The event took place on April 4–5, in collaboration with the Innovation and Digital Economy Hub and the C.Ioannina Cowork Community.

On Friday, April 4, at the “Dimitris Chatzis” Cultural Venue, the summit hosted a series of presentations and interactive conversations centered around the growing momentum of digital nomadism and Greece’s potential to position itself as a top destination for remote workers.

The conference showcased Ioannina as a rising technology hub, highlighting the prospects of a contemporary ecosystem focused on innovation and digital entrepreneurship.

Digital nomads who have chosen Greece as their base for remote work took the stage to share stories from their daily lives, offering valuable feedback drawn from personal experience.

Opening remarks were delivered by Nikos Diamantopoulos, General Director of Marketing Greece, and Tasos Koutlas, Co-founder of the Innovation and Digital Economy Hub. Both emphasized the importance of collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and developing a unified strategy for the city’s future growth.

Mr. Diamantopoulos noted that digital nomads represent an especially dynamic audience with the power to positively influence destinations, describing this year’s summit as a significant step toward shaping sustainable tourism models. Mr. Koutlas referred to the city’s multidimensional drivers of development — from agri-food production and education to digital innovation — stressing the value of synergy among academia, businesses, and the startup ecosystem.

In her address, Deputy Minister of Tourism Anna Karamanli congratulated Marketing Greece for organizing the initiative and highlighted Greece’s capacity to evolve into a leading destination for remote workers.

She praised the country’s hospitality, rich history, vibrant culture, and high quality of life, while underlining the need for strategic collaboration and infrastructure development.

Additional remarks were delivered by:

• Vassilios Gorgolis, Deputy Regional Governor for the Environment, Region of Epirus

• Christos Tatsis, Deputy Mayor for Trade, Business Development and Tourism

• Spyros Sourelis, President of the Ioannina Hoteliers Association

During the summit, the WORKFROMGREECE.GR initiative was presented by Androniki Kalfa (Marketing Manager, Marketing Greece), while Lotus Vrijma, founder of Avnea, shared the vision and actions of her platform.

Under the theme “Education and Innovation”, Professor Savvas Christoforidis (Director of the Institute of Biomedical Research – IBE/FORTH and Professor of Biological Chemistry at the University of Ioannina Medical School) engaged in a thought-provoking dialogue with journalist Maria Akrivou, focusing on the opportunities born from research collaboration and knowledge exchange.

The panel “Ioannina | A Center for Technology and Innovation” featured:

• Georgios Goletsis, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Ioannina and Scientific Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Unit (MOKE)

• Stelios Gouskos, Chairman of the Board at Terracom

The speakers emphasized the pivotal role of human capital, the need for international outlook, and the importance of building strong partnerships to achieve sustainable technological progress.

The day concluded with Irini Maragos, Co-founder of the Innovation and Digital Economy Hub, welcoming foreign digital professionals currently living in Ioannina. They shared their overwhelmingly positive impressions of life in the city — highlighting its sense of safety, the friendliness of locals, widespread English proficiency, pleasant climate, cultural richness, and exceptional gastronomy.

On Saturday, April 5, the summit wrapped up with a Walking Tour dedicated to the city’s business heritage. Organized in collaboration with the Small Enterprises’ Institute of GSEVEE, the tour guided participants through Ioannina’s historic center and key landmarks tied to the city’s economic evolution.