Open lecture of the Postgraduate Program "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies" titled "Productivity, Entrepreneurship, and Change Management: Creating Value in a World of Continuous Transformation"

Within the framework of the Postgraduate Program "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies" of the University of Piraeus, an open lecture was held on Monday, October 12, 2026, titled "Productivity, Entrepreneurship, and Change Management: Creating Value in a World of Continuous Transformation." The lecture took place within the course "Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Smart City and Regional Governance – Green Transition," with Professor Dimitrios Vergados of the Department of Informatics serving as the Scientific Director of the MSc program.

The keynote speakers were Mr. Christos Christidis, Human Resources Director of VIANEX and VIAN companies, and Dr. Dimitrios Vergados, Director of Member Relations Management at SEV – Hellenic Federation of Enterprises, who elaborated on modern challenges regarding organizational adaptation, productivity, and enterprise competitiveness.

Mr. Christidis analyzed the crucial role of human resources in the successful adaptation of enterprises to constantly changing conditions. He focused on the transition from traditional change management to organizational readiness and agility, pointing out that the effective implementation of business strategy requires investing in people, continuous training, and cultivating a culture of adaptability. He also presented VIANEX's experience in human resource development and ensuring high quality standards.

For his part, Dr. Vergados presented the prospects and challenges of Greek industry within the contemporary European and international economic environment. He referred to the improvement of key indicators of the Greek economy, while simultaneously highlighting the significant productivity gap compared to the European average. He placed particular emphasis on the need to accelerate the technological transformation of businesses, utilizing Artificial Intelligence and other advanced technologies, as a key prerequisite for enhancing competitiveness and achieving sustainable growth in the Greek economy.

A common denominator of both presentations was the finding that productivity and business growth do not depend solely on technological progress, but also on the ability of organizations to invest in human talent, integrate innovation, and respond effectively to change.

The lecture highlighted the importance of bridging university education with business practice, offering participants the opportunity to explore contemporary issues of management, productivity, and technological transformation through the experience of executives from Greek industry.

The event was held under the auspices of the UNESCO Chair "Creative Cities in Motion" of the Laboratory of Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies at the University of Piraeus.

12 Oct 2026