Greek Prime Minister meets with CEO of automation giant Nabtesco following Groundbreaking Investment in Greek AI company DeepSea Technologies

ATHENS, GREECE – September 5, 2023 – A delegation from the Nabtesco corporation, one of the world’s leading robotics and motion control companies, met with Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis and other senior officials on the 5th September 2023, following the company’s acquisition of Greek AI specialist DeepSea Technologies in July this year. The acquisition is the first step in Nabtesco’s ambitious plan to turn its new Greek partner into a global centre of excellence for developing green autonomous vessels, maritime AI, and AI automation of industrial machinery and renewable energy. It is also the first Japanese investment in Greece since the Prime Minister’s visit to Japan in January and represents a major vote of confidence in Greece’s burgeoning technology sector.

Nabtesco Corporation’s CEO, Kazumasa Kimura, was joined by its CTO, Tomohiro Kirayama, the Managing Partner of its technology investment arm, Hiroshi Nerima, and the co-founders of DeepSea, CEO Konstantinos Kyriakopoulos and President Roberto Koustas. Dr. Kyriakopoulos will continue to lead the company’s activities from Athens as it enters its new phase of growth. The delegation met with the Prime Minister as well as with Finance Minister Hatzidakis, Mr. Fragkogiannis, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tzortzakis, the Vice Chairman of the Hellenic Development Bank, and other key officials. The Ambassador of Japan to Greece, Mr. Nakayama also attended the meetings, representing the Japanese government.

The acquisition of DeepSea Technologies was recognised for its pivotal role in positioning the Greek startup environment on the global stage. This is a central part of Greece’s growth strategy, with several new policies having been introduced in recent years to help support this sector. DeepSea will continue to develop its range of well-known optimisation tools for the shipping industry, whilst also becoming a centre of excellence in AI research for the Nabtesco Corporation.

Konstantinos Kyriakopoulos, DeepSea’s co-founder and CEO, said “We are very grateful for the time and engagement shown by the Prime Minister and other top officials regarding our technology and our plans, together with Nabtesco, to lead the AI transformation of shipping – and other industrial machinery sectors – from here in Greece. The string of investments in the Greek technological ecosystem by major international companies, of which we are the latest example, demonstrates the enormous potential our country has to play a leading role in the coming AI technological revolution. We can leverage our phenomenal pool of talent and our leading position in industries like shipping to help forge the future.”

Nabtesco Corporation is a Japanese multinational which is committed to supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and setting the pathway towards net-zero. This commitment includes activities including investments in – and collaborative business ventures with – deep-tech start-ups specialising in motion control and related technologies.