A new channel of communication and cooperation for strengthening the presence of Greek ICT enterprises in Southeast Europe is being established through an initiative by SETPE.

The recent meeting in Bucharest between the Chairman of the BoD of the Association of Hellenic Information Technology Enterprises (SETPE), Anastasios Manos, and the Chairman of the BoD of ANIS Romania, Radu Postolache, laid the foundations for meaningful business connectivity between the technology ecosystems of Greece and Romania.

The meeting took place during the business delegation to Romania organised by the Deputy Minister of Interior (Macedonia and Thrace), Konstantinos P. Gkioulekas, as part of the Ministry’s international outreach tour to Balkan capitals.

The discussion, which took place on Monday 25 May, focused on opportunities for meaningful networking between Greek and Romanian software and digital services companies, with an emphasis on high-demand and high-growth areas such as e-government, smart city applications, digital health, cloud computing services, enterprise IT solutions and cutting-edge technologies.

Particular emphasis was placed on the prospect of joint participation by companies from the two countries in European projects and international tenders, as well as on the utilisation of funding instruments and programmes such as Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe Programme. The discussion highlighted the need for better coordination among companies with complementary expertise, enabling them to form stronger collaborative partnerships and pursue European and international-scale projects more effectively.

At the same time, the two sides exchanged views on digital skills and the availability of specialised human capital, a challenge affecting the technology sector across Europe as a whole. In this context, discussions highlighted the importance of synergies between businesses, universities and training providers, as well as the need to strengthen reskilling and upskilling initiatives for employees and young professionals in the ICT sector.

Export Prospects

A significant part of the meeting also focused on the international orientation and export potential of software companies. As confirmed, Greece and Romania have dynamic technology ecosystems, with companies developing products, services and solutions capable of expanding beyond their national borders. In this context, the two sides explored ways to promote synergies, exchange expertise and develop joint approaches in markets where technology companies from the wider region can establish a stronger presence.

At the same time, ways to expand the export activity of Greek and Romanian technology companies were explored, with an emphasis on developing joint approaches for entering third-country markets. In this regard, the possibility of organising joint trade missions to countries in the Middle East, Southeast Europe and North Africa was discussed, where both Greek and Romanian software products have a competitive advantage. Similarly, the two sides examined the potential for developing a joint digital platform for the promotion and matchmaking of member companies of both organisations, SETPE and ANIS Romania, as well as opportunities for cooperation ahead of major exhibition events, such as the Thessaloniki International Fair in Greece and corresponding technology events in Romania.

For AI

The discussion also addressed Artificial Intelligence, both as a field of technological development and as a subject of regulatory developments at European level. The implementation of the new European Artificial Intelligence Regulation (EU AI Act) introduces, as noted, additional requirements, but also significant opportunities for software and digital services companies, making the exchange of information and best practices among industry organisations essential.

Following the meeting, ANIS sent SETPE a list of its member companies, highlighting the breadth of expertise, products, services and solutions developed by Romania’s technology community. This material can serve as a basis for better coordination between the ecosystems of the two Balkan countries.

Following the meeting, the Chairman of the BoD of SETPE, Anastasios Manos, stated:

“The discussions with ANIS in Bucharest represent a significant step towards strengthening the international outreach of the Greek ICT sector. We are not limiting ourselves to exchanging views; we aim to establish genuine channels of communication between businesses, organisations and technology ecosystems that can collaborate for mutual benefit. Greece and Romania have highly skilled human capital, strong expertise and dynamic companies with the potential to expand their international presence. Our goal is to transform this potential into partnerships, joint initiatives and new opportunities for SETPE members.”

It is worth noting that ANIS Romania is the main employers’ association representing the Romanian software and services industry. It supports the development of the IT sector, the growth of companies producing intellectual property-based products, as well as businesses operating in outsourcing services and international technology solutions.

For its part, SETPE continues to develop relationships with institutional and business stakeholders within the technology ecosystem in Greece and abroad, with the aim of strengthening the international presence of its members and highlighting the role of ICT enterprises in the productive and digital transformation of Southeast Europe.