Cardlink, a Worldline brand, hosted the 3rd Retail Innovation Hub Summit, reaffirming its commitment to driving innovation in the retail sector

Press Release

October, 2025

Cardlink, a Worldline brand, hosted the 3rd Retail Innovation Hub Summit, reaffirming its commitment to driving innovation in the retail sector

Cardlink, a member of Worldline (Euronext: WLN), the European leader in payment services, successfully concluded the Retail Innovation Hub Summit 2025 in collaboration with Found.ation.
The event, held on Tuesday, October 14th at Aegli Zappeiou, once again highlighted the pivotal role of innovation in the ever-evolving retail sector, through a series of impactful talks and presentations.

Opening the event, Mr. Ioannis Kitixis, Country Head & Managing Director of Worldline in Greece, underlined the company’s commitment to continuous evolution in the era of digital transformation.
As he stated: “Innovation is a driving force to bring new products and services that help businesses to grow. At Worldline, we invest over €250 million in Research and Development, and the Retail Innovation Hub is a testament to our ongoing effort to reshape the landscape of electronic payments through strategic partnerships and the design of pioneering solutions.”

The event was honored by the presence of Mr. Christos Dermetzopoulos, Deputy Minister of Digital Governance, who delivered a speech congratulating the Retail Innovation Hub on its dedication and achievements. He stated: “Innovation in Greece is no longer an abstract concept; it is a daily act of collaboration, boldness, and creativity. Cardlink’s Retail Innovation Hub is an open ecosystem that unites retailers, startups, and technology, shaping a smarter, more sustainable, and more human-centric future for commerce. Initiatives like this are directly aligned with our vision for a digital transformation that impacts the entire economy. We actively support innovation and public-private partnerships because they are the driving forces that will define the Greece of tomorrow. The Retail Innovation Hub is a practical example of how Greek entrepreneurship can lead the digital transition.”

In his keynote titled “Mixed Realities: Blending Digital & Physical Worlds”, Mr. Philippos Zakopoulos, Managing Partner at Found.ation, explored how the physical and digital worlds converge to create new experiences for both people and businesses. He also elaborated on how emerging technologies pave the way for groundbreaking retail applications.

The Retail Innovation Hub Summit has become an annual institution, held for the third consecutive year as part of the Retail Innovation Hub (RIH), an initiative by Cardlink, a Worldline brand, in strategic partnership with Found.ation. The RIH is an open innovation program that connects retail experts, startups, and technology companies to co-shape the future of retail in the digital era.

Speakers at the event included:
• Mr. Makis Malioris, Technology & NSP Operations Director at Cardlink, a Worldline brand, who presented the Retail Innovation Report 2025, highlighting key retail market trends, insights, and the next steps toward a smooth digital transition for the sector.
• Mr. Giorgos Koulikas, Online Services Manager at Cardlink, a Worldline brand, who referred to the European Digital Wallet, a landmark project in which Worldline Greece plays an active role.
• Mr. Giannis Kordonis, Product and Delivery Acceptance Director at Cardlink, a Worldline brand, who emphasized the importance of continuous investment in innovative technologies and practices.

As part of the Summit, a live recording of the “Hustle Hours” podcast, hosted by its founders Mr. Dinos Papargyriou and Mr. Takis Kakalis, with guest Ms. Marily Mitropoulou, Country Marketing Manager at Plum, highlighted current trends in entrepreneurship and innovation, enriching the audience experience.

The Summit was moderated by journalist Mr. Nikos Ypofantis.

Find out more about the Retail Innovation Hub and access the “Retail Innovation Report 2025” for free here.

About Cardlink
Cardlink was founded in 2004 and is the largest payment service provider in Greece. Cardlink helps businesses with their day-to-day transactions with quality, security and speed. The Cardlink team monitors developments in the field of electronic payments and adopts the latest technologies and services that continuously improve the trading experience in physical and electronic commerce. Since September 2021, Cardlink has been member of Worldline (Euronext:WLN), the European leader in the payments services.
cardlink.gr

About Worldline
Worldline [Euronext: WLN] helps businesses of all shapes and sizes to accelerate their growth journey – quickly, simply, and securely. With advanced payments technology, local expertise and solutions customized for hundreds of markets and industries, Worldline powers the growth of over one million businesses around the world. Worldline generated a 4.4 billion euros revenue in 2022.
www.worldline.com
Read here the 2022 Integrated Report of Worldline.

Contact
Cardlink: Eleni Diamanti, tel. +30 2111991742, email: eleni.diamanti@worldline.com
AIA Relate: Konstantina Batzaki, tel. +30 210 7418922, email: mpatzaki@aea.gr