What’s your name and job title? 

My name is Vaggelis Saprikis, and I am an Associate Professor in e-Business at the University of Western Macedonia, Greece. 

Tell us a few words about your background: 

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Informatics from the University of Macedonia (Greece), where I also completed my Master’s in Information Systems and earned my PhD, focusing on B2B e-marketplaces. My professional expertise, research, and teaching interests lie in the fields of e-business, online consumer behavior, mobile commerce, digital transformation, e-marketing, and management information systems. Over the years, I have taught at six universities and two colleges. I have published more than 85 papers in scientific journals and conference proceedings, with my work cited over 1,450 times. Additionally, I have actively participated in several research projects. Since August 2024, I have been the Director of the MSc programme in E-Business and Digital Marketing at the University of Western Macedonia, Greece. 

What organisation do you work for? 

University of Western Macedonia (UoWM) 

 What does your organisation do? 

The University of Western Macedonia (UoWM) is a non-profit academic institution based in Greece, operating across five cities within the Western Macedonia region. 

Dedicated to advancing education, research, and innovation, UoWM cultivates critical thinking, scientific excellence, and a strong sense of social responsibility. The university offers a dynamic academic environment through its state-of-the-art facilities, accredited laboratories, international collaborations, and key initiatives such as the University Centre for Research and Innovation and the Erasmus Office. 

Actively engaged in European and global academic networks, UoWM promotes excellence, internationalization, and community involvement. Its infrastructure includes a network of modern campuses, libraries, and research centers that support high-level scientific inquiry, entrepreneurial activity, and sustainable growth. 

What is your role in the PREVENT project? What are you currently working on? 

I serve as the Scientific Coordinator of the project on behalf of the University of Western Macedonia and act as its overall coordinator within the institution as well. In addition to overseeing its management, I am actively involved in all five deliverables of the PREVENT project. 

At present, I am working on the final deliverable for the University of Western Macedonia, associated with Work Package 3. Specifically, in collaboration with members of our university team working on the project, we are coordinating the implementation of the 4-hour pilot testing session for the Activity 3.8. 

Why is being part of the PREVENT project important to you? 

Deep technologies are increasingly being adopted in modern business practices. Therefore, I consider it more than essential for university departments in relevant fields to incorporate courses on these technologies into their curricula—especially those with an applied orientation, such as the one implemented in this project. 

As an academician and researcher committed to staying actively engaged with contemporary trends, I am particularly interested in the integration of deep technologies into environmental challenges, including the prevention of natural disasters. 

How do you like to spend your free time? 

I love swimming.