In a move to strengthen digital cooperation, Greece and France have reached several key agreements on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and startup collaborations. Greek Deputy Minister for Digital Governance Konstantinos Kyranakis visited Paris last Tuesday to attend the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), an OECD council focused on setting ethical standards for AI. The visit also included high-level discussions with Clara Chappaz, France’s deputy minister for digital affairs.
France is a leader in AI, thanks to pioneering companies like Mistral, which specialize in advanced large language models (LLMs). These AI systems excel in four key areas: multilingual translation, speech-to-text conversion (benefiting individuals with hearing impairments), chatbot interactions, and sentiment analysis.
The latter capability enables businesses to analyze social media posts or customer reviews, identifying emotions like satisfaction or discontent, which can be crucial for marketing strategies. Greece, which already uses similar AI technologies, stands to benefit from France’s advanced expertise, making this partnership particularly strategic.
Cybersecurity was another focal point of the bilateral discussions. France’s renowned “Campus Cyber” in Paris hosts over 140 cybersecurity firms, serving as a hub of innovation and expertise.
The agreement includes transferring cybersecurity knowledge to Greece, a critical need as the country aims to bolster its defenses against increasing cyber threats. The two nations also explored ways to foster collaboration between their respective startup ecosystems. Chappaz, a former director of La French Tech – France’s national initiative to support tech innovation – discussed with Kyranakis the potential for “speed meetings” between Greek and French startups.
These rapid networking sessions aim to spark joint ventures and knowledge sharing, potentially driving innovation in both countries. Greece, in return, will share best practices from its successful gov.gr platform, which has streamlined public sector operations and enhanced digital services for citizens. The Greek government’s case studies on simplifying bureaucratic procedures are of particular interest to French officials, who are looking to enhance their own digital infrastructure.
“This collaboration with France highlights Greece’s commitment to continuously seeking global best practices in digital transformation,” Kyranakis told Kathimerini, stressing that Greece aims to position itself at the forefront of digital innovation. The next phase of this partnership will focus on concrete projects, with both sides eager to showcase progress at the upcoming AI Summit, to be hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in February.