In this issue of “Our Highlights”, we are very excited to host our partner
e-Trikala S.A. and we are honoured to have with us Odisseas Raptis CEO of
e-Trikala S.A. and Harry Kalliaras, Advisor to the Mayor of Trikala in Strategic and Operational Planning!
Q: Trikala is widely recognized for its positive public perception, especially in terms of technological innovation, and is regarded as one of the most advanced towns in Greece for implementing technological solutions. Could you share with us the key strategies and decisions that have enabled Trikala to achieve this distinction?
A: After ten years of dedicated efforts and the implementation of specific policies, Trikala has successfully surmounted deep-seated resistance to change by actively engaging the community in adopting new technologies. With the moto “No one can stop the changes that are coming, so the smartest thing to do is be better prepared for them”, the local ecosystem moves forward.
One of its most ambitious projects is the installation of 5G wireless technology, initiated in 2019. This infrastructure is designed to support advanced smart services throughout the entire city.
Q: Please tell us a few words about e-Trikala S.A. and its role and methodology. In particular with regards to the recent floodings that affected the Trikala area, are you working on any plans or initiatives to strengthen Trikala’s resilience against such natural disasters in the future?
A: Since 2004, the e-Trikala office of the Municipality of Trikala, in cooperation with and in accordance with the operational program “The Information Society” acted in the fields of new broadband technologies, successfully implementing municipal projects.
On April 8, 2008, leveraging the necessary expertise, it underwent transformation into e-Trikala S.A., an emerging company established under the Municipality of Trikala. The Municipality is the basic stakeholder, owning 99%, while the remaining 1% is owned by the local Chamber of Commerce. By creating infrastructure and providing services, e-Trikala continuously aims to the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based applications, oriented to the improvement of all citizens’ everyday life in a medium sized city, simplifying public transactions, reducing telecommunication costs, and delivering new services related to the local way of life.
During the recent flood incidents that hit the wider area of Trikala, the network of the flood forecasting / early warning sensors which we have installed in specific points into the 3 main rivers of the area, gave us plenty of information to monitor the flooding incident and assist the Civil Protection Department in a decision making level.
Moreover, through our engagement to the EU Mission of 100 Climate Neutral & Smart Cities, in which our City was selected by the European Commission, we plan to develop several infrastructures or apps to increase the resiliency of the City (i.e. air quality sensors, energy saving through BEMS and BMS, etc).
Q: Considering Trikala’s ambition to become a leading testbed for new technologies, especially in areas like smart city solutions and sustainable urban development, what would be the initial steps and strategies required to achieve this?
A: What is Trikala’s secret to getting ahead in the technological race? It’s simple! The city makes effective use of EU projects, tapping into both National and European Commission funds. It’s worth noting that these are funds that just about any municipality can access, yet most fail to do so due to a lack of the right preparation. With the help of these initiatives, Trikala regularly invites innovators to share their ideas, teams up with private companies and allows itself to be used as a real test bed for ideas.
If successful, these ideas are then scaled up and applied to cover the needs of the entire city. Yet most importantly, this innovation-driven approach is positioning Trikala at the forefront for the adoption of new technologies across Greece.
Q: Are there any models or lessons from other cities that have become testbeds that could be applied to Trikala?
A: Trikala is not the only best practice in the EU and on a global level. There are plenty of good examples from which you can earn a lot of knowledge and experience. From our collaboration with many European Cities and Institutions from the Academia & Research sector, we always see different approaches and try to adopt them in our own needs and context. Among other initiatives we developed during the previous years, the most challenging is our Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub of the Municipality of Trikala, the “GiSeMi HUB”, which is a joint initiative between the Municipality and e-Trikala SA. GiSeMi’s main objective is to highlight new innovative business ideas, which provide solutions to the challenges and problems faced by modern cities. Initiatives of this nature are widespread on a European scale, and our current challenge involves establishing a supportive framework to attract start-ups, spin-off enterprises, and young entrepreneurs in connection with local economic sectors.
Q: Looking forward, what do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities for e-Trikala?
A: e-Trikala S.A. serves as the primary partner within the Municipality of Trikala, overseeing the establishment and maintenance of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) for the past 15 years. Its involvement in European Union mobility and sustainability projects has transformed the city of Trikala into a successful pilot project of global interest. e-Trikala S.A. is actively involved in various EU-funded and national projects aimed at benefiting the citizens of Trikala Municipality. The organization is already investing in initiatives to enhance the quality of life, focusing on areas such as mobility, sustainability, e-education, environment, e-Health, culture governance, and social projects. These projects serve as test beds for specific cases, contributing to ongoing efforts to improve the well-being of the community.
Through collaborations with academia and the private sector, and by synergizing with ongoing initiatives, the primary focus and simultaneous major challenge are centered on addressing the needs of our citizens. Through community cooperation, the aim is to alleviate citizens from bureaucracy, tribulations, and unnecessary time spent waiting in queues for municipal services. Furthermore, fostering creativity and bolstering productivity are integral aspects of building a “smart city” that significantly improves the quality of life for its residents.
Furthermore, despite the economic constraints we faced, we have managed to create a mutually beneficial situation between the municipality and private enterprises. These businesses have demonstrated confidence in our vision and are provided with the opportunity to test and promote their applications and IT solutions.
Q: What would you say has been the most rewarding aspect of being involved in e-Trikala’s journey?
A: “Everything is possible” and if you want to change the mentality and the perceptions on a local level, share your vision and motivate the community to be an active stakeholder.
Many people fear the change and the technology adaption, but at the end of the day, the results validated the choices we made!