Vangelis Karkaletsis

Dr. Vangelis Karkaletsis serves as Director of the Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications at NCSR Demokritos, Greece's premier research center. He represents Greece on the European Artificial Intelligence Board and advises the Greek Prime Minister as a member of the High Level Advisory Committee on AI. His career spans over 25 years in AI research and leadership, including founding and directing the Software & Knowledge Engineering Lab (SKEL | The AI Lab).

Dr. Karkaletsis earned his education through:

• BSc in Computer Engineering & Informatics from University of Patras (1989)
• MSc in Artificial Intelligence from Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London (1990)
• PhD in knowledge representation and information extraction from National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1995)

His research spans artificial intelligence with emphasis on content analysis, big data management, knowledge representation, and human-machine interaction. He has pioneered work in AI ethics, disinformation detection, and trustworthy AI systems, with recent focus on value embedding in AI design and European AI policy frameworks. His work bridges technical AI development with societal implications, particularly in healthcare, earth observation, and democratic processes.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong emphasis on European AI infrastructure development, particularly through the European AI-on-Demand Platform. His work spans from foundational AI research to practical applications in earth observation, healthcare, and industrial digital transformation. A notable trend is the increasing focus on ethical AI implementation, with several publications addressing value embedding, trustworthy systems, and policy frameworks.

As an educator and institution builder, Dr. Karkaletsis initiated the joint PhD scholarship program with international universities, launched MSc programs in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at NCSR Demokritos, and established educational programs for primary and secondary schools. He has coordinated numerous European and national research projects including DeployAI, AI4Copernicus, AI4Europe, and several European Digital Innovation Hubs focused on Smart Attica, Smart Health, and AI ethics.

Dr. Karkaletsis leads the SKEL | The AI Lab and coordinates multiple European Digital Innovation Hubs including Smart Attica EDIH (Greece's first European Digital Innovation Hub for AI), ahedd Digital Innovation Hub, and smartHEALTH. His teams work across three key sectors of the Greek economy: Energy & Environment, Supply Chain & Mobility, and Culture & Tourism, driving digital transformation through AI and big data technologies.