Konstantinos Makedos, President of TMDE, discussed the organization’s role in supporting engineers and contributing to the country’s broader economic development. He spoke at the ETVAVIPE Studio, an innovative hybrid information platform by ETBA BIPES in collaboration with the Athens–Macedonian News Agency, during the Thessaloniki International Fair.

In a conversation with APE-MPE journalist Anny Tapaskou and ETBA BIPES Communication Director Yiorgos (George) Aloimonos, Mr. Makedos emphasized that TMEDE has remained self-governing and self-financing despite the debt crisis. He highlighted the importance of maintaining guarantees—essential to sustaining market activity—and noted ongoing efforts to integrate new scientists and engineers into a strong technical community of more than 35,000 members and approximately 6,500 small- and medium-sized technical firms.

Mr. Makedos stated:

“When we talk about the technical community, we often think of landmark projects; however, thousands of projects are announced daily by municipalities, communities, and regions. Last year’s successful execution cycle amounted to around €200 million, corresponding to projects totaling nearly €10 billion annually.”

He further elaborated on TMEDE’s initiatives:

“With guarantees ranging from €50,000 to €100,000 and microloans of up to €25,000, we have provided more than €7 million in loans since 2023, with a final interest rate of 4% and 2.5% for women entrepreneurs. These programs have now been extended beyond engineers to all scientists.”

Mr. Makedos emphasized:

“We serve as a regulatory advisor to the state in the technical sector and in the broader processes that scientists must navigate.”

He added that TMEDE adheres to best practices and conducts evaluations as a member of the European Association of Guarantee Institutions (AECM). TMEDE is also supervised by the Bank of Greece, the Ministry of Development, and the Court of Auditors, ensuring credibility and transparency. A key pillar of this effort, he noted, is the digitization of services, which reduces reliance on human intervention and strengthens procedural efficiency and timelines.

Addressing the climate crisis, Mr. Makedos stressed that “the first priority in both industry and national development is infrastructure—its resilience and the integration of climate risk into planning.” He pointed out that many existing infrastructure systems were designed to outdated specifications.

He added:

“We can first document and assess the infrastructure,” noting that “the Technical Chamber has initiated an infrastructure registry” to identify necessary interventions for existing structures and to guide new projects aligned with national capabilities and regulatory requirements for climate resilience.

Mr. Makedos described TMEDE’s success formula as “documenting past data, strategic planning, rational resource allocation, leveraging European programs, adopting technological innovation, and maintaining credibility in our commitments.”

Regarding new engineers, he noted that—unlike a decade ago, when opportunities were limited—they can now “enter the job market, observe current trends, and access financial tools.” TMEDE, he said, can support them by providing guarantees and microloans to establish their own offices and engage with the market. However, he emphasized the importance of “considering the broader picture, including international developments, innovative solutions, and how technology can create added value.”

Mr. Makedos remarked that technological advances can significantly influence the country’s development and help engineers enter the market sustainably.
He concluded by noting that at the TMEDE booth at the Thessaloniki International Fair, “we present our technical tools, including the digital map and the infrastructure registry,” showcasing “all the resources available to the technical community that contribute to the country’s development footprint.”

You can watch the interview on the YouTube channel of the Athens News Agency – Macedonian Press Agency (ANA-MPA). The interview is in Greek, but viewers can use YouTube’s automatic translation features to generate subtitles in their preferred language.