Empowering Progress and Prosperity for Greece

Summer 2023 Updates

Sept. '23 | Issue #1

Welcome to the first official Newsletter of Desmos Policy Institute! We will send these periodically to share updates and ways to get involved.

We had a busy summer, publishing our first international OpEd in the Wall Street Journal, about the priority reforms for the re-elected New Democracy administration. We also wrote a piece in Kathimerini [in Greek] about the opportunity to elevate the Hellenic Diaspora, and are now actively working to estimate the size and location of the Diaspora.

It has also been a difficult summer for Greece. Firstly, with the wide-spread wildfires and most recently with the catastrophic floods. We are looking for ways to help through potential policy recommendations so if you have any ideas please reach out. In the meantime, we are actively working on a proposal about technologies for wildfire management.

Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting our efforts.

-Desmos Policy Institute team

Opinion Pieces

Greece Eyes an Upgrade

by Afroditi Xydi & Georgios Laskaris,

Wall Street Journal

After almost a decade of crisis, Greece now has the opportunity to redefine itself. With a strong parliamentary majority, and a track record of reform, the re-elected Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis should focus on deep institutional reform, by prioritizing revamping education, supporting entrepreneurship, fostering high-potential economic sectors, and addressing demographic challenges.

Read Original in English

Expat Voting Rights: an opportunity to elevate the Hellenic Diaspora

by Afroditi Xydi & Georgios Laskaris, Kathimerini

In July, the Greek Parliament voted to remove restrictions for nationals trying to vote from abroad. This is presents an opportunity to further institutionally strengthen the Greek diaspora by identifying the expats, increasing staff in consulates, streamlining services offered, and launching targeted awareness campaigns.

Read Original in Greek | Read Translation in English

Visiting Professor appointments as a repatriating mechanism for Greek postdoctoral researchers

by Nikos Tsopoulidis & Georgios Laskaris, Kathimerini

Early-career Greek scientists often spend years as postdoctoral researchers in universities abroad while looking for full-time professor positions. Instead, we recommend that they spend time as Visiting Professors, where they can continue conducting the research.

Read Original in Greek | Read Translation in English

Ongoing Projects

Wildfire Technologies

With wildfires raging in Greece (and around the world) this summer, we are identifying the technologies that can be used to prevent, predict, detect, and fight wildfires. Those include AI, drones, infrared cameras, and sensors.

High Potential Individual Visa

We are finalizing our proposal with Endeavor Greece for a visa that allows graduate of top universities globally (e.g. MIT, Imperial, ETH) to enter Greece through a simpler process and with a grace period that does not require employment.

Identifying the Hellenic Diaspora

The Hellenic Diaspora is estimated to be 3 million strong. However, there are no centralized records of who or where they are. Through the use of modern day tools, we are supporting the Greek administration in identify the Greek expats living in the US.

Get Involved

Do you know any expert that can support our wildfire technologies proposal? Email our Executive Director Afroditi Xydi and she can send you details that you can pass along.
Do you have a project to pitch? Email us your idea, and your relevant expertise, and we will reach out to learn more.
Want to get involved but don't know how? Reach out ! We are always looking for volunteers how can lend a helping hand.

About Us

Desmos Policy Institute is a non-partisan think tank that aims to organize and transform the Hellenic diaspora into a catalyst for the progress and prosperity of Greece.

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