When the chips are down, who do you call? Well, in Greece, you now call on AI. The Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection is stepping into the tech age, aiming to redefine how disasters are tackled. The latest development? The signing of a contract for the supply of the National Crisis Management System and Database—a key slice of a €72.3 million project under the “Aegis” programme.
This fancy new system will bring firepower to disaster management:
- A centralised information hub for Civil Protection services.
- Integration of weather, geological, and hydrological data for anticipation and planning.
- Improved response speed and coordination during emergencies.
Budding super-sleuth of artificial intelligence (and also Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection), Vassilis Kikilias, set the tone for this tech makeover. In his words:
- “Utilising new technologies and AI has been a top priority from the start.”
- “This is one of the most ambitious and high-budget programmes in our nation’s Civil Protection history.”
- “Our officers, whether firefighters, police, or military, now get the tools to make split-second, life-saving decisions.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Evangelos Tournas added:
- “Information is key—be it meteorological data or seismic risks.”
- “This programme ties together critical systems, from Civil Protection to environmental ministries.”
- “It even helps in disaster recovery. We’ve made progress but there’s still work to do.”
On the operational end, the Deputy Commander for Emergency Coordination, Anastasios Michalopoulos, said:
- “This national database will revolutionise how we assess and manage risks.”
- “With AI, we won’t just get accurate information but get it on time.”
- “The system estimates the scale of potential disasters and their impact, so we know what’s coming.”
From the Information Society agency, CEO Stavros Asthenidis spoke of these investments as crucial defence spending:
- “We’re arming ourselves for an era of hybrid threats, not just natural but man-made crises.”
- “This upgrade ensures we’re ready for whatever comes next.”
Equally proud, Nova ICT’s top man Alexandros Bregiannis had this to add:
- “Using AI and innovation, Greece takes its emergency readiness to a new level.”
- “We’re developing a system that focuses on both natural hazards and industrial accidents.”
Why Tourists Should Care About This
Now, some of you might be thinking, “This is all well and good, but what’s it to me?” Well, quite a lot, actually. Tourists flock to Greece for sunshine, stunning landscapes, and history—not wildfires or sudden floods. The new technology promises to make Greece safer not only for its residents but also for its millions of yearly visitors. So you can visit without the side order of anxiety next summer.
For updates on how this project evolves, you can follow along here.
Greece isn’t just embracing technology—it’s charging into a future where prevention and precision are the rule. And while AI won’t stop disasters, it’s making them easier to deal with. One database at a time.
