Greece - Country Commercial Guide
Information and Communications Technology
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Overview

Greece is undergoing a profound digital transformation through a multifaceted plan to fully digitize the country by 2025. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector is the driving force behind the Greek government’s efforts to reduce bureaucracy, simplify procedures, and boost the country’s digital economy. Greece currently ranks 25 out of 27 EU Member States in the European Union (EU) Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). However, Greece has progressed significantly in recent years compared with other EU Member States as the pandemic greatly accelerated the pace of the digital transformation and many public services were moved online.  According to the European Commission’s annual report, Greece has made significant progress, notably in Very High-Capacity Networks (VHCN) and 5G coverage, while in digital public services (gov.gr) the number of active users of e-government services has increased to 69%, which is 4 percentage points above the EU average of 65%. It is worth noting that in 2022 almost 1570 services offered on the gov.gr platform resulted in 1.2 billion transactions. Finally, the removal of Greece from the USTR 301 watchlist in 2020 highlights the commitment of the government to invest in the digital transformation of the country and meet European Union standards.

Greece’s improved digital environment has attracted increased investment and activity from U.S. technology firms including Microsoft, IBM, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Digital Reality, Amazon, Google, Starlink and Palo Alto Networks. While some of these firms have a long history in Greece, many have significantly expanded their presence in light of Greece’s recent economic growth and opportunity. Greece is positioning itself to become a regional data and innovation hub with significant activity which includes Microsoft’s “GR for Growth” initiative which will establish three data centers in the Attica region and train 100,000 citizens in digital technologies by 2025; Cisco’s international innovation and digital skills development center in Thessaloniki; Deloitte’s Alexander Competence Center (DACC) S.A., launched in Thessaloniki as a hub for the development of next generation innovation services and talent, currently employing around 1,000 young professionals, with plans to further invest in the potential of talented graduates; and Accenture’s 30-year presence in Greece employing over 1,150 consultants. U.S. firms enjoy a solid reputation in the country as leaders in providing cloud, database systems, applications infrastructure and software systems, communication systems, developer tools, business analytics, enterprise management and cybersecurity solutions, in both the public and private sectors.

The value of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Market

In 2022, the value of the ICT market in Greece totaled $6.7 billion USD, accounting for 2.84% of the country’s GDP. Given the Mitsotakis administration’s emphasis on digital growth, experts expect continued increases as Greece attracts additional foreign investments, implements 5G and fiber optic infrastructure projects, digitizes more public services and implements smart cities initiatives.

Leading Sub-sectors

Information Technology (IT) accounts for 33% of the total ICT Market, with a value $2.21 billion USD.

The IT sector consists of:

  • IT hardware equipment (32%)
  • IT services including (50%)
  • Business software, mainly ERP (18%)

Telecommunications accounts for 67% of the total ICT Market with total value at $4.45 billion.

The telecommunications sector consists of:

  • Telecommunications services: the leading category in the telecom sector, accounts for 81% of the market, and is made up primarily of three players. Cosmote (a fully owned subsidiary of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) owned and managed by Germany’s Deutsche Telekom) with 46% share of the market, Vodafone (a subsidiary of Vodafone Group) with 31%, and NOVA with 22%.
  • Telecommunications equipment: the second largest category which accounts for the remaining 19% of the market is essentially dominated by the sale of smartphones.

Opportunities

From the $30.5 billion in EU Recovery and Resilience funds (RRF) approved by the European Commission for Greece as part of the Greece 2.0 program, $7.7 billion is allocated to the country’s digital transformation, representing 23% of the plan’s total. It includes a comprehensive set of reforms and investments in digital fields, addressing the country-specific recommendations and reflecting Greece’s effort to support the country’s digital transition.

Major Government reforms for 2023-2027 include:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI can help in critical areas such as health, safety, economy with the establishment of a National Council to examine the challenges and threats arising from the use and development of AI.
  • Cybersecurity: The establishment of a Cybersecurity Organization covering the entire range of activities related to the prevention, protection, deterrence, and recovery from cyberattacks.
  • Open Data: Utilizing AI tools, in harmony with European and international standards and directives, the public sector will post open and usable datasets on data.gov.gr, according to the legislation on personal data.
  • Digital Accessibility: Promote the harmonization of digital services, according to international standards so that public websites and applications are accessible to all.

Greece’s recovery and resilience plan supports the digital transition with investments and reforms in the digitalization of public administration and private sector companies, connectivity, and digital skills. Approved digital transformation projects for 2023-2027 included in the “Greece 2.0” plan are worth 3.4 billion euro.

Greece plans to invest $176 million USD for the development of 5G networks, $1.43 billion USD in the digital transformation of the public sector and another $413 million USD for the digitalization of businesses, promoting the integration of digital technologies in SMEs. Furthermore, the plan will invest over $550 million USD to promote the digital transformation of the education and health system, while nearly $825 million USD will be invested in digital upskilling.

The plan encompasses projects aimed at:

  • Enhancing connectivity, by accelerating and facilitating the deployment of very high-capacity networks including 5G, fiber optic infrastructure and digital interconnection of Greek islands to cover 94% of the country by 2027.
  • Digital transformation of the public sector (health, education, judicial, etc.) including central infrastructure and computing services, cloud and digital interoperability and CRM, notably through a wider adoption of digital capacities and advanced digital technologies.
  • Full digitalization of the tax authorities, use of new methods against tax evasion (controls using artificial intelligence, online monitoring freight etc.), introduction of electronic cash registers and POS, and electronic invoicing for the private sector.
  • Fostering the digitalization of Greek businesses.
  • Developing the digital skills of the population to reduce the digital divide.
  • Digitization of the archives of the Public Sector records
  • Enhancing cybersecurity protection of critical assets.

Cybersecurity: The Greek government has created the National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA) to safeguard the digital transformation of the country from growing cyber threats and implement a national cybersecurity strategy. The strategy, published on December 7, 2020, defines the objectives, priorities, policy, and regulatory measures needed to secure the public and the private sectors and critical infrastructures. In addition, the Greek government has released a 5G Toolbox, in line with the EU toolbox on 5G, ensuring secure critical infrastructures. The toolbox aims to create a robust and objective framework of security measures to ensure an adequate level of cybersecurity of 5G networks. The toolbox highlights a number of important security challenges, which are likely to appear or become more prominent in 5G networks. These security challenges, among others, are mainly linked to strengthening security requirements for mobile network operators, increasing security concerns related to the availability and integrity of the networks, in addition to the confidentiality and privacy concerns, as well as the complexity of the interlinkages between suppliers and operators, and the degree of dependency on individual suppliers.

Pending privatizations of critical shipyards, ports and airports in addition to grid modernization and floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) projects are expected to increase opportunities for cybersecurity solutions. These opportunities will likely be through private tenders by the project owners.

The startup ecosystem: According to Deloitte, the startup ecosystem in Greece, which is mainly composed of companies that facilitate digital transformation with innovative technological solutions, is growing and has been attracting even higher investments. Greek startups are receiving increased European attention, with the funding exceeding €594 million in 2021 and the total amount of investments totaling over €357 million in 2022, with the participation of non-Greek investors reaching 73%. The Greek state has implemented multiple initiatives to support further expansion of the Greek start-up ecosystem, ranging from the creation of a National Start-up Registry (Elevate Greece) to the provision of tax incentives and funding opportunities.

Tenders for projects will be announced on the Ministry of Digital Governance https://mindigital.gr/archives/category/prokhryxeis and the DIAVGEIA national tenders platform https://diavgeia.gov.gr/.  Firms interested in competing for these tenders will need to have a local partner, such as an integrator, if they cannot provide the full solution. Furthermore, local partners are recommended due to tender requirements, execution, and navigating complicated bureaucratic procedures.

Resources

The Ministry of Digital Governance,  https://mindigital.gr/

The Federation of Hellenic ICT Enterprises (SEPE) https://www.sepe.gr/

Greek Research and Technology Network (GRNET) https://www.grnet.gr/

The Hellenic Association of Innovative Applications Companies (SEKEE) https://www.sekee.gr/en/

Elevate Greece, official platform on the Greek Startup Ecosystem, https://elevategreece.gov.gr/

European Commission, Greece in the Digital Economy, and Society Index https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/desi-greece

European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (‘ENISA’) https://www.enisa.europa.eu/

Deloitte https://www2.deloitte.com/gr/en.html

For more information about opportunities in the ICT sector, please contact ICT Industry Specialist Nikos Papachryssanthopoulos at nikos.papachrys@trade.gov.