According to the statement made by the deputy minister of National Economy and Finance, Christos Folias – during his speech in the 2nd business forum (within the framework of the 71st International Fair of Thessaloniki) – the government’s goal in the next years is the “digital leap” and the increase of the broadband Internet access rate up to 7% until 2008.

“This is the goal and we will fulfill it” said the deputy minister; he also added: “we can expect that the new law on investments to be set into force on January 2007, will place much more emphasis on the development of innovation”.

The deputy minister reminded that the development of five regional innovation poles in the regions of western Macedonia, western Greece, Thessaly, Central Macedonia and Crete has already been approved. "We are immediately proceeding to the legal and administrative procedures, so as the commencement of the poles’ operation, their administration structure and timely financing take place the soonest possible within the timeline of the 3rd CSF. We are going to stop to five poles we shall go beyond” he noted and added that the programme “Innovation Poles” shall be re-invited to tender in the 4th CSF as well.

Mr. Folias reminded that the law bill on the institutional framework of research in Greece is to be soon discussed in the Parliament; this bill provides for the formation of a national council of research and television, the establishment of a inter-ministerial committee and the foundation of the relevant national organization.
 
In the meantime, during his speech in the forum, the professor of the industrial administration of the University of Macedonia, George Tsiotras, head of the region of Central Macedonia, referred to the development of innovation inside Greek enterprises. "There is research saying that a large number of enterprises is trying to renew the products and the production processes. There is a lot of demand in public financed programmes related to research and modernization of enterprises while there a lot of positive expectations from the collaboration between enterprises and universities or technological educational institutes", the rapporteur noted.