The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector is on an explosive growth trajectory, with forecasts suggesting that by 2029 it could reach a value of €10.4 billion or 4.6% of GDP by 2029, up 35% compared to 2024 and 80% compared to 2019. In case of convergence with European standards, the value of the sector could reach €12.5bn, representing 5.5% of GDP.
Contribution to the Economy
According to the new Deloitte study, presented at the Digital Economy Forum 2024, the ICT sector is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Greek economy, with:
- Annual turnover of €13.8 billion.
- More than 300,000 workers.
The digitisation of public administration through the gov.gr and the CDC has yielded €3 billion. benefits in five years, while reducing tax evasion by €2.5 billion..
Technological priorities
The survey of 200 industry executives highlighted the top priorities for the next three years:
- Artificial Intelligence (30%)
- Cyber security (18%)
- Cloud (13%)
- Big Data (10%)
- Internet of Things (6%)
At the same time, the greatest needs for digital transformation are identified in the health (20%), energy (15%) and financial services (11%) sectors.
Challenges and opportunities
Despite its potential, the industry faces significant obstacles, such as:
- Lack of skilled talent.
- Need to improve digital infrastructure, which only the 2% of strains considers sufficient.
- Regulatory difficulties that limit innovation.
However, the majority of executives appear optimistic, with the 53% to declare itself “cautiously optimistic” and the 27% see significant growth opportunities through emerging technologies.
Proposals for the Future
The study concludes with four strategic axes that can strengthen the industry:
- Internationalisation: Export development and creation of international data centres.
- Investing in Innovation: Developing solutions in areas such as cybersecurity.
- Human Resources: Strengthening postgraduate programmes and attracting talent.
- Digital Economy: Full digitisation of public services and fostering a digital culture.