News Greece’s first innovation center heads to Crete

During a meeting held today in Heraklion, it was announced in the presence of the Secretary General for Research, Maximos Tsenatakis, Deputy Minister of Development, that the country’s first innovation center is being built with the support of the Ministry of Development. and Innovation Thanasis Kyriazis, regional governor of Crete Stavros Arnautakis, competent deputy regional governor, principals of educational institutions and heads of research centers of the island, but administrators of the region of Crete, which has already created a framework. In this the Innovation Center will be created, which will create a research organization and an institutional network structure of Crete’s innovation, which will bring synergy through integrated actions and initiatives, academic excellence on the one hand, and business and social innovation on the other. Other. The main concern of the Innovation Center of Crete is to develop and achieve the goals of the recently revised RIS3 Smart Specialization Strategy of the Crete region.

Mr. Senedakis described the idea of ​​the Innovation Center of the Crete Region as “visionary” “an idea we have accepted from the beginning because it contributes to the goal of the government, which connects research and academic results to the market. Production” he said in his reports Mr. Senadakis pointed out.

“Today we discussed the technical issues related to this proposal, to see how the government will finance this innovative project from the new competitiveness program, which aims to make Crete a strong innovative European region,” said Mr. Senedakis said.

The hub is a tool to help the region’s businesses leverage regional advantages in strengthening their productivity, outsourcing and competitiveness. It will promote integration through coordinated actions and initiatives, academic excellence by creating networks of research infrastructures on the one hand, and business and social innovation through infrastructure incubators and support structures for innovative business ventures on the other.

The proposal is based on an expanded framework of four institutions (University, Polytechnic, ELMEPA, ITE) together with the Crete region. The process of the initial presentation of the initiative continued through the collaboration of the region with research and educational institutions and responsible Deputy Governor Antonis Papaderakis.

The proposal was presented to the responsible Deputy Minister Maximos Senetakis and the General Secretary for Research and Innovation Athanasios Kyriazis, who during today’s meeting with the scientific community of Crete, accepted it and promised to support all efforts to implement it.

It is emphasized that the Rector of the University of Crete, George Kontakis, and the Vice-President for Academic Affairs of the University of Crete, George, attended today’s meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Development in the Region of Crete. Rector of Technical University of Crete Kosiouris, Rector of Elmepa Michalis Tservakis, Vice Rector for Research and Innovations Nikos Katsarakis, Athanasios Malamos, Vice Rector for Finance, Planning and Development Nikolaos Elmepa, President of Nikolaos ITE, Nektarios Tavernarakis.

“Beyond tourism and the primary sector, Crete can also become a region of knowledge and innovation,” said Stavros Arndakis, regional governor of Crete.

We express our particular satisfaction because the first innovation center in Greece will be created here in Crete. The Innovation Center will be a link between the best scientific research carried out on our island with the manufacturing process and our local economy. By adopting new innovative practices and networking, existing businesses have the opportunity to grow, become more external and competitive, and create new jobs. At the same time, our youth will get all the support to turn their innovative ideas and knowledge into new business ventures with high added value.

In his statements, the Secretary General of Research and Innovation stated that Crete’s research and technology sector, universities and ITE have been able to collaborate and have a common vision to make Crete the first area of ​​collaboration for research, innovation and development. Island.

“This will be a great benefit to other regions as well, it will be a model and I believe that today the main pillars in this direction have been placed for immediate implementation,” said Mr. Chrysasis concluded.