"Research - Create - Innovate": Connecting R&D with Enterprises

The new “RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE” programme is the flagship among the R&D and innovation programmes of new National Strategic Reference Framework (in Greek: EΣΠΑ/ΕSPA) managed by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, not only due to the considerable amount of resources, but also because it interconnects research conducted at Greek universities and research centres with innovative entrepreneurship. It is a product of the close cooperation between the Ministry of Economy and Development and the Ministry of Education and aims at enhancing enterprise productivity, extroversion and competitiveness.

The main objectives of the programme, which forms part of the Operational Programme “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation 2014-2020 (EPAnEK)”, are: economic development based on knowledge and sustainable specialisation; Integration of new knowledge and innovation to existing and new products, services, production systems and value chains; and Connection of academic research with market needs and economy. Its budget, co-financed by the Greek government and the European Regional Development Fund, is 280 million euro and will be implemented in three (3) cycles, while the budget of the first cycle interventions is 126 million euro. Interested parties may apply from March 23 until May 17.

The Operational Programme for “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation 2014-2020 (EPAnEK)” occupies a central position to Greece’s efforts to create a new production model that will lead to development and will strengthen the competitiveness of the Greek economy by leveraging private financing. The new model brings to the fore productive, competitive and outward-looking sectors of the economy, such as tourism, energy, agri-food, the environment, the supply chain, information and communication technologies, health and the pharmaceutical industry, creative and cultural industries, materials – construction.

The presentation of the first proclamation of “RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE” programme was held on March 22 at the National Hellenic Research Foundation attracting the interest of research and business communities. The event was organized by the Special Management Service of the Operational Programme ‘Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship & Innovation’ (ΕΥΔΕ-ΕΤΑΚ) and the General Secretariat for Research and Technology. Keynote speakers were Alternate Minister for Research and Innovation Costas Fotakis, Alternate Economy & Development Minister Alexis Haritsis and Patricia Kyprianidou, Secretary General for Research and Technology.

Alternate Minister for Research and Innovation Costas Fotakis presented the network that strongly supports research and innovation and promotes their connection with entrepreneurship, noting that it complements other government initiatives such as research support by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation and the utilization of innovation produced by scientific research through EquiFund.

Alternate Economy & Development Minister Alexis Haritsis noted that this programme is the biggest ever designed to promote research and its connection to entrepreneurship and is part of the overall development plan of the government and the Ministry of Economy for the productive transformation of the Greek economy and the utilization of the highly educated and skilled workforce of the country.

See also: The video of the presentation event (in Greek)

Learn more about R&D in Greece via National Documentation Centre & Ministry of Education’s Research & Innovation Portal