Euralarm Industry Workshop: A strong step forward for safety, security, and resilience in Europe

 Against the historic backdrop of the Acropolis, the event delivered a compelling blend of technological vision, economic context, and market intelligence—offering participants a clear picture of where the sector stands today and where it must move next.

Industry collaboration 

Dr. Vasileios Chatzikos, CEO of Siemens Greece & Cyprus and President of the Hellenic Institute of Electrical Technology (HIET), opened the speaker program with a powerful message on the importance of collaboration across industry and regulatory ecosystems. Drawing on HIET’s recent initiatives—including the publication of the new ELOT 60364 User Handbook, Greece’s first forum on the future of electrical installations, and in-depth market research—he highlighted the need for greater awareness, training, and consistent application of safety standards.

He also outlined the profound shifts reshaping the fire and safety market, such as IoT integration, remote monitoring, expert shortages, and digital vulnerabilities. Presenting a holistic approach through the Building X platform, Dr. Chatzikos emphasized that digitalization, cybersecurity, and cross-sector partnerships will be key pillars in building safer and more resilient infrastructures across Europe.

Greece on a path of steady recovery

Next, Vassilis Papakostas of EY Greece provided an essential macroeconomic backdrop. His analysis illustrated a country maintaining strong momentum: rising GDP, declining unemployment, and moderating inflation. He underscored how Greece’s economic resilience is supported by robust tourism, increased investment, and significant funding from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Papakostas also stressed the structural challenges that remain—skill shortages, demographic decline, and high public debt—and highlighted the vital role of continued reforms and digital transition. For the fire safety and security sectors, his insights underscored a period of opportunity, driven by modernization, infrastructure investment, and growing demand for innovation-driven services.

Insights from the Greek fire safety and security market

Minas Dermatis, CCO of IFSAS Group, offered a detailed look into one of the most dynamic markets in Greece: fire safety, security, automation, and integrated systems. He spoke about the rapid rise of data centers, logistics hubs, energy infrastructure upgrades, and hospitality investments—sectors driving a forecasted 9–12% annual growth in the industry through 2030.

Dermatis highlighted the increasing convergence between fire protection, security, building automation, and energy management systems, as well as the growing adoption of AI analytics, cloud video, and advanced suppression technologies. He emphasized the importance of full lifecycle support—from design to monitoring—and the need for integrators to guide end users in transitioning from compliance-driven projects to long-term resilience strategies.

Outlook

The Athens workshop marked an important milestone in Euralarm’s ongoing mission to elevate standards, foster collaboration, and anticipate the next generation of challenges in safety and security. The diversity of perspectives—from technological leadership to economic foresight and market-level expertise—made this edition a success.

As we close the year, Euralarm now sets its sights on the next Industry Forum in June, where stakeholders will reconvene to ex

plore new developments, share best practices, and continue shaping a safer, smarter, and more resilient Europe. We look forward to welcoming the community once again for another inspiring exchange.