A series of meetings focused on robotic applications, unmanned systems, and innovative defence technologies was held by National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias during his visit to California, USA.

According to the announcement, Dendias visited Stanford University in California on Tuesday, where he met with leading academics and was briefed on innovations in automation and robotics applied in advanced defence systems, as well as the secure management of operational data and communications.

Dendias met, among others, with Greek professors at Stanford University, specifically the director of the Stanford Platform Lab, Christos Kozyrakis, the director of the Computer Systems Performance Engineering Lab, Nikolaos Bambos, and Assistant Professor of Management Science and Engineering, Vasilis Syrgkanis.

During the discussion, they had a productive exchange of views on the Greek defence innovation ecosystem within the framework of the Armed Forces’ reform programme, “ Agenda 2030.”

The minister also participated in discussions with research fellows of Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, including former NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller, focusing on international and regional issues and the security challenges in the EU and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Afterward, Dendias visited the facilities of the unmanned aircraft manufacturing company Matternet, where he was given a tour by its CEO, Andreas Raftopoulos, and attended a demonstration showcasing the multiple capabilities of unmanned aerial systems.

The Minister of National Defence then met with Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco at the offices of the Holy Metropolis.

Immediately afterward, he went to the Greek Consulate in San Francisco, where he was welcomed by the Consul General, Grigoris Tassiopoulos, and held a meeting with members of the Greek diaspora active in California in the fields of high technology, research, energy, and finance.

Dendias discussed with them the potential for contributing to the Greek innovation ecosystem and the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation (HCDI).

Finally, Dendias had a working dinner with the Lieutenant Governor of California, Eleni Kounalakis, and her husband, Markos Kounalakis, a research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Among other topics, they discussed the dynamism of the Greek-American community in American society and its key role as a bridge of cooperation between Greece and the United States.