Michael Dritsas

CEO

Elevate Greece SA, Greece

CEO of Elevate Greece SA, ex Head of Cabinet of Dr Christos Dimas’s Office, the Deputy Minister of Development, and Investments in Greece, responsible for Research & Innovation.  

Mechanical Engineer NTUA (integrated M.Sc. in Operations Management & Research), MBA (Lancaster) with Distinction, Chartered member of Engineers, Chartered Economist and Chartered Marketer (MCIM).

He has worked as a policy advisor to 2 Ministers and 2 Deputy Ministers of Development and Investments in the areas of Research-Technology-Innovation and their intersection with Entrepreneurship.

In his last capacity he has a key role in Research and Innovation policymaking by advising the Deputy Minister through evidence-based recommendations and supporting him in the follow-up of the implementation of the national R&I strategy.

Among others, under the leadership of Dr Dimas, he was actively involved in vat=rious policies including: the establishment of Elevate Greece, the national startup registry for support and promotion of its members, the legislative reform for spin-off company formation and growth, the Technology Transfer Offices’s financial and institutional support, the calls for Innovation Clusters and Competence Centers set-up, the calls for Resilience and Support Facility, in close co-operation with GSRI.

Worked in the broader public sector for the last 15 years, and previously worked in the private sector for 17 years. Highly experience in Business Plans evaluation, mentor for start-ups and judge in innovation competitions.

Co-author of the book, Startups: from Α to exit