International Conference on the Boundaries and Impact of Artificial Intelligence – Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, 28–29 May 2026. Historic Partnership between a European and an American University. Official Launch of the New International Dual MSc in "Global Applied AI" with Purdue University Indianapolis
Leading scholars, policymakers, and industry executives from around the world gathered at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens for the two-day International Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AI), jointly organized by the University of Piraeus and Purdue University Indianapolis.
Opening the Conference, the Rector of the University of Piraeus welcomed participants to what he described as a landmark event exploring the practical, economic, and ethical dimensions of Artificial Intelligence. Speaking in his capacity as an educator and President of the National Dialogue on Education, he emphasized that AI has the potential to reduce inequalities in education by providing equitable access to learning opportunities. Rather than replacing teachers, he noted, AI empowers them to become mentors while enabling students to learn at their own pace.
He concluded by stressing that the AI revolution presents Greece with a historic opportunity to strengthen its position on the global innovation landscape through strategic investment in knowledge and digital infrastructure. Achieving this goal, he added, requires close collaboration among academia, government, and industry.
The Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki, also addressed the Conference. She highlighted the importance of international academic partnerships and the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in shaping the future of education. She made special reference to the new International Dual MSc Programme in Global Applied AI, jointly offered by the University of Piraeus and Purdue University Indianapolis, describing it as a shining example of the innovative direction of Greek higher education and, in particular, of the University of Piraeus.
The Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, delivered a video address in which he underlined that Greece is systematically building a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence ecosystem founded on modern digital infrastructure, open data, European partnerships, and strong institutions. This strategy, he noted, will enable the country to capitalize on the opportunities created by AI in a secure, competitive, and socially responsible manner.
Internationally renowned experts from academia, industry, and the public sector delivered keynote addresses and participated in panel discussions throughout the Conference. Distinguished academic speakers included Professor Kostis Daskalakis (MIT and Honorary Professor of the University of Piraeus), Professor Nikolaos Bourbakis (Purdue University Indianapolis and Honorary Doctor of the University of Piraeus), Professor Hironori Washizaki (IEEE Computer Society, Japan), and Professor Maria Virvou, Dean of the School of Information and Communication Technologies at the University of Piraeus and a member of the Organizing Committee of the International Dual MSc Programme in Global Applied AI.
The technology and business community was represented by senior executives from leading international companies, including NVIDIA, Meta, Microsoft, Google Cloud, IBM, Alpha Bank, National Bank of Greece, Piraeus Bank, Pfizer, METLEN, OTE Group, Dialectica, and many other organizations from the public and private sectors, reflecting the broad interdisciplinary nature of the Conference.
The Conference discussions identified three fundamental priorities that will shape the future development and implementation of Artificial Intelligence:
Human-centred and trustworthy AI. Transparency, safety, accountability, and meaningful human oversight are not secondary considerations; they are essential prerequisites for building public trust and ensuring the institutional legitimacy of AI systems.
Innovation with security. While Artificial Intelligence is creating unprecedented opportunities across critical sectors, it also raises complex challenges relating to accuracy, reliability, algorithmic hallucinations, cybersecurity, and protection against digital fraud.
True interdisciplinarity. The responsible development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence cannot rest on a single discipline alone. It requires close collaboration among computer science, engineering, economics, law, business administration, the social sciences, and ethics.
The University of Piraeus sincerely thanks all speakers and participants whose expertise and contributions enriched the Conference and advanced the international dialogue on the future of Artificial Intelligence and its impact on society.
· Andreas Ilias Alexakis – Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Orbito Travel
· Professor Efthimios Alepis – Chair, Department of Informatics, University of Piraeus; Member of the Organizing Committee of the joint Dual MSc Programme Global Applied Artificial Intelligence
· Professor Nancy Alonistioti – Former Vice Chair, Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
· Yiannis Anastasopoulos – Head of Education for Greece, Cyprus and Malta, Microsoft
· Nikos Anastopoulos – Field Sales Executive, Google Cloud
· Sophia Argiti – Data and AI Solutions Specialist, IBM
· Christos Virvilis – General Manager, Mediterraneo Hospital
· Professor Maria Virvou – Dean, School of Information and Communication Technologies, University of Piraeus; Member of the Organizing Committee of the joint Dual MSc Programme Global Applied Artificial Intelligence
· Professor Pavlos Vlachos – Senior Vice President, Device Delivery and Connected Solutions, Lilly; Professor, St. Vincent Health, Purdue University
· Dr Paraskevi Theodorou – University of Piraeus
· Panagiotis Karampinis – Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Endeavor Greece
· Professor Stefanos Kollias – President, GRNET
· Iasonas Kataropoulos – Digital & Technology Director, Gregory's Food Service Group SA
· Dr Stavroula Kousteni – PhD in Public Law (NKUA); Executive, Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE); Member of the Executive Secretariat, National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities (ESAmeA)
· René Krikke – AI Transformation Director, Missionware
· Stelios Kympouropoulos – President, National Accessibility Authority
· Professor Dimosthenis Kyriazis – Vice Rector, University of Piraeus; Member of the Organizing Committee of the joint Dual MSc Programme Global Applied Artificial Intelligence
· Minas Liarokapis – Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Acumino
· Professor Ilias Maglogiannis – Department of Digital Systems, University of Piraeus; Member of the Organizing Committee of the joint Dual MSc Programme Global Applied Artificial Intelligence
· Professor Evangelos Marinakis – School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens
· Professor Sotirios Bersimis – Department of Business Administration, University of Piraeus
· George Marinos – Assistant General Manager of Innovation and Digital Partnerships, National Bank of Greece
· Michalis Mikelakis – Advanced Analytics and AI, Alpha Bank
· Clinical Professor Carrie Berger – Technology, Leadership and Innovation; Executive Director of Academic Affairs, Purdue University Online; Member of the Organizing Committee of the joint Dual MSc Programme Global Applied Artificial Intelligence
· Professor Elias Bilionis – Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University
· George Nasoulis – Group Chief Data & Analytics Officer and General Manager, Piraeus Bank
· Elisavet Nika – General Manager, Covariance
· Dionysios Panagiotopoulos – President, Hellenic Innovation Network; Founder, Aether Venture Capital
· Nikolaos Pantelidis – Chief Operating Officer, Mastihashop
· Petros Papachristou – Chief Information Officer, Hellenic Healthcare Group
· Professor Constantinos Pattichis – Chairman of the Board, National eHealth Authority, Cyprus; Professor, University of Cyprus
· Professor Konstantinos Patsakis – Department of Informatics, University of Piraeus
· Professor Dimitrios Peroulis – Senior Vice President for Partnerships and Online; Reilly Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University
· Professor Vasileios Plagianakos – Dean, School of Science; Department of Informatics with Applications in Biomedicine, University of Thessaly; Former President, National Organization for Healthcare Services Provision (EOPYY)
· George Riskas – Head of Digital, Papastratos – Philip Morris International
· Sotirios Romanos – Commercial Director, Biiatriki Healthcare Group
· Professor Evangelos Sakkopoulos – Director, Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality Research Laboratory, University of Piraeus
· Spyros Skiadopoulos – AI Transformation Director, ATCOM
· Professor Konstantinos Stefanidis – Professor Emeritus, Department of Computer Science, University of Crete; Vice President, National Accessibility Authority
· Assistant Professor Joan Timoneda – Department of Political Science, Purdue University
· Dimitrios Toulas – Real World and Commercial Data Director, EMEA and China, Pfizer
· Georgios Tsarouchas – Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dialectica
· Konstantinos Tsiptsis – Customer Value Management & AI, Alpha Bank
· Ioannis Tsiliras – Data & AI Transformation Director, OTE Group
· Petros Tsonis – Chief Technology Officer, Ethniki Insurance
· Professor Georgios Tsichritzis – Director, Pattern Recognition, Machine Learning and Multimedia Research Laboratory; Member of the University Council, University of Piraeus
· Konstantinos Fatolas – Chief Information Officer, METLEN
· Giannis Christaras – Chief Information Officer, Groupama Insurance
· Assistant Professor Konstantina Chrysafiadi – Department of Informatics, University of Piraeus
One of the Conference's highlights was the official launch of the International Dual MSc Programme in Global Applied AI by Professor Michail Sfakianakis, Rector of the University of Piraeus, and Professor Dimitrios Peroulis, Senior Vice President for Partnerships and Online and Reilly Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University. The programme is jointly offered by the University of Piraeus and Purdue University Indianapolis, marking a significant milestone in the internationalization of higher education and academic cooperation between Europe and the United States.
The new programme creates outstanding international opportunities for the Greek academic community by providing students with access to world-class education through an innovative curriculum developed jointly by the two universities. With tuition fees set at €10,000, the programme offers Greek students the opportunity to earn an internationally recognized postgraduate degree through a globally competitive educational partnership.
The Conference reaffirmed the University of Piraeus' position as a leading institution that successfully connects world-class academic research with industry, public policy, and the rapidly evolving global technology landscape, while strengthening its role as an international hub for innovation, education, and interdisciplinary collaboration in Artificial Intelligence.
