News

Strengthening European collaboration in Aerospace and Defence

On May 6th, 2025, PRAXI Network had the honour of hosting the annual meeting of the Aerospace & Defence Sector Group of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) in Athens. The meeting took place at the Metropolitan Expo exhibition centre as part of the international DEFEA 2025 – Defence Exhibition Athens, bringing together over 40 Sector Group members from across Europe, along with representatives of the European Commission (DG DEFIS), business leaders, and key stakeholders in the aerospace, defence, and cybersecurity sectors.

International participation and strategic dialogue

The event opened with welcome addresses by Dr. Konstantinos Vavekis, Director of PRAXI Network, Dr. Achilleas Barlas, Coordinator of Enterprise Europe Network – Hellas, and Simone Sparano, Chair of the Sector Group. Mr. Sparano presented the Group’s achievements to date and its strategic priorities for 2024–2025, while members shared good practices and recent initiatives.

Anna Sibilla (EISMEA) and Georgios Stavritis, Project Manager at the European Commission / DG DEFIS, outlined available support tools for businesses in the sector, with a particular focus on opportunities under the European Defence Fund and wider EU initiatives aimed at fostering cooperation, innovation, and competitiveness.

The Greek ecosystem in the spotlight

The programme also featured presentations from Greek institutions and companies. The Hellenic Ministry of Defence / General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments (GDAEE) was represented by Captain Dimitrios Filiagkos, while two Greek dual-use companies showcased their work:

• Angelos Tsereklas Zafeirakis, CEO of SOTIRIA Technology

• Aris Kolokythas, CEO, and Argyris Mellios, Sales Engineer at Velos Rotors

Their interventions highlighted the technological capabilities and international outlook of Greek entrepreneurship in this field.

Focus on cybersecurity and Europe’s competitiveness

A special thematic session was delivered by Olga Fleming, Regulatory Compliance Advisor, titled “Cybersecurity in Aerospace: Enhancing Compliance and Strategic Resilience.” Her presentation focused on the importance of compliance and resilience in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Achilleas Barlas contributed to the strategic discussion on Europe’s role in defence innovation with his presentation “The Future of European Competitiveness: The Defence Point of View,” setting the stage for reflection on the sector’s future challenges and opportunities.

PRAXI Network at the forefront of innovation

We extend our warmest thanks to all Sector Group members for their participation, and especially to Achilleas Barlas for coordinating the organisation of this important meeting on behalf of PRAXI Network.

The Aerospace & Defence sector is a key priority for Europe’s strategic autonomy, and PRAXI Network remains committed to connecting, supporting and advancing innovation at national and European level.

📸 See highlights from the meeting in our photo gallery.