ITE and BSE collaboration to boost innovation

Partnership Agreement with a focus on the development of innovation signed the Institute of Technology and Research (ITE) and Association of Businesses and Industries (BSE). The aim is to deepen cooperation and systematically support the commercial and business exploitation of research results and scientific knowledge. The signing of the agreement took place at the ITE headquarters, in Heraklion, Crete, in the presence of the Secretary General of Research and Innovation, Professor Athanasios Kyriazis.

The cooperation agreement includes promoting and supporting the cooperation between ITE researchers and companies to strengthen research and development and to promote the utilization of research results and scientific know-how. The support will include opportunities for technology licensing, establishment of technoblasts, as well as the ability to meet specific business needs in research and innovation. In addition, it includes BSE’s contribution to the project of the gnΩsi Technology Transfer Network – which is coordinated by the PRAXI Network, in order to accelerate the exploitation of intellectual property, and to develop more collaborations of the 10 research and university bodies participating in the Network with businesses and the industry. At the same time, it includes the organization of bilateral or multilateral networking meetings to strengthen research and development collaborations and/or utilization of research results and scientific know-how, which are produced at ITE. Events can take the form of thematic workshops (BSE Innovation Ready workshops) or other appropriately prepared and personalized meetings between researchers and businesses. Within the framework of the cooperation, the development of broader initiatives to align applied research with the needs of the market is also envisaged, such as (i) implementation of industrial doctorates or postdoctorates, (ii) creation of broader relevant industrial research business programs, with the reception of doctoral and postdoctoral candidates in businesses, and (iii) the possibility of BSE members participating in “proof of concept” projects depending on the object and interest. Finally, it includes the organization of communication actions to inform and generate interest among the members of the BSE, the members of the research community, as well as the general public on the importance and results of technology transfer and the results of the memorandum’s actions.

After the signing of the cooperation agreement, the president of the Executive Committee of the BSE, Efthymios Vidalis said: “With the agreement between ITE and BSE, the ties of cooperation between companies and researchers are strengthened through practical Research-Development synergies and the possibilities of commercial exploitation of scientific knowledge are improved. It is a process with mutually positive results, which is also a critical condition for a strong innovation ecosystem which in turn is a pillar of a competitive economy with strong, extroverted, businesses of all sizes and with substantial utilization of our excellent research potential”.

The president of ITE, professor Nektarios Tavernarakisexpressed her joy at the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation which, as she pointed out, “is going to strengthen the channels of communication between the research and business ecosystem of Greece”. “It will also provide new dynamics for the utilization of the research results produced by the ITE in innovative products and services, bringing multiple benefits for society and the economy. Strategic partnerships, such as this one, strengthen the competitiveness of the country in the international environment and in the global Knowledge Economy” he added.

Also present at the signing were the Head of Financial and Administrative Services of the Central Directorate of the ITE and director of PRAXI Network, Panagiotis Karniouras, and from SEV Alexandros Hatzopoulos, general manager, Maggie Athanasiadis, director of the Innovation Sector of SEV, Giannos Mitsos, coordinator of the interconnection initiative, Kostas Troulos, Senior Advisor of the Innovation Sector and Amalia Gounela, Senior Advisor, ExportReady, BSE.

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