Smart Villages Conference in Salamis

On September 2nd, I had the pleasure of participating as a speaker at the Smart Villages Conference, held in Salamis with the presence of representatives from local government, civil society, academia, and the business sector. The conference highlighted the importance of “Smart Villages” as a tool for sustainable local development through innovative approaches in natural resource management, digital transformation, and the creation of new employment opportunities.

In my presentation, titled “Cultural or Technological Innovation? Dynamics of Glocalization in the Management of the Cultural Environment”, I explored how locality and globalization are not opposing forces but interdependent fields that generate new forms of cultural experience. I emphasized that cultural innovation does not lie exclusively in digital tools but emerges from the creative interplay of narrative, technology, and collaboration.

Drawing on examples such as digital documentation, applications of virtual and augmented reality, and the active involvement of local communities, I discussed how “smart” solutions can highlight cultural heritage in participatory, authentic, and socially meaningful ways. The essence of innovation, I argued, is not only in technology itself but in the ability to tell our stories and cultural identities in new, sustainable, and collective ways.

The Smart Villages Conference proved to be a vibrant laboratory of ideas, where local development meets innovation and culture. For me, it was a valuable opportunity to engage in dialogue about the future of small communities in the digital era.