Approval for the funding of six research infrastructure projects at the higher educational and research establishments of Crete was signed by the Regional Governor Stavros Arnautakis on Tuesday 4th March. With a total budget of €12.2 million from the Regional Programme for Crete for 2012-27, the projects promote innovation, collaboration between the educational and research establishments and the use of research equipment by teaching staff and researchers across Crete, with the aim of providing technological support to the institutions and also the island’s businesses.
The works come under the umbrella of the Regional Innovation Hub for Crete, the first of its kind in Greece, which was instituted on the initiative of the Regional Authority in November 2023. According to a press release issued by the Regional Authority at the time, the Innovation Hub will consist of “an organisational network for the research and innovation system in Crete, which will bring together through coordinated activities on the one hand academic excellence and on the other hand business and social innovation. The basic remit of the Crete Innovation Hub is the promotion of the recently updated Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Region of Crete (RIS3) and the achievement of the latter’s objectives.”
The six research projects
The six projects currently being funded are as follows:
Crete Innovation Hub in the Sustainable Use of Resources – Centre for High-resolution Electron Microscopy (SURE@Crete). (Participants: Technical University of Crete, HMU, University of Crete, FORTH).
The initiative creates a Centre for High-Resolution Electron Microscopy at the Technical University of Crete, specialising in the development of new materials with high sustainability, improvement of their life cycle, better performance of materials in applications of energy production and management, and the development of new materials and building techniques within the context of sustainable buildings.
Crete Innovation Hub – Pole of Academic Excellence in Sustainable Agri-foods: Bio-innovatory applications in Food and Agriculture. (HMU, University of Crete, Technical University of Crete).
The AgroBIONIC research network comprises an interdisciplinary and inter-university partnership which aims to staff and create a Regional Innovation Hub in Agri-food which will support holistic and innovatory approaches in the diagnosis and solution of problems, optimised production and quality of agri-food products and the development of smart innovatory products, applications and services. It will deploy advanced technologies in the fields of Circular Agriculture, Precision Agriculture and Cellular Agriculture.
Crete Innovation Hub – Pole of Academic Excellence in Health and Life Sciences (University of Crete, HMU, HCMR, Technical University of Crete).
The proposed research network, which will operate within the emerging “Health and Wellbeing” sector, is inspired by the global “One Health” initiative and aims to bridge the gap between the needs of industry and academic research. It connects basic laboratory research with clinical practice and the improvement of public health, laying the groundwork to attract investors from pharmaceutical companies, health sector businesses, funding organisations and institutions.
CRINNA – Smart Tools, Infrastructure and Innovations for Improving the Quality and Safety of Agri-food Products in Crete (FORTH, HCMR, ELGO).
The research project entails a proposal for an interdisciplinary partnership in Crete which will modernise its scientific equipment with the aim of improving primary sector production and the quality and safety of Cretan food products.
High-resolution Sensors for the Life of Citizens and Businesses in Crete (HISENS) (FORTH, HMU, ELGO).
The goal is the creation of an interdisciplinary research network for the development of advanced high-resolution sensors (optical, chemical and biological), with horizontal deployment across the basic priorities of RIS3, such as Agri-foods (food quality), the Environment (detecting pollution, toxic substances) and Health (precision medical therapies).
Provision of a Research Infrastructure for HPC and AI (FORTH, Technical University of Crete, HMU, ELGO)
The aim is the provision of a technologically perfected computer network on the model of advanced High Performance Computing (HPC) systems for scientific applications and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The facility will make innovatory contributions to the solution of difficult and demanding research problems, to the development and cultivation of the local innovation and excellence ecosystem, as well as to improving the competitiveness of businesses and their transition to the era of AI and Generative AI, though an open model of access and use of equipment.
At the signing event
Speaking to the media at the signing event, Mr Arnautakis said: “This is one more decisive step in the further reinforcement of the Regional Authority’s collaboration with the universities and research institutions of Crete. … It is the start of a new programme for research facilities and their interconnection with the businesses of Crete.”
The Regional Governor expressed special thanks to the Rectors of the Academic Institutions, the President of FORTH, the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research and the Vice-president of ELGO Dimitra for their fruitful and productive cooperation. “It is a partnership which strengthens research and innovation on our island. As the Region of Crete, we stress that we will continue this cooperation and will jointly claim further funds from the government, and of course we await the signature for the Innovation Hub by the responsible ministry,” he said.
The principals of the participating institutions present at the event all emphasised the innovative and collaborative nature of the initiatives, which promote further cooperation between the institutions and the Regional Authority and provide a link between academic research and business. Also present was the Deputy Regional Governor for Liaison with Research and Academic Institutions, Giorgos Matalliotakis.
Two videos of the occasion can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I024LxDAq9A
and here:
https://www.cretalive.gr/kriti/12-ekat-eyro-gia-6-erga-se-ereynitika-kai-ekpaideytika-idrymata-tis-kritis