Hardware Manufacturing
 
 

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    The hardware manufacturing sector in Greece was at embryonic state until recently. Now accounting for some 20% of the value of hardware installed every year, the Greek hardware manufacturers are looking forward to the opportunities presented by the 2004 Olympic Games and the increasing needs for hardware throughout the country. 

    IT hardware manufacturing in Greece had been limited to mere assembly of PCs and simple electronics. The major qualitative boost came with the establishment of Intracom S.A. in the late 1970's. Intracom managed to provide high-tech hardware products and eventually acquire considerable - for Greek standards - international presence. On a quantitative basis though, local manufacturing of hardware is very low for European standards.

    Nowadays, local hardware manufacturing includes a wide array of telecommunications and Internet related equipment, such as Network Management Systems. Overall, hardware manufacturing in Greece will account for some $1.5 billion between 2000 and 2004, out of a total need of $6.7 billion worth of hardware. Only for the Olympic Games, the local industry (mostly Intracom, as far as the most advanced systems is concerned) will have to provide some 5,000 PCs and 600 servers, not mentioning the ongoing projects that take place at the same time and are not directly related to the Olympic Games (such as linking every school in Greece to the Internet).

    The Greek hardware manufacturers have formed the Federation of Hellenic Information Technology Enterprises (S.E.P.E.) As of 2000, SEPE had about 300 member companies. SEPE members are registering an average growth rate of 18% p.a. since 1997.