A nation at the inflection point
Greece marks a crucial turning point in its online transformation. From breakthrough use of AI by the private sector to governance-first public sector innovation, the country is no longer left behind — it is emerging as a daring case study of AI in Europe.
Is Greece truly leading in AI adoption, or is the picture more nuanced?
When global reports by OECD and AWS positioned Greece among Europe’s most advanced countries in terms of AI integration, the narrative caught attention. At ATC, with hands-on experience delivering AI-powered solutions in both the public and private sector, we were prompted to take a closer look.
We wanted to verify whether strategic ambition was translating into market reality.
Why this report?
To support a fact-based assessment, our marketing team compiled and analyzed the most recent available data — from Eurostat, ELSTAT, the European Investment Bank, and various sectoral studies.
The result: a comprehensive Greek-language report (available for download), outlining the real state of AI adoption in Greece — sector by sector, challenge by challenge.
What we found
- While strategic infrastructure is advancing rapidly (AI Factory, Daedalus supercomputer, national frameworks), actual AI usage among enterprises remains limited and uneven.
- Only 9.8% of Greek businesses report using AI — far below the 2024 EU average.
- SMEs are struggling the most, mainly due to cost, skills gaps, and uncertainty.
- Key sectors like manufacturing, telecom, and financial services — typically AI frontrunners in other countries — lag behind in Greece.
- Beyond technical issues, cultural hesitations and lack of readiness emerged as major obstacles.
What’s next
We’ve already begun updating the analysis with 2025 data, as new insights from the European Investment Bank, Eurostat and national industry bodies emerge. Meanwhile, the original version remains a valuable benchmark — especially for stakeholders looking to understand where policy meets practice.
About Athens Technology Center (ATC)
We believe that AI’s value doesn’t simply lie in automation, but also in empowering organizations, teams, and citizens.
In fact, ATC assists both enterprises and public institutions in
- forming an AI strategy that is consistent with their business or policy goals;
- implementing trustworthy AI systems that comply with European Union regulations;
- building human capacity to maintain innovation over a long period of time.
With extensive experience in data-driven platforms, AI engineering, digital transformation, and more, we remain committed to supporting Greece’s development into a digitally focused, AI-capable country.
