Smart Islands and Small Cities – Policies, Technologies, Financing Solutions & Good Practices, a conference organized by the Aegean Energy & Environment Agency, the Network of Sustainable Greek Islands (DAFNI) and energypress for February 22 and 23 at the Ionic Center (11 Lysiou, Plaka, Athens) will feature many prominent speakers from Greece and other parts of Europe.

Held under the auspices of the energy ministry, to be represented by energy minister Giorgos Stathakis and secretary general Mihalis Veriopoulos, the event will focus on smart technology development and support (technical and financial) for the country’s islands and small cities through national and European financing solutions and programs.

Visiting speakers include: Wioletta Dunin-Majewska, European Commission Policy Coordinator, Retail Markets, Directorate General for Energy; Willebrordus Sluijters, DG for Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission; Eugenia Kazamaki Ottersten, Head of Smart Development Division, JASPERS, European Investment Bank; Lada Strelnikova, Director, Deutsche Asset Management, Investment Advisor, European Energy Efficiency Fund; and Marc Pons Pons, Regional Minister for Land Use, Energy and Mobility, Regional Government of Balearic Islands.

A speech by Panayiotis Tournavitis, General Manager at Cooperative Bank of Karditsa, perhaps Greece’s most active cooperative bank with an extensive track record in supporting local green project development investments, should be interesting.

The mayors of Rethymno, Kalamata, Halkida, Elefsina, Velestino and Katerini, representing provincial Greek cities that have taken pioneering “urban innovation” initiatives in the fields of energy, transportation, public lighting, and use of electric cars, will also deliver speeches.

Other local participants will include Kostas Komninos, Director, Network of Sustainable Greek Islands DAFNI; Nikolaos Hatziargyriou, President & CEO, Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator; and Vassilis Nikolopoulos, CEO, INTELEN Inc., Greece.