Nektarios Tavernarakis Chairman of the Board, FORTH Professor, Medical School University of Crete
FORTH directives A public Research Center which forms an environment for promoting Knowledge and Innovation Targeted Scientific Research Selected strategic areas of high added value Training and Education Highly skilled human potential Close links with Universities Exploitation of scientific outcome Knowledge and Innovation as drivers for economic development Emphasis on Excellence
FORTH throughout Greece FORTH ADMINISTRATION Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics (IACM) Department of Biomedical Research (IMBB BR) Thessaloniki PRAXI Network (Branch) Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) Ioannina Volos PRAXI Network (Branch) Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT) Patras Athens PRAXI Network (Headquarters) CUP (Branch) Institute of Computer Science (ICS) Institute of Astrophysics (IA) Science & Technology Park of Crete (STEP-C) Institute for Mediterranean Studies (IMS) Rethymnon Heraklion Crete University Press (CUP) (Headquarters) PRAXI Network (Branch)
FORTH FORTH at the top
FORTH spin-off companies Minos BioSystems NEVEX S.A. IMPERMEABLE A.S.
Science and TEchnology Park of Crete (STEP-C) Creation of the Park Construction of the buildings: 90s Managing Company: Established December 1993 Mission Promotion and exploitation of research results (3rd development pole next to tourism and agriculture) Encourage companies to join the Park and become major vehicles of the Technology Transfer process Become a Center of Learning for companies Contribute to Regional Development Main Activities Participation in national and European RTD projects Collaboration with Regional, National and European Institutions and Organizations Promotion of academic entrepreneurship (support students and researchers) Support for the protection and management of IPR (STEP-C companies & researchers) Organisation of training seminars (addressed mainly to companies needs) EURAXESS Service Centre Member of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) Incubator: 2000 sq.m Support start-ups Currently: 20 tenant companies Support students & researchers (student entrepreneurship programmes) Over 50 companies supported during the last 20 years
Science and TEchnology Park of Crete (STEP-C) Tenant Companies 2016
PRAXI NETWORK provides help to: Assess novel technologies or ideas Expand business to new markets Develop IP strategy and IP protection Valuate technologies or ideas Market innovation and bring it to the market Identify and map target market Assess technology needs and spot the most suitable technology solutions and partners Find EU research funding Improve investment readiness Access private funds
Unit of the Foundation for Research & Technology Hellas (FORTH) The leading technology transfer and innovation support organization in Greece Long-standing experience in assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and research organisations Provides high-added-value innovation and internationalisation services Member of the Enterprise Europe Network, the largest network of integrated business support to SMEs, and coordinator of the Enterprise Europe Network Hellas
The FORTH Model of Technology Transfer & Exploitation FORTH Headquarters in Heraklion Institutes in 4 cities Knowledge Dissemination Technology Transfer Basic & Applied Research Funded by the Government, the EU, International Organizations & the Private Sector SPIN-OUT COMPANIES Collaboration with National & International Companies Over 100 patents filed: 21 national, 25 international and 8 at national and international level
Our vision @ FORTH A strategic plan focusing on: Quality, Meritocracy, Added value, Diversification Thank you!
FORTH - History 1983 Establishment of the Research Center of Crete (RCC) in Heraklion, Crete, comprising three Institutes: Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) Institute of Computer Science (ICS) 1984 Establishment of the Crete University Press (CUP) with the support of the PanCretan Association of America 1985 Establishment of the: Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics (IACM) in Heraklion, Crete Institute for Mediterranean Studies (IMS) in Rethymnon, Crete 1986 The Skinakas Observatory is founded, in collaboration with the University of Crete and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics 1987 Integration of the: Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT), located in Patras (founded in 1985) The Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH) is formally established
FORTH - History 1991 Establishment of the PRAXI Network, a technology transfer facilitator, in collaboration with the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) and the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SBBE) 1993 Establishment of the Science and Technology Park of Crete (STEP-C) 2002 Integration of the: Biomedical Research Institute (BRI), based in Ioannina 2018 Establishment of the Institute of Astrophysics (IA)
FORTH 34 years later 7 Research Institutes (Heraklion, Rethymnon, Patras, Ioannina) Crete University Press (Heraklion, Athens) Skinakas Observatory (Rethymnon) Science and Technology Park of Crete (Heraklion) PRAXI Network (Athens, Heraklion, Thessaloniki, Patras, Volos)
FORTH today: Center of Scientific and Technological Excellence Ranks 1 st among Research Centers in Greece, in all comparative evaluations conducted by international committees over the past 15 years Ranks 1 st, by the European Commission, among all Greek Research Centers and Universities Was classified together with UoC, as 1 st in the Nature INDEX, among the top Research Institutions in Greece State-of-the-art research facilities and expertise (European Research Facility in Lasers, Polymers, Cultural Heritage & Genomics sectors) FORTH researchers have received 27 ERC Grants, 92 Marie-Curie Excellence Awards and numerous international distinctions
Income 1983-2016 Productive activities and private sector 139.47M ; 14.17% Stock Sales 29.55M ; 3.00% Regular Budget 178.19M ; 18.10% Public Investments and Matching Funds 214.07M ; 21.75% International competitive Projects Other Research Funding from abroad 361.28M ; 36.70% National Competitive Projects (NSRF) 61.87M ; 6.29% State Investment: 454.13 M (178.19 + 214.07 + 61.87) External Funding: 361.28 M Value of Infrastructures: 112.50 Μ BALANCE: For an investment of 454.13 M, the external funding attracted is 361.28 + 139.47 = 500.75Μ, without considering the value of infrastructures, research work and human capital.
Crete University Press (CUP) Founded in 1984 Main objectives: To create scientific literature in the Greek language To support scientific research of the Greek civilization To diffuse scientific ideas and scientific civilization to the general public To promote the Greek traditional music through books and music records To participate in Greek and international research programs, which promote new technologies in education and publishing activities (multimedia, electronic books etc.) Mathesis Open Online Courses (20.000 students)
RESULTS: Book titles published: 600 Research monographs on Greek history and culture : 200 Book titles published per year: ~25 Books sold until today: ~2.000.000 Books sold per year: ~ 100.000 Titles adopted as University textbooks: ~1700 Personnel : 13 Annual revenue from sales: ~2,5 M Euro Self-funding percentage: 100% Awards: 22
Contribution to Regional Development Creation of highly skilled jobs directly through FORTH (~700) or indirectly through its activities (more than 1200) Support to the Region of Crete for strategic planning and implementation of RIS3, civil protection programme, development of digital maps and other Establishment of health information infrastructures in hospitals and medical units in various Greek regions Support to education and career advisory services: More than 800 high school students visit FORTH s facilities every year Promote conference tourism: ~30.000 overnights stays/year Direct support to the market of Crete: ~2.5 M /year to 400 suppliers
Structural Problems and Consequences Inadequate national framework for Research & Innovation Fragmentation of resources and funding programmes Bureaucratic and sluggish government oversight / management Inconsistency and discontinuity of national research policy Lack of predictability No long term planning for researchers and institutes Inadequate and irrational national funding Science: an easy target for austerity policies Lack of rigorous evaluation and assessment of practices Absence of research perspective and vision in government policy Appreciation of research, not as an unnecessary luxury, but as a valuable investment towards economic growth and development National research policy dominated by a sub-culture of amateurish improvisation and fragmentation Loss of human capital (Highly trained researchers/scientists; Βrain-Drain) Difficult to attract/replenish under conditions of crisis
Actions to support research and innovation Prerequisites : Favorable environment, institutional framework, management system and tools Realization of consistent and stable national research policies Establishment of robust national research funding structures based on meritorious peer-review Integration / restructuring of the national research area to include universities and research centers as key stakeholders Interfacing of research and innovation activities with the priorities of the public and private sector Systematic mobilization of private funds for sponsorships and scholarships linked to research activity Provision of incentives for repatriation of Greek researchers