What’s happening in my country

Greece

This page contains specific information about the planning and implementation of smart villages in Greece. The information aims to orient people on policy planning, key contacts and resources on smart villages. However, it neither aims to be fully comprehensive, nor necessarily reflects the official government or European Commission position.

Explore how smart villages are being implemented in Greece.

You can also visit the page of the Smart Rural 21 selected village: Kythera

Key CAP contact(s) :

Ministry of Rural Development and Food
Key contact(s) :
Ioannis Kovanis (Coordinator of the Local Development Strategies as part of the preparation for the CAP Strategic Plan)
Email : ikovanis@mou.gr
Website : http://www.minagric.gr/index.php/en/component/content/

Support for Smart Villages under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

  • The planning of the new CAP Strategic Plan (2021-2027) – including smart villages – has started through discussions within the relevant consultation groups. The General Secretariat of Agro-Community Policy and Community Resource Management is managing this task.
  • Smart Villages is likely to be implemented  through the ‘Cooperation’ intervention. Cooperation interventions could include all aspects of cooperation, such as establishing quality systems, collective action in the environment and climate, promoting short supply chains and local markets, pilot projects, business projects, local development programmes, smart villages, agricultural partnerships, forest management plans, networks and partnerships, social agriculture, actions under the LEADER programme, and the establishment of groups and producers’ organisations, as well as other forms of cooperation that are deemed necessary achieving the specific objectives of the CAP.
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Key NRN contact(s) :

Ministry of Rural Development and Food, National Rural Network
Key contact(s) :
Gabriela Michail (Head of Networking and Publicity Unit)
Email : gmichail@mou.gr
Website : https://ead.gr/home-en/gnrn-en/

Activities of the National Rural Network (NRN) on smart villages

  • The NRN in Greece has a strong interest on working on the smart village topic. 
  • The NRN has no specific activities related to smart villages yet. Colleagues of the NRN Network Support Unit followed the activities of the ENRD Thematic Group for smart villages.
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Support provided through other national/ regional policies & initiatives

  • The “Next Generation National Broadband Access Plan” in Greece is the roadmap for developing the availability of modern broadband infrastructure in the country, as well as the adoption of high and ultra-high-speed broadband services by citizens and businesses. The plan includes a set of interventions at legislative and regulatory level, as well as practical support actions for the development of modern broadband infrastructures.

Key ressources :

Next Generation National Broadband Access Plan

The roadmap for developing the availability of modern broadband infrastructure in the country, as well as the adoption of high and ultra-high-speed broadband services by citizens and businesses. The plan includes a set of interventions at legislative and regulatory level, as well as practical support actions for the development of modern broadband infrastructures.

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Key organisations & contacts

Key contact(s) :

Dimitris Bogiatzis ()
Email : triin@leaderliit.eu

LAG of Attica

Key activities :
  • Member of the Smart Village Network (www.smart-village-network.eu)
  • Partner in LEADER TNC project on Smart Villages
  • Promoting and helping strategy development in Smart Rural 21 participant village: Kythera

Ministry of Digital Policy, General Secretariat for Telecommunications & Post

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Further key resources

How to support the Smart Villages? Directions for the LEADER Local Action Groups
European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) ( 2021 )
In this brief we explore the potential role of LEADER/CLLD in supporting the implementation of the Smart Villages concept, we assess the current LEADER/CLLD implementation barriers identified by LAGs and present recommendations on how these barriers can be overcome to fully exploit the potential of Smart Villages at the local level.
Language : Greek
RIS3 and Digital Growth Strategy in Greece Smart Specialisation, ICT Projects and e-Services A report to the European Commission, Directorate General for Regional Policy, Unit I3 – Greece & Cyprus
N. Komninos ( 11/2015 )
This report summarises the findings of desk research about the ICT related actions proposed by the regional and national Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation in Greece. Moreover, it assess these findings with respect to (a) ICT implementation problems in Greece encountered in the period 2007-2013 and the poor performance of the Digital Convergence Programme over this period, and (b) opinions / interviews with public government officials having responsibility for implementing Broadband and ICT actions during the current programming period 2014-2020.
Language : English
Kytherian olive grove data collection
Agricultural University of Athens ( 09/2021 – 02/2022 )
A short video communicating the value of Kytherian island’s olive groves data collection carried out within the framework of the Smart Rural 21 project. The data collection is expected to expand the expertise of the ’Terra Kytheria’ programme which promotes the local olive oil, supports producers and the economic and social revitalisation of the primary sector of Kythera.
Language : English
Summary Report – Terra Kytheria data collection
Agricultural University of Athens ( 09/2021 )
A report on the data collection process of the feedback and scientifically documented precision farming and certification system for olive cultivation, carried out by the Terra Kytheria programme within the framework of the Smart Rural 21 project. Such extended use of smart farming solutions is expected to support agricultural and environmental sustainability on the Kythera island, enhancing local produce, mainly olive oil production. It will additionally provide complementary expertise to Terra Kytheria which supports the revitalisation of the island’s primary sector.
Language : English
Kythera Island as a Sustainable Destination for the Conservation of Natural & Cultural Heritage
Rigas Zafeiriou - Kytherian Foundation for Culture & Development ( 18/10/2022 )
A presentation on Smart Rural 21 selected community Kythera’s (Greece) experience with conservation of natural and cultural heritage. The presentation was given in the workshop “How to preserve natural, cultural and architectural heritage while entering a modern age (including dealing with mass tourism)?” at the Smart Rural 21 project’s Final Conference of 17-18 October 2022 in Sopot, Poland.
Language : English
Kythera’s Smart Village journey
Dimitris Bogiatzis , Aikaterini Kasimati ( 17/10/2022 )
A presentation on Kythera’s smart journey, including how the island got engaged with the ‘Smart Village’ concept, and the ‘smart’ actions carried out and plans for the future. The presentation was given at the Smart Rural 21 project’s Final Conference of 17-18 October 2022 in Sopot, Poland.
Language : English
Smart Villages: Revitalising Rural Services
( 09/07/2018 )
A video with Greek subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Greek
9th Smart Rural Café, Kythera (Greece)
Rigas Zafeiriou , Aikaterini Kasimati - Agricultural University of Athens , Kytherian Foundation for Culture & Development ( 08/04/2022 )
Aikaterini Kasimati (Agricultural University of Athens) and Rigas Zafeiriou (Kytherian Foundation for Culture & Development) talk about how Kythera Island has been transforming into a full-fledged adventure destination by employing an integrated approach, including Terra Kythera brand and Kytherian Olive oil as PDO, the island’s sustainable tourism development, the INCREAte approach and innovations (culture and nature) and more…
Language : English
Kythera Smart Action and the involvement of its stakeholders
Aikaterini Kasimati - Agricultural University of Athens ( 27/01/2022 )
A presentation given at the third Smart Rural 21 regional workshop on Kythera’s (Greece) Smart Village Strategy and the involvement of the community in related smart actions, as one of the project’s 21 selected villages.
Language : English
Smart Village Strategy of Kythera (Greece)
( 12/2020 )
The Smart Village Strategy of  Kythera has been developed in the context of the ‘Preparatory Action for Smart Rural Areas in the 21st Century’ project funded by the European Commission.
Language : English
Summary Highlights of the Smart Village Strategy of Kythera (Greece)
( 12/2020 )
The Summary Highlights of the Smart Village Strategy of Kythera has been developed in the context of the ‘Preparatory Action for Smart Rural Areas in the 21st Century’ project funded by the European Commission.
Language : English
Kythera Trails
Dimitris Bogiatzis - LAG of Attica ( 27/10/2020 )
A presentation provided at the 1st Smart Village Academy of the Smart Rural 21 project by Kythera (one of the selected 21 communities) on their digital tourism trail initiative.
Language : English
Next Generation National Broadband Access Plan
Ministry of Digital Policy, General Secretariat for Telecommunications & Post
The Next Generation National Broadband Access Plan is the roadmap for developing the availability of modern broadband infrastructure in the country, as well as the adoption of high and ultra-high-speed broadband services by citizens and businesses.
Language : English, Greek
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