by Natasha Pavlopoulou
ATHENS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Athens Innovation Festival has lowered its curtain after three days of interactive discussions, workshops, parallel presentations focusing on innovation ideas and entrepreneurship.
Inspired by the classic marathon, the festival nicknamed "the Marathon of Entrepreneurship" highlighted the value of persistence and effort upheld by marathon sport.
This year's festival, under the auspices of Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos, aims to strengthen the innovative business, research and technology sectors of the Greek economy and build an exchange platform for experienced market officials, startup investors and young entrepreneurs.
It's for the second consecutive year the festival was held in the capital of Greece, a country just walked out of a decade long economic recession.
Greece is seeking a different path to boost its economy. And innovation is considered a critical factor of economic growth.
Paradox Kinetics, a producer of electric bicycles, is one of the innovative businesses in Greece. Ioannis Tsailianis, technical manager of the company said they have learnt the know-how from China.
"We are purchasing the key accessory, the engine from China, because China is the largest producer of neodymium magnets, has the raw materials and the know-how," Tsailianis told Xinhua.
Weighing only 2.5 kg with power of 1500 watt, their products have been exported to many countries around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.
Some businesses are app-based, such as Wedding Agenda, which offers wedding planning via app.
"We've created an app that helps couples organize their wedding, wherever they may be. Easily and quickly they can find wedding professionals, make lists of their guests, their appointments and expenses, just from their mobile phones, tablets or PCs," Ioannis Konstantinidis, General Manager and Founder of the wedding application, told Xinhua.
"We want to destroy the image that the state is an obstacle to entrepreneurship," Greek digital policy and media minister Nikos Pappas said at the opening of the three-day festival, which ended on Wednesday.
The festival was also an initiative of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Athens Startups Business Incubator in cooperation with the Attica regional authority and the Regional Development Fund of Attica.
