28DIGITAL and the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation (HCDI) have established a comprehensive strategic partnership aimed at strengthening Greece's position as an emerging European innovation hub and advancing dual-use technology development across the continent.
This collaboration represents a significant milestone in Greece's journey to become a central player in Europe's technology landscape, arriving at a moment of unprecedented growth and opportunity for the country's startup and innovation ecosystem.
According to the recent "FWD Greece: Innovation Pulse 2025–2026" report—launched by Found.ation in collaboration with 28DIGITAL and the Hellenic Development Bank of Investments (HDBI)—Greek startups attracted over €732 million in investment, representing a striking 35% increase from previous periods.
The 28DIGITAL-HCDI Memorandum of Understanding establishes a dynamic, multi-faceted framework specifically designed to build on this investment momentum while systematically addressing the critical needs within Greece's maturing innovation ecosystem.
The partnership creates an integrated approach that connects multiple dimensions of ecosystem development, from grassroots startup support to high-level policy engagement and international market access.
At the operational level, the collaboration will drive joint awareness and outreach campaigns designed to strengthen connections across Greece's innovation landscape, bringing together entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and corporate partners in new ways.
The partnership will also provide dedicated growth support for startups and small-to-medium enterprises through comprehensive acceleration services, mentorship programs, and facilitated access to both national and international funding sources. This support infrastructure is particularly crucial given the report's findings about the need for more robust pathways from early-stage innovation to scale-up and market success.
Strategic market expansion represents another central pillar of the partnership, with plans to launch a National Dual-Use Technology Accelerator in Greece that will serve as a focal point for technologies with applications across both civilian and defence sectors. This accelerator will be complemented by facilitated international delegation programs and global soft-landing support designed to help Greek companies successfully enter new markets across Europe and beyond.
The collaboration is also committed to strengthening technology transfer mechanisms between research and development centres, academic institutions, and industry partners, addressing a persistent challenge in innovation ecosystems worldwide: the gap between breakthrough research and commercial application.
The partnership is already demonstrating immediate operational value. Both organizations have been actively collaborating on the AI Challenge 2025, a Europe-wide initiative coordinated by 28DIGITAL's AI Community. HCDI is leveraging this platform to directly engage Greek startups and researchers in developing resilient, AI-driven solutions for national strategic challenges.
“Our partnership with HCDI creates a direct channel to connect regional excellence with Europe's largest deep tech network. Together, we're integrating Greek talent and innovation into the European mainstream, directly contributing to the continent's digital sovereignty and strategic competitiveness," said Federico Menna, CEO of 28DIGITAL.
“At HCDI, we believe deeply in the power of partnerships because tackling today’s most complex technological and security challenges requires more than isolated effort — it demands strategic alliances, shared ambition, and a truly European ecosystem approach. Our partnership with 28DIGITAL reflects this conviction: by working together, we can connect Greek and European innovators with international networks, accelerate dual-use solutions, and reinforce Europe’s competitive and sovereign innovation base. Only through collaboration can we transform bold ideas into impact and build resilient, forward-looking capabilities for our societies,” said Pantelis Tzortzakis, CEO at HCDI.
As Greece continues to attract increased investment and attention from the international innovation community, the partnership between HCDI and 28DIGITAL, provides crucial access to continental networks, markets, and expertise that will accelerate Greece's transition from emerging ecosystem to established innovation hub.
