The signing of the Hellenic Science & Technology Parks Association charter and the creation of a Research Centre in Patras were announced at the two-day conference organised by the Patras Science Park (PSP). The conference, 'Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Ventures Require Boldness and Virtue', was held on 15-16 July 2006 in Patras. Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas and Research and Technology General Secretary, Professor Ioannis Tsoukalas, were present at the conference.
During the event, the agreement of the association linking the countrys seven Science and Technology Parks (Attica, Epirus, Thessaly, Thessalonica, Crete, Lavrion and Patras) was signed. The goal of the association is for the Parks to coordinate their actions, facilitate networking and obtain larger-scale exposure of their projects. Moreover, the creation of the Patras Research Centre was announced, with financing of 1-1.5 million euro per year for 2005-2007.
Development Minister Mr Sioufas underlined that research and technology should serve and improve the quality of life for the citizen and for society. In this context, the Ministry is creating a model for development focused on education, research, innovation and technology. Mr Sioufas also referred to the funds from the CSF IV, which will be provided to the Regions for research and technology, as well as to Regional Poles of Innovation, which will be financed with 4-5 million euro over the next 24 months.
Research and Technology General Secretary, Prof. I. Tsoukalas, stressed that research and technology is the transformation of money into knowledge, whereas innovation is the transformation of knowledge into money. He further underlined the need for the prompt development and modernisation of Greek universities.
In his closing speech, Chairman and CEO of the Patras Science Park, Professor Petros Groumpos, presented the vigorous 15-year course of the PSP. He also referred to the goal of the PSP, namely the strengthening of innovation, the creation of a modern entrepreneurial region and the development of an economic and productive model.
This was followed by the presentation of the 7th Framework Programme for Research of the EU by Mr. Christos Vasilakos, representative of the Permanent Representation of Greece in Brussels, and a visit to the companies based in PSP premises. Included in these companies is Advent Technologies S.A., which won first place at the 7th International Conference of Entrepreneurial Participants.
The goal of the Association is to facilitate communication between its members and to coordinate the promotion of the Science and Technology Park (STP) concept in Greece and abroad, to support unanimous proposals for the designation and promotion of a national policy regarding the STP concept, to inform the public regarding the STP concept in local and regional development, to create cooperation networks with other agencies and especially with enterprises based at STPs as well as with business agencies and, finally, to strengthen the mechanisms for the dissemination of technology with the cooperation of STPs, Research and Academic Institutions, government agencies and enterprises.
Representatives from the countrys seven STPs participated in the signing of the Associations charter in Patras: the Chairman and CEO directing advisor of Patras Science Park, Prof. Petros Groumpos, the general director of Thessaly Technology Park, Prof. Thomas Thomaidis, the general director of the Technology and Cultural Park of Lavrion, Konstantinos Panagopoulos, the Chairman of the National Centre of Scientific Research 'Demokritos, Dimitrios Niarchos, the general director of Epirus Science and Technology Park, Prof. Dimitrios Fotiadis, the director of Thessaloniki Technology Park, Konstantinos Tramantzas and the director of Cretes Science and Technology Park, Artemios Saitakis. Prof. Petros Groumpos is Chairman of the Association and Mr Artemios Saitakis is the vice-Chairman. The Technology and Cultural Park of Lavrion will act as headquarters.