The launch of the premier innovation event, “Crete Regional Innovation Days – InnoDays 2025”, was inaugurated today at the International Exhibition Center in Gouves by the Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis.
Speaking before representatives from politics, local government, academia and research communities, as well as the business sector, the Governor highlighted the new era for the island, emphasizing that Crete has entered the digital age dynamically and is ready to face the challenges of Artificial Intelligence.
In his address, Stavros Arnaoutakis noted that this year’s event, a major initiative of the Region of Crete and the Observatory of Innovative Entrepreneurship, confirms that through targeted analysis and coordinated implementation, shared priorities can be transformed into measurable results.
Referring to the scale of the event, the Governor of Crete underlined the massive participation, which includes 190 exhibitors, dozens of innovation presentations, 21 teams in the Innovation Marathon, as well as robotics workshops and Artificial Intelligence seminars. “It is an exciting journey that is still in its early stages,” he remarked.
Stavros Arnaoutakis also placed special emphasis on the Region’s strategic focus on leveraging research and contemporary data to strengthen the island’s sustainability. As he outlined in his speech, the key pillars of this strategy are:
Strengthening the primary sector, equipping farmers and livestock breeders with modern tools and production methods.
Opening broader pathways for startups and growing businesses.
Creating new job opportunities, aiming to retain young talents and scientists on the island.
Establishing a new collaboration field for Cretan food culture, capitalizing on Crete’s designation as the European Region of Gastronomy for 2026.
Further improving Crete’s ranking in international innovation indices, relying on the richness of human capital within the regional research ecosystem.
The Governor also highlighted the strong coordination and collaboration hub established between the Region, research institutions, and society, demonstrating that ambition is being put into practice. He warmly welcomed students to the robotics workshops, investing in the next generation.
Closing his speech, Stavros Arnaoutakis thanked the staff of the Observatory of Innovative Entrepreneurship and the Directorate of Development Planning, as well as the speakers and exhibitors who guaranteed the success of the event.
“Crete can further establish itself at the forefront of the digital era, innovation, and Artificial Intelligence. This is our shared challenge, and together we will achieve it,” concluded the Governor.
The “Innovation Days – InnoDays 2025” are hosted at the International Exhibition Center of Crete and will continue until November 30.
