By Leta Kalamara

The Hellenic Center for Defense Innovation has launched the Pitch Arena for companies within the dual-use technology ecosystem.

The goal is to create a structured, recurring mechanism to connect Greek startups with the Greek investment community.

In total, 35 Greek startups are participating in the action, which confirms both the dynamics of the ecosystem and the demand for quality, curated pitching formats for dual-use companies.

Being mapped within the defense innovation ecosystem of the Hellenic Center for Defense Innovation—and the corresponding registration of the technological capabilities and maturity of the companies' solutions—is a prerequisite for access to corresponding actions of high added value.

Startups and scale-ups operating in areas such as artificial intelligence, autonomy, sensors, cybersecurity, robotics and space applications are developing solutions with a real operational and commercial footprint, capable of serving both civil and defense markets.

The Pitch Arena demonstrates how mapping translates into specific opportunities for exposure, networking and investment interest for Greek startups. According to Pantelis Tzortzakis, CEO of the Center, "our goal is to expand the action to Cyprus in the near future, allowing Pitch Arena to function as a regional hub that connects dual-use startups with investors, defense agencies and industrial organizations of the Southeastern Mediterranean."