Demokritos and industrialists join forces to exploit research

Successful transfer of technology from research laboratories to society very often has great benefits for citizens, can be a source of wealth for inventors, researchers and organizations that produce new knowledge, can create economic added value with very positive effects on international prestige and the prospects of the national economy. For Greece, which is currently classified as a “moderate innovator” country, and where perhaps more than 80% of research activity is conducted in public research organizations (Universities and Research Centers), the efficient transfer of technology from the public laboratory to industry is absolutely crucial for the development of innovation and competitiveness of the Greek economy and is a huge challenge for the State and all stakeholders.

Can a country like Greece, with a low performance in innovation to date, make a difference and win this great challenge? The answer is unequivocally YES. The rapid developments in science and technology, developments that have already been characterized as “exponential” create exactly unique opportunities for a national innovation system such as the Greek, so that unexpectedly it moves forward, with dynamism and achieves international recognition, attracting investment. Some prerequisites are the embrace of new technologies, the transformation of the ecosystem with constant adaptation to new technological, economic and social data and the use of all the advantages that the country has: Talented researchers in academia, industry and business, infrastructure, private resources.

Especially for public research organizations, the transformation begins with substantial administrative reforms, from the adoption of a clear framework for all technology transfer processes and the establishment of well-staffed Innovation Support Departments with interdisciplinary character, acquisition and acquisition skills, private investment in research, in creating dynamic spin off companies.

On Tuesday, December 14, 2021, the administrations of the National Center for Research in Natural Sciences “Demokritos”, the largest interdisciplinary Research Center in the country, and the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) signed a cooperation agreement aimed at exploiting research results, with multiple new benefits, for researchers, as well as for businesses. SEV is emerging as a strategic advisor to Demokritos, for the new pioneering programs of Industrial Scholarships that will be implemented at the Center. Young Researchers will be selected to work in the laboratories of Democritus, in research directions that are co-formed with the industries that finance their scholarships. These programs open new horizons, create added value, generate new ideas for researchers and businesses.

Democritus and SEV have undertaken a joint commitment for systematic cooperation in supporting the commercial and business utilization of the research results and scientific knowledge of Democritus researchers and the strengthening of research & development collaborations with the SEV member companies. The fields of clean green energy with special emphasis on innovative hydrogen technologies, nanotechnology, high volume data analysis.

The agreement takes on a special dimension and perspective in terms of digital innovation. The Attica Hub for the Economy of Data and Devices (AHEDD) has been established in Demokritos with the aim of supporting Greek companies in their digital transformation, with state-of-the-art technologies in Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and Telecommunications 5G. GigaCampus was announced in this direction in July 2021. A multidimensional collaboration of Democritus with Vodafone that will install in the Center infrastructure for a private 5G station as well as a functional platform for the development of a wide range of Internet of Things applications. As a strategic partner of SEV, AHEDD invites Greek companies to gain access to the “smart” GigaCampus. To try new technologies before deciding to invest in them, to use the unique infrastructure to develop new products and services for their customers.

* Giorgos Nounesis is the Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Research in Natural Sciences “Demokritos”