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About the Workshop

The GAEA Workshop brings together experts, industry leaders, and innovators to explore the future of green innovation, energy autonomy, and the circular economy. Over two days, participants engage in keynotes, presentations, and roundtables on Europe’s green transition and open innovation, followed by the GAEA Demo Day featuring insights on technology transfer, investment readiness, industry needs, and startup pitches. The event concludes with a startup expo and investor discussions, creating a dynamic platform for collaboration and sustainable solutions.

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3

Years

8

Countries

485+

Student

165+

Pitch decks

80+

Seminars

42+

Mentors

Location: Athens Olympic Museum
14:30–15:00

Registration & Networking Coffee

Arrival, registration and first networking opportunities.

15:00–15:10

Welcome – GAEA: A Brief Overview

Speaker: Vasilis Athanasiadis, Business Creation & Strategy Manager, Mantis Beyond Innovation

15:10–15:25

Keynote: Green Innovation & European Energy Autonomy

Speaker: Prof. Konstantinos Aravossis, UNESCO Chairholder on Green Innovation and Circular Economy, NTUA & Vice President and Waste Management BoD Chairman at RAAEY

15:25–15:35

From Ideas to Impact: The GAEA Innovation Pathway

Speaker: Vasilis Athanasiadis, Business Creation & Strategy Manager, Mantis Beyond Innovation

15:35–15:55

GAEA Outcomes & Impact Presentation – The Role of Open Innovation

Speaker: Christos Nikoloudis, Founder & CEO at Mantis Beyond Innovation | Head of Research for Innovation at UNESCO Chair on Green Innovation and Circular Economy, NTUA

15:55–16:10

PASEPPE Phasing the Challenges: Green Transition, Innovation & Partnership with GAEA

Speaker: Charalampos Charalampidis, President of PASEPPE, Director of Environmental & Energy from Waste Projects, GEK TERNA S.A.

16:10–16:30

Green Industrial Transition & the Role of Environmental Protection Enterprises in Europe’s Future

Roundtable #1 – Moderator: Antonios Papadakis, Representative of KENTRO INFORMATICS LTD. (Special Advisor)

  • Elias Avramikos, representative of POLYECO S.A. (General Secretary)
  • Nikolaos Goliopoulos, representative of GOLIOPOULOS S.A. (2nd Vice President)
  • Dimitra Drakopoulou, representative of ENVITEC S.A. (Treasurer)
  • Theodosia Batouva, representative of THALIS E.S. S.A. – Motor Oil Group (1st Vice President)
  • GAEA startup representative
16:30–16:50

Greece in Transition: A National Strategy for Waste Management & the Circular Economy

Roundtable #2 – Moderator: Antonios Papadakis, Representative of KENTRO INFORMATICS LTD. (Special Advisor)

  • Manolis Grafakos, Secretary General of Waste Management Coordination
  • Charalampos Charalampidis, President of PASEPPE, Director of Environmental & Energy from Waste Projects, GEK TERNA S.A.
  • Giorgos Iliopoulos, President of EEDSA
16:50–17:10

Raw Materials, Circularity & European Autonomy: What Comes Next?

Speaker: Representative from EIT RM

17:10–17:30

Break

Networking and informal discussions.

17:30–18:00

Shaping the Future of GAEA – Partners Roundtable

Moderator: Angeliki Deligianni, EU Project Manager, Mantis Beyond Innovation

Panelists: Representatives from Consortium Partners (SIC, EIT RM, PASEPPE, Mantis).

18:00–18:20

Plenary Discussion – Open Floor

Moderator: Vasilis Athanasiadis, Business Creation & Strategy Manager, Mantis Beyond Innovation

18:20–19:30

Closing Remarks – Reflection & Networking

Wrap-up discussion, key takeaways and networking.

14:30–15:00

Registration & Networking Coffee

Arrival, registration and first networking opportunities.

15:00–15:10

Welcome – GAEA: A Brief Overview

Speaker: Vasilis Athanasiadis, Business Creation & Strategy Manager, Mantis Beyond Innovation

15:10–15:25

Keynote: Green Innovation & European Energy Autonomy

Speaker: Prof. Konstantinos Aravossis, UNESCO Chairholder on Green Innovation and Circular Economy, NTUA & Vice President and Waste Management BoD Chairman at RAAEY

15:25–15:35

From Ideas to Impact: The GAEA Innovation Pathway

Speaker: Vasilis Athanasiadis, Business Creation & Strategy Manager, Mantis Beyond Innovation

15:35–15:55

GAEA Outcomes & Impact Presentation – The Role of Open Innovation

Speaker: Christos Nikoloudis, Founder & CEO at Mantis Beyond Innovation | Head of Research for Innovation at UNESCO Chair on Green Innovation and Circular Economy, NTUA

15:55–16:10

PASEPPE Phasing the Challenges: Green Transition, Innovation & Partnership with GAEA

Speaker: Charalampos Charalampidis, President of PASEPPE, Director of Environmental & Energy from Waste Projects, GEK TERNA S.A.

16:10–16:30

Green Industrial Transition & the Role of Environmental Protection Enterprises in Europe’s Future

Roundtable #1 – Moderator: Antonios Papadakis, Representative of KENTRO INFORMATICS LTD. (Special Advisor)

  • Elias Avramikos, representative of POLYECO S.A. (General Secretary)
  • Nikolaos Goliopoulos, representative of GOLIOPOULOS S.A. (2nd Vice President)
  • Dimitra Drakopoulou, representative of ENVITEC S.A. (Treasurer)
  • Theodosia Batouva, representative of THALIS E.S. S.A. – Motor Oil Group (1st Vice President)
  • GAEA startup representative
16:30–16:50

Greece in Transition: A National Strategy for Waste Management & the Circular Economy

Roundtable #2 – Moderator: Antonios Papadakis, Representative of KENTRO INFORMATICS LTD. (Special Advisor)

  • Manolis Grafakos, Secretary General of Waste Management Coordination
  • Charalampos Charalampidis, President of PASEPPE, Director of Environmental & Energy from Waste Projects, GEK TERNA S.A.
  • Giorgos Iliopoulos, President of EEDSA
16:50–17:10

Raw Materials, Circularity & European Autonomy: What Comes Next?

Speaker: Representative from EIT RM

17:10–17:30

Break

Networking and informal discussions.

17:30–18:00

Shaping the Future of GAEA – Partners Roundtable

Moderator: Angeliki Deligianni, EU Project Manager, Mantis Beyond Innovation

Panelists: Representatives from Consortium Partners (SIC, EIT RM, PASEPPE, Mantis).

18:00–18:20

Plenary Discussion – Open Floor

Moderator: Vasilis Athanasiadis, Business Creation & Strategy Manager, Mantis Beyond Innovation

18:20–19:30

Closing Remarks – Reflection & Networking

Wrap-up discussion, key takeaways and networking.

Location: National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)
14:30–15:00

Registration & Networking Coffee

Arrival, registration and first networking opportunities for Demo Day.

15:00–15:05

Welcome – GAEA Demo Day Introduction

Speaker: Vasilis Athanasiadis, Business Creation & Strategy Manager, Mantis Beyond Innovation

15:05–15:20

Keynote: Opportunities for Green Innovation in Europe (2025–2035)

Speaker: Prof. Konstantinos Aravossis, UNESCO Chairholder on Green Innovation and Circular Economy, NTUA | Vice President and Waste Management BoD Chairman at RAAEY

15:20–15:35

Founder Insights Lightning Panel: Turning Research into Market-Ready Solutions

Moderator: Christos Nikoloudis, Founder & CEO at Mantis Beyond Innovation | Head of Research for Innovation at UNESCO Chair on Green Innovation and Circular Economy, NTUA

Panel with representatives from Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) sharing lessons on commercialization pathways.

15:35–16:00

Industry Needs & Market Signals

Speaker: Charalampos Charalampidis, President of PASEPPE, Director of Environmental & Energy from Waste Projects, GEK TERNA S.A.

Key industry challenges and opportunities that green startups should be solving today.

16:00–16:15

Understanding the Demo Day Process

Speaker: Vasilis Athanasiadis, Business Creation & Strategy Manager, Mantis Beyond Innovation

Format, evaluation criteria and what founders can expect throughout Demo Day.

16:15–16:35

Investor Insights Panel – “What Makes a Green Startup Investable?”

Moderator: Vasilis Athanasiadis, Business Creation & Strategy Manager, Mantis Beyond Innovation

VC partner, angel investor and accelerator representative share what they look for in early-stage green ventures.

16:35–17:20

Startup Pitches — Group 1 (3 Teams)

First group of GAEA startups presents their solutions, followed by Q&A with the jury.

17:20–17:30

Break

Short networking and reset before the second round of pitches.

17:30–18:20

Startup Pitches — Group 2 (4 Teams)

Second wave of GAEA teams pitching their market-ready green innovations.

18:20–19:00

Startup Expo: Virtual Booths & 1:1 Networking

Founders host virtual booths while investors and enterprises join for deep-dive discussions.

19:00–19:30

Investors’ Deep-Dive Roundtable & Closing Reflections

Roundtable on key takeaways, next steps for collaboration and follow-on funding, closing Demo Day with momentum for the next phase of GAEA.

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