A study of 325 cities in 77 countries places Athens among the top four European “rising stars” in innovation, behind Istanbul, Kyiv and Zagreb and ahead of cities such as Sofia, Prague, Vilnius, Lisbon and Warsaw.
The reason for the placement is an increasingly favorable environment for start-ups and technology research centers and the availability of domestic capital for funding them.
Athens certainly lags the major tech hubs, such as London and Paris, Stockholm and Berlin, which are classified as “global stars.”
Globally, Greece places 51st among the top 100 start-up ecosystems in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026, but the report notes an improving dynamic.
Two start-ups, both defense industry firms, currently seek to open offices in Greece: France’s Alta Ares and US firm Shield AI.
