Thessaloniki: Partnership between research centers and universities
The transformation of research results into products and services for the benefit of society, the labor market and business is the goal of the “SPIRA” Action Plan, through which the Technology Transfer structure of the National Center for Research and Technological Development (CERTH) is utilized by Hellenic Agricultural Organization DIMITRA (ELGO DIMITRA), the International University of Greece (DIPAE), the University of Macedonia (PAMAK) and the University of Western Macedonia (PDM).
The actions signed a framework agreement for the action, which is funded with € 166 million through the EU ‘s Horizon 2020 financial framework. Existing shortcomings in the exploitation of research results are planned to be addressed through the exploitation of economies of scale.
Including procedures will be systematized and the services of the CERTH Technology Transfer Structure will be enrichedwhich will strengthen its communication with companies and organizations in Greece and abroad in order to support the networking of the five organizations and the utilization of their mature technologies by creating values, results and inputs that will ensure the future stability and sustainability of their cooperation.
“Extremely important event” characterized the partnership o Deputy Minister of Development and Investment Christos Dimas, intervening online in the press conference presentation of the action, which took place this morning at CERTH. «An attempt is made to utilize the special knowledge. Not only will the result be good but other efforts will also help. “We hope to have other” spirals “in the country”, the deputy minister pointed out.
The certainty that “the technology transfer centers will help exactly in the dissemination of the results”, expressed -also through internet intervention- the Secretary General of Research and Innovation, Athanasios Kyriazis. “This is a partnership of research centers and universities that will find better results. “We hope to see similar actions in the future,” he said.
The data highlighted by CERTH “strong part of conducting research activity“, Presented the president of Dr. Dimitris Tzovaras, noting that “the research activity has led to high performance in key technology transfer indicators” and “in the last five years alone, CERTH has submitted 16 patent applications, implementation of 451 service contracts to industry, while currently operating. 19 spin off CERTH companies “. He explained that through the new action plan, CERTH selects and upgrades the quality of the Technology Transfer structure and focuses on large-scale and collaborative type actions.
He described the agreement as mutually beneficial rector of PAMAK Stelios Katranidis, noting that it contributes to the development of a technology transfer hub in Northern Greece, as well as that it further strengthens the interconnection of universities with the business community and the labor market. “We are interested in developing an entrepreneurial spirit within the university,” he said.
The need for patents to be granted not just to be recognized as recognition of the research footprint of universities and research centers, but not officially used. CEO of ELGO DIMITRA, Panagiotis HatzinikolaouRegarding the participation of the Organization in the SPIRA Action, he explained that “we are very close to the derivative systems, apart from the research that concerns the largest activity in the Organization – about 40-50% – the other activities that are training, education in the agricultural sector, support for quality products and controls, all this makes us start very close to the productive system, which refers to agri-food “
The necessity of operating technology transfer offices in universities was mentioned by Chairman of the Steering Committee of DIPAE, Athanasios Kaisis explaining that a mission of the Technology Transfer Bureau will examine whether or not a patent is of industrial importance. “If the proposal has value then the office should be able, not to turn to the state and ask for spin off funding, but to be able to go directly abroad to those who are participating, so that the researcher and to make a research that will yield a useful result and not only by name “, he noted.
The importance of the post-colonial era for the research and the development perspective of the University of Western Macedonia, his representative mentioned, noting that a large part of the funds from the fair transition fund is directed to research proposals that can be utilized.
Answering questions, Mr. Tzovaras noted that CERTH is also open to new members and other bodies interested in utilizing the staff and services of the Technology Transfer Center, while announcing that in September a joint action may have matured with the technology transfer center of the Aristotle University. Of Thessaloniki and the Democritus University of Thrace.
With information from ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
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