The program aims to encourage and support innovative and extroverted entrepreneurship
The process of submission of proposals for participation in the 15th innovation and technology competition of the National Bank has started, the platform is open until Wednesday 09.10.2024.
As announced, this year’s competition marks a new beginning. Its subject matter is fully aligned with the Bank’s priorities.
A few days ago, the “Innovation and Technology” competition, which was organized for the 14th year in a row by the National Bank within the framework of the NBG Business Seeds program, ended with the awarding of 10 innovative businesses.
The program aims to encourage and support innovative and extroverted entrepreneurship, focusing on, among others, Fintech, ESG and finance-related technologies (e.g. AI/Gen AI/Blockchain).
In general, during the 14 years of the competition’s organization, participation reached 8,223, with 4,792 business proposals formulated, and 140 winning teams were awarded 686,000 euros by the National Bank.
The winners of the competition today are very well-known companies in the innovation ecosystem, such as Avocarrot, Pollfish and Mist.io, which have been acquired by international companies, as well as e-table, Ferryhopper, Clio Muse, DoctorAnyTime and many research and student groups; 467 people and groups with 280 proposals participated in the 14th competition.
As stated by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Bank, Gikas Hardouvelis, the National Bank created the NBG Business Seeds Institute to support young people and their ideas. During the 14 years of the competition, it has so far invested a total of 15 million euros, of which 1/3 (5.6 million euros) has been invested. It is a program covering innovative entrepreneurship with targeted activities in Athens, Thessaloniki and Heraklion, informing, guiding and mainly helping research groups and innovative small and medium enterprises.
The first winner of the 14th “Innovation and Technology” competition was the Genosophy team, which was awarded with a cash prize of 20,000 euros during the event.
The GENOSOPHY® research team has developed a specialized algorithm based on DNA genetic control analysis and offers innovative health and wellness solutions aimed at improving population health. The goal is mainly to prevent and manage diet-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc.
