node’s initiative on Biotechnology, Prof. Michael Haliassos the one on Economy (ENNOIA), and Prof. Angelos Chaniotis the initiative concerning the utilization of expatriates.
Watch the introductory speeches, the greeting of the CEO of the National Bank of Greece, as well as the short reports of the initiatives on Komvos-Node’s YouTube channel.
Stay tuned in order to learn more about the discussions and presentations of Komvos-Node’s latest initiatives around Shipping and ESG, Space Science and Industry, and Sustainability in Tourism.
