JOIST: Franchise plans for new innovation parks in 2027

JOIST Innovation Park plans to expand across Greece through franchising, adapting the model it developed in Larissa to smaller, local innovation parks. With a target of at least five new locations in 2027, the plan brings Greece’s franchise sector a proposition built on expertise, business services and collaboration with local organisations.

From Larissa to a network of smaller parks

JOIST founder and chief executive Tasos Vasileiadis presented the plans, according to a Fortune Greece report published on 10 November 2026. The next phase includes developing smaller innovation parks in Greek cities, alongside involvement in establishing a new technology hub in Brussels.

The venture began in Larissa, where JOIST opened four years ago in a former industrial building. The aim now is to bring this model to more local economies, adapting it to the differing needs of businesses in each area.

These ‘pocket innovation parks’ are the vehicle for domestic expansion. According to the presentation, three such parks are currently operating: two in Larissa and one in Ioannina. The target of at least five new parks in 2027 represents the next stage of development, rather than additions already made to the network.

This distinction matters when assessing the venture’s progress: its existing presence provides the foundation, while the expansion remains a plan to be implemented. The key question is how JOIST intends to build on that foundation with new local partners.

How responsibilities are divided under the franchise model

Expansion in Greece will follow a franchise model. Local businesses, teams or partnerships between organisations will be able to take responsibility for operating the new sites. The plan therefore allows for different forms of local involvement, rather than limiting participation to a single type of partner.

JOIST, for its part, will provide specifications, know-how and access to its network’s services and partners. These are the main forms of support outlined for introducing the model at new locations.

This division of responsibilities combines local operational management with support from a wider network. For the franchise sector, the venture is notable because the partnership centres on an innovation and business services space, with access to expertise and collaborative relationships at its core.

When assessing such a proposition, prospective partners should examine their own operational responsibilities separately from the support they will receive. A clear understanding of both sides provides a practical starting point for any discussion about joining the network.

Local demand comes before a new site

A fundamental requirement of the plan is that each new park must be preceded by an assessment of local needs and the preparation of a business plan. This process is intended to ensure that operations are supported by genuine demand, rather than relying solely on initial funding.

This shifts the emphasis from creating infrastructure to sustaining its activities. The question is not simply where a park could open, but which business needs it would meet and how those needs would be reflected in its business plan.

Adapting to local economies is therefore part of the expansion method itself. The Larissa model serves as a starting point, but the plans call for an assessment of conditions in each new area before developing a site there.

For a prospective partner, the practical priority is therefore to establish evidence of demand. An assessment of local businesses’ needs must be linked to the network’s services and a specific operating plan, rather than simply to the availability of a property.

A parallel European presence and the next step

Domestic expansion is accompanied by JOIST’s participation as a founding partner in the European Tech Embassy in Brussels. This European initiative is a parallel strand of the plans, distinct from the development of the Greek parks through franchising.

In Greece, the next milestone is the target of at least five new parks in 2027. The approach presented links growth to local partners, shared expertise and a business assessment of each site before development begins.

Practical takeaway: For businesses, teams and organisations considering involvement, the first step is to map local demand and clarify both their operational responsibilities and the support the network will provide.