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From framework to implementation: NCSR Demokritos at the EU discussion on AI governance and the implementation of the AI Act.
Two years after bringing the AI Act to the forefront, Europe’s focus is now shifting from framework to implementation. Vangelis Karkaletsis, Director and Chairman of the Board of NCSR Demokritos, and Alexandros Nousias, Research Associate on AI Law, Governance & Ethics at NCSR Demokritos, contributed to the discussion “AI Governance in Practice: Implementing the AI Act and enabling innovation in the EU”, held in Brussels on March 19th. The event, organised by the Special Secretariat for AI and Data Governance of the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance and its Special Secretary Vasilis Karkatzounis, together with the Permanent Representation of Greece to the EU, brought together representatives of European institutions, national authorities and industry to explore what that shift means in practice. AI governance is not a policy exercise in isolation. It has direct implications for how research is conducted, how systems are developed, and how trust is built across the ecosystem. Key themes on the table were coordination between national authorities and EU-level actors, the practical challenges of operationalising the AI Act, balancing innovation with effective safeguards, and emerging issues such as deepfakes and trust in the information space. Vangelis Karkaletsis highlighted the strategic importance of aligning AI governance with Europe’s innovation agenda and the need to strengthen institutional capacity for the effective implementation of the AI Act. As he noted: “Strengthening the adoption of AI by SMEs, industry, and the public sector is a key national priority within our national AI strategy. To that end, Greece is actively participating in European initiatives such as the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH), as well as AI Factories, including the Greek AI Factory ‘Pharos’. Today’s discussion is therefore particularly significant, as the challenge is no longer only to develop AI, but to develop trustworthy AI.” Alexandros Nousias moderated the panel “Enabling Innovation within Governance”, where the discussion explored the concept of trustworthy AI and its practical application in the field, including in the context of the Pharos AI Factory. The panel framed trustworthy AI not merely as a compliance objective, but as a system of quality governance with values engineered at its core, enabling innovation to scale with trust, accountability, and societal alignment. The event brought together participants from Cyprus, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, and Austria, as well as the EU AI Office.
April 8, 2026 / National Centre For Scientific Research Demokritos
HCCC Information Day at NCSR “Demokritos”: Strengthening Greece’s position in the European semiconductor ecosystem
On Friday, February 6, 2026, NCSR “Demokritos” hosted the Hellenic Chips Competence Centre (HCCC) Information Day. The event served as a high-level gathering of industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers, all focused on a single mission: strengthening Greece’s position within the European semiconductor value chain under the umbrella of the EU Chips Act. The day opened with greetings from the Secretary General for Telecommunications and Posts, Konstantinos Karantzalos, who highlighted the strategic necessity of domestic chip design and production. Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Vice President of NCSR Demokritos, and Emmanuel Zervakis, HCCC President, welcomed the audience, setting the stage for a day dedicated to translating research into industrial impact. Evangelos Gogolides, Director of INN, detailed the HCCC’s service catalog, positioning the INN as a primary provider for the Prototyping and Manufacture of Electronic and Photonic Devices. The technical sessions provided deep dives into the Institute’s specialized offerings: * Eleni Makarona (Researcher A’, INN) presented specific examples of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) and sensor manufacturing services. * The event featured the SMARTEC line, the first Greek production line for GaN MMICs, presented by Manos Trichas (ITE), alongside design service insights from Georgios Panagopoulos (NTUA). * Beyond manufacturing, the INN provides critical skills. Nikos Boukos (Researcher A’, INN) demonstrated laboratory training in material characterization via electron microscopy, while Dimitrios Soudris (NTUA) and Christoforos Kachris (UNIWA) discussed AI-based EDA tools and curriculum development. The effectiveness of the INN’s ecosystem was validated by successful industrial partnerships. ThetaMetrisis (Ioannis Raptis), Circuits Integrated Hellas (Errikos Loundarakis) and OHB Hellas (Alexis Chatzistylianos) shared how collaborating with the research centers and universities has accelerated their technical roadmaps and market readiness. To ensure these services are accessible to all, Katerina Tzortzatou (Head of Fundraising, NCSR Demokritos) provided a practical guide for SMEs and researchers on how to formally engage with the HCCC. Infrastructure Tour: The Cleanroom & The AI Factory The afternoon session offered a coordinated dual-track tour for all attendees. 1. The INN Cleanroom (Nanotechnology & Microsystems Laboratory) Led by Cleanroom Manager Vassilis Vamvakas, groups explored the 300m² facility. As the only full silicon processing line in Greece, the Cleanroom is an important asset of HCCC, providing the controlled environment necessary for the fabrication of the next generation of sensors and microcircuits. 2. The Data Center & AI Factory (PHAROS) Simultaneously, attendees visited the NCSR Demokritos Data Center and AI Factory, guided by Stelios Karozis. The AI Factory provides the high-performance computing (HPC) power essential for Advanced Chip Design (EDA) and complex simulations. Access the Resources * Technical Slides: Click here to download the speaker slides – Gain detailed insights shared by our experts. * Virtual Tour: Experience our state-of-the-art facilities from your screen. Take the Virtual Tour of the Cleanroom here.
February 27, 2026 / National Centre For Scientific Research Demokritos
NCSR Demokritos Participates in the AmphiPoly research programme for the study and restoration of the Kasta Tumulus monument in Amphipolis
Photos: Hellenic Ministry of Culture On 19 January 2026, the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, signed a Programming Agreement between the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the National Hellenic Research Foundation, and the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” (NCSR Demokritos), with a total budget of €660,000 funded by the Ministry of Culture from its own resources. Through this agreement, the Ministry of Culture entrusts the two research centres with the implementation of the research project AmphiPoly, which focuses on the scientific study and documented enhancement of the polychromy of the tomb monument of the Kasta Tumulus in Amphipolis. The objective of the AmphiPoly research project is the scientifically documented reconstruction of the monument’s original decorative appearance, including its polychromy and iconography, across all its chronological phases. Drawing on archaeometric measurements, digital tools, and historical-archaeological research, the project will produce a three-dimensional digital representation and support the monument’s aesthetic restoration. The project aims to refine the evaluation of the monument’s significance, use, and dating, while documenting its original decoration, which has become difficult to discern in many areas due to wear and later alterations. At the same time, AmphiPoly supports the development of innovative, experiential, and interactive museum approaches, incorporating digital technologies that enable virtual exploration of the monument, interactive engagement with its architectural and decorative elements, and visualisation of the archaeometric data underpinning the restoration process. The results of archaeometric analyses—carried out by specialised laboratories of NCSR Demokritos in collaboration with teams from internationally recognised research centres—will be combined with high-resolution digital material from three-dimensional scanning and data visualisation applications. The project foresees the creation of physical replicas of selected decorative elements (the façade with the Sphinxes, the mosaic, and the pedestal with the Lion), as well as digital models and virtual reality (VR) applications for museum use. Visual artists will contribute to the digital completion and restoration process, using artificial intelligence tools in conjunction with archaeometric data relating to worn, lost, or poorly preserved iconographic elements of the mosaic and painted marble friezes. Comparative spectroscopic analyses and ultra-high-resolution imaging of related Macedonian tomb paintings—such as the Persephone abduction fresco from Tomb I at Aigai—together with laboratory dating results from mortar and osteological samples from within the tomb, will further inform the study. Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni noted that the Macedonian Tomb at the Kasta Tumulus in Amphipolis, an emblematic monument of exceptional historical and archaeological importance, requires a unified and holistic approach in order to ensure its comprehensive protection. She emphasised that, alongside the restoration and enhancement works implemented by the Ministry’s services, the AmphiPoly research programme operates in a complementary manner, drawing on cutting-edge scientific knowledge, technology, and archaeometry to study and document the monument’s original polychromy, aesthetics, and symbolic depth. The programme will result in a new, fully documented body of data, while also offering modern tools for understanding and engaging with the monument at an international level. The President of the National Hellenic Research Foundation, Dimitris Sarigiannis, highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary methodologies, advanced non-destructive analytical techniques, and high-precision digital applications in reconstructing the monument’s original chromatic richness and shedding new light on Macedonian funerary architecture. He underlined the value of collaboration between the State, research institutions, and society, to transform new scientific knowledge into open resources for both the scientific community and the wider public. The Director and Chairman of the Board of NCSR Demokritos, Vangelis Karkaletsis, stated that Demokritos’ participation in the AmphiPoly project continues its long-standing contribution to archaeometry and non-invasive analytical techniques applied to cultural heritage. He noted that Demokritos’ research teams, with expertise ranging from innovations in X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for the study of ancient polychromy to reliable dating of organic materials and mortars and the determination of marble provenance, will contribute to a deeper understanding of the role and significance of the Kasta Tumulus monument in antiquity, supporting its documented and respectful enhancement.
February 10, 2026 / National Centre For Scientific Research Demokritos
NCSR “Demokritos” at the 2nd Student Conference From Mythology to Space “Kids talk with the Stars”, 16 & 17 January 2026, Athens Concert Hall
They created escape rooms and models, went out into nature for environmental activities and looked up to discover the stars, wrote poems and songs, and made use of modern technologies and software. They investigated, collaborated without exclusions, learned, and had fun! During the 2024–2025 school year, 15,000 pupils from 590 classes in nursery, primary and secondary schools in Greece and abroad took part in the International Sustainability Education Network “From Mythology to Space – Myth2space”. On 16 and 17 January 2026, they will come to Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall for the 2nd Student Conference “From Mythology to Space”, titled this year “Kids talk with the Stars”, to share their projects for a better future. The National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” has been an active member of the Network since its establishment, participating through its Education Office. Throughout the school year, researchers from the Centre visit participating schools to present their work, giving students the opportunity to explore various fields of contemporary science. The conference is organised by the International Sustainability Education Network “From Mythology to Space – Myth2space” and the World Human Forum, in collaboration with the Hellenic Space Center, the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, the Philekpaideftiki Etaireia (Arsakeia – Tositseia Schools), Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall, and the National Museum of Natural History Goulandris. The International Sustainability Education Network “From Mythology to Space – Myth2space” is coordinated by the Directorate of Primary Education of B΄ Athens and the Directorate of Primary Education of the Cyclades. The conference is supported by a donation from Raycap S.A. A great celebration by children, for children, the conference gives pupils the floor to present the work and collaborations carried out in the Network’s second year of operation. The two-day event includes student presentations (in person or online), talks by distinguished figures in scientific research, culture and the environment, experiential workshops and performances. At the closing ceremony, the German-Greek pianist and co-founder of the Molyvos International Music Festival, Danae Dörken, will perform together with student music ensembles. Admission is free, with entry passes. Discover the Myth2Space Network at: https://mythtospace.sites.sch.gr/ More about the Myth2Space Network Drawing on ALPHA MISSION – ΔELOS, NASA’s Artemis mission and its connection to Greek culture, the Network applies the SHTEAM methodology (STEM + Humanities, Arts), cultivating skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, computational thinking and holistic understanding of concepts. It also highlights the importance of belonging to a school community where every member can participate equally. Each week, pupils from the regions meet online with peers from urban centres. Through play, crafts and inspired activities, these schools learn and innovate. They create new, modern ways of organising themselves and show us how everyone can contribute to the Environment, the Economy, Culture and Sustainability. During its second year of operation (2024–2025), the Network included: * 391 schools in Greece and abroad * Around 600 educators * 15,000 pupils * 152 nursery schools, 163 primary schools, 45 lower-secondary schools and 31 upper-secondary schools Today, the Network includes 25,000 pupils from 850 classes across primary and secondary education. With the enthusiastic support and active involvement of the educational community, Myth2Space is opening channels for communication and knowledge, guiding the way towards the future of education. Focus areas and innovative activities The Network’s themes are based on the three key dimensions of the space mission – humanistic, environmental and scientific – linked to the four pillars of Sustainable Development (Environment, Economy, Health Promotion, Culture). Last school year, students explored a wide range of topics, including: * Space & Mythology: Space and life on other planets, astronomy and space travel, myths associated with space, planets and constellations. * Science & STEM: Physical sciences, light, experiments, women in science. * Environment & Sustainability: Climate change, the environment, water (quality and sufficiency), biodiversity, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. * Society & Culture: Ecological awareness and physical health, nutrition, and the study of topics inspired by literary works. More about the Network & the conference programme: https://mythtospace.sites.sch.gr/ Secretariat of the Directorate of Primary Education of B΄Athens Tel.: 2106893081 Email: mythtospace@gmail.com LinkedIn: @myth2space Instagram: @myth.to.space Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558662291422  Media enquiries: World Human Forum Ioanna Gkomouza, Communications Officer Tel.: +30 6973827508 Email: ioanna@worldhumanforum.earth
December 12, 2025 / National Centre For Scientific Research Demokritos
Dr. Vangelis Karkaletsis is the new Director and Chairman of the Board of NCSR Demokritos
On 22 October 2025, Dr. Vangelis Karkaletsis was appointed Director of NCSR Demokritos and Chairman of its Board of Directors, following his tenure as Director of the Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications at NCSR Demokritos. A long-standing member of the Demokritos community, Vangelis Karkaletsis has focused his work on the ways intelligent systems and digital technologies can advance research and benefit society. His appointment marks a new step in the Centre’s continuing journey of curiosity and collaboration that have defined Demokritos in recent years. He succeeds Dr. George Nounesis, whose leadership guided the Centre through a period of growth and transformation, strengthening its collaborative spirit and international presence. As Demokritos moves forward, it builds on this legacy, shaping new paths for science to serve the common good.
November 13, 2025 / National Centre For Scientific Research Demokritos
NCSR Demokritos and UNICEF Greece establish a Child Rights Centre
NCSR Demokritos and UNICEF Greece have announced the establishment of a Child Rights Centre, hosted within Demokritos. With this initiative, Demokritos becomes the first research centre to join UNICEF’s network of eleven Child Rights Centres (CRCs) across Greece. The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Dr. Vangelis Karkaletsis, Chairman of the Board and Director of NCSR Demokritos, and Dr. Ghassan Khalil, UNICEF Representative in Greece. In partnership with the Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications at NCSR Demokritos, the new Centre is guided by the principles of the “Convention on the Rights of the Child”. Following the vision of the Child Rights Centres, it will serve as a hub for promoting and advocating for child rights, generating knowledge and evidence on children, and integrating child rights into education and training. The Demokritos Centre will focus on the digital environment, helping children navigate it safely and consciously through responsible AI use, online protection and digital literacy, cultivating digital citizenship and ensuring that innovation evolves with ethics and awareness. At the launch event, Ghassan Khalil emphasized that the establishment of the Child Rights Centre at Demokritos marks an important milestone in UNICEF’s collaboration with the research community in Greece. He underlined the crucial role of science and innovation in protecting children’s rights and in strengthening knowledge, education, and critical thinking based on the principles of the “Convention on the Rights of the Child.” Vangelis Karkaletsis highlighted that the collaboration with UNICEF reflects a shared commitment to ensuring technology serves the rights of the child and not the other way around. Through the new Centre, he noted, Demokritos will promote responsible AI use and digital rights awareness, an investment in how children will shape tomorrow’s technology with safety and values. The dialogue on children’s rights in the digital age is urgent, and Demokritos is working to ensure that the digital world becomes a space where every child can learn, create, and thrive safely.
November 11, 2025 / National Centre For Scientific Research Demokritos
The Joint Laboratory for Cultural Heritage
An initiative by NCSR Demokritos and Shanghai Jiao Tong University advancing interdisciplinary research in science, culture, and heritage. 30 October 2025, NCSR Demokritos Congress Center, Athens A new collaboration between NCSR Demokritos and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) brings science and culture into dialogue through the newly launched Joint Laboratory for Cultural Heritage. The Joint Lab marks the beginning of long-term scientific and cultural collaboration between Greece and China, following the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding. Its goal is to advance interdisciplinary research, linking science and innovation with cultural inquiry and heritage studies. The Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics (INPP), under the direction of Dr. Christos Markou, plays a central role in HeritageScience and in advanced materials characterisation. Dr. Andreas Karydas, Research Director and Head of the XRF Laboratory, leads Demokritos’ contribution, continuing the Institute’s pioneering work in non-destructive techniques for the study and preservation of cultural heritage artifacts. The Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications (IIT) extends this vision, coordinating major projects in DigitalCulture and the development of innovative cultural applications. Dr. Lida Arnellou and her team lead initiatives that merge cultural expression with digital technology, as seen in AiTHERION. At Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the School of Humanities, led by Prof. Qi Hong, anchors the collaboration. As Prof. Qi remarked during the ceremony, “China and Greece, as the cradles of two ancient civilizations, share cultural heritages that belong not only to our nations but to humanity as a whole.” As outlined by Dr. Vangelis Karkaletsis, Director and Chairman of the Board of NCSR Demokritos, the partnership will promote joint research in AI, robotics, big data, bioinformatics, and digital humanities, support joint postgraduate programs, and encourage international collaboration in research and innovation. It also aspires to create new digital exhibitions exploring the dialogue between ancient Greek and Chinese philosophy. The opening ceremony gathered delegates from both countries. Among the distinguished guests were Prof. Liu Weidong, Vice Rector of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU); Prof. Wei Yadi; Mr. Lai Bo, Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Greece; Dr. Anastasios Gaitanis, General Secretary for Research and Innovation at the Hellenic Ministry of Development and Investments; and Ms. Maria Mertzani, Head of the Directorate for the Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments at the Hellenic Ministry of Culture. Also present were representatives from the Chinese School of Classical Studies at Athens, the Hellenic National Archaeological Museum, along with researchers and cultural experts from both institutions. From Athens to Shanghai, a dialogue between knowledge and creativity has just begun. Chinese version available here: https://news.sjtu.edu.cn/jdyw/20251102/216085.html
October 30, 2025 / National Centre For Scientific Research Demokritos
World Bioethics 2025
World Bioethics 2025 was celebrated at Demokritos on 14 October, themed “Bioethical Challenges in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, highlighting the ethical dimension of AI and the importance of Responsible Research. University students and school groups who presented their own projects brought fresh perspectives to the event, showing how the younger generation is actively engaging in the conversation about the future of science and society. The event was co-organized by researcher Dr. Vasiliki Mollaki and the Communications Team of the Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications at NCSR Demokritos, the Hellenic Unit of the International Chair in Bioethics (ICB) – WMA Cooperative Center of the Applied Philosophy Research Laboratory of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Hellenic National Bioethics Commission, the European Laboratory of Bioethics, Technoethics and Law at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, and the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Deontology of the Holy Metropolis of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki. Representing Demokritos, Dimitris Kletsas, Director of the Institute of Biosciences and Applications of NCSR Demokritos, highlighted the work of the Research Ethics Committee (REC) of our Center and presented two flagship EU-funded projects: DeployAI: Develops the European AI-on-Demand Platform and promotes trustworthy, transparent, and ethical AI solutions for industry, SMEs, and the public sector. CHANGER_EU_PROJECT: Aims to promote changes in ResearchEthics reviews by strengthening researchers’ capacity to embed ethical reasoning from the project design stage (EthicsByDesign) and implementation, proposing European policy recommendations for safeguarding human rights in the context of emerging technologies. It also develops educational material on research ethics in areas such as organoids, genome editing, and artificial intelligence. Through our work, we’re reminded that ethics and innovation grow stronger together, nurturing a culture of science where progress serves people and earns their trust in the technologies that shape our future.
October 14, 2025 / National Centre For Scientific Research Demokritos
NCSRD participates in Greek delegation of leading Research Centres to China
Scientists from NCSR “Demokritos,”  ATHENA and FORTH, visited China between 12-19 October 2024, aiming to foster collaboration between the two countries. The visit was organised with support from the Chinese Embassy in Greece, in partnership with the Palace Museum of the Forbidden City in Beijing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and other institutions. Notably, this is the first mission of its kind, reflecting a mutual desire to strengthen bilateral relations and establish research partnerships in areas of shared interest. The Greek delegation included Dr. Vangelis Karkaletsis, Director of the Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications at NCSR Demokritos, and Dr. Kostas Eleftheriadis, elected Director of the Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety. FORTH was represented by Professor Nektarios Tavernarakis, Chair of the Board, and Professor Yiannis Vontas, Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, while Athena Research Center was represented by Minos Garofalakis, Director of the Institute of Information Systems (IIS) and Professor at the Technical University of Crete. The six-day program included visits to research institutions in Beijing and Shanghai, which have developed partnerships with Greek institutions, such as the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (ISTIC), the Palace Museum, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the NICE Organization, and major tech companies (Huawei, Xiaomi, etc.), highlighting China’s unique cultural heritage and technological innovations. Dr. Karkaletsis commented: In recent years, Demokritos has initiated a series of joint actions with the support of the Chinese Embassy in Greece, focusing on the use of digital technologies in culture and philosophy. With the launch of AiTHERION (https://aitherion.gr/) at the Athens Conservatory, a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and Demokritos, we are designing and implementing cultural experiences in ancient Greek philosophy through digital technologies. This has led to visits by Chinese students and researchers to the site, as well as visits by AiTHERION representatives to the Palace Museum and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. These initial exchanges resulted in a memorandum of cooperation with Shanghai Jiao Tong University for research and educational activities in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, culture, and philosophy. We were delighted to visit these and other organizations, where we discussed the potential for collaboration. We hope to expand our joint research activities in these areas and also in areas like energy and the environment, which are of particular importance to us. Download Press Release (docx).  
November 7, 2024 / National Centre For Scientific Research Demokritos
European Regions Come Together to Prioritise Climate-Resilience Action
Today, partners of EU funded project Regions4Climate (R4C), celebrate the opening of their annual consortium meeting in Sitia, Greece, to outline action for a successful second year. The conference is set to take place from the 23rd to 25th of April in one of the European regions participating in the 5-year long climate-resilience project. Partners will collaborate during the week to discuss on-going activities and innovations under development such as just transition roadmaps, regional system dynamics models, monitoring and evaluation, climate risk and vulnerability assessments. Carmen Antuña Rozado, Project Coordinator for Regions4Climate, said: “After more than a year of hard work, we have established the necessary operational processes and laid the foundation for smooth and enthusiastic collaboration between all partners. “Our regions are advancing their innovation actions for greater climate resilience and our scientific and technical partners are developing appropriate tools that can help them achieve their objectives. “They are all very excited to see what this second year will bring and to contribute to greater sustainability and resilience of their communities, and perhaps other communities interested in replicating R4C solutions in the near future.” Thanasis Sfetsos, from the National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos, Greece, said: “We are very excited to host our consortium partners in Sitia, Crete to celebrate our first annual conference. Recent progress demonstrated that working together and pushing for the uptake of innovative solutions with our partners we are able to build more climate-resilient communities across Europe.” Pavlos Alexandros Kapetanakis, representing the Municipality of Sitia, said: “It is a great privilege for the Municipality of Sitia to host the annual meeting of the Regions for Climate consortium and demonstrate the risks in a “climate hot spot” Mediterranean region and the efforts made to adapt the unique resources and our high-quality agricultural products to present challenges.” As the frontrunner region in the More Systemic Adaptation Challenge suite, Sitia has been recognised for its local citizens, farmers and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) participating in the society-wide transition towards climate resilience. To help with climate adaptation measures, the coastal region aims to develop P.O.D. products of local origin with zero carbon footprint. This will be done by transforming olive oils mills into climate neutral, introduce biological IPM and strengthen sustainable practices in a participatory and collaborative way, led by women entrepreneurs and cooperatives. The region is working on combining their culture and traditional knowledge with modern approaches and tools, making it a successful example for other regions and serving as inspiration for other communities sharing similar conditions. The Municipality of Sitia and National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos plan to promote sustainability to those visiting by using the Sitia UNESCO Geopark as an outdoor classroom. It will act as a hub for economic activities and encouraging tourism that has no negative impact on the environment. With a focus on close collaboration with local businesses and citizens, particularly in rural areas, the socio-cultural and economic impacts of climate change can be addressed at all levels of society. Thanks to the support from Regions4Climate, there are new idea developments for businesses and funding options to help small-scale producers. About Regions4Climate The Regions4Climate project aims to deliver significant sociocultural, economic, and environmental impacts during the 5-year duration of the project. Inhabitants of the 12 partner regions, over 13.8 million people, are expected to directly benefit from the outcomes of the project, with potential upscaling to 746 million people living in Europe in the longer term. Regions4Climate engages 12 European regions in developing and testing their own resilience plans and transformative adaptation pathways, enhanced by cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange. Partner regions include the Basque country (Spain), South Aquitaine (France), the Azores (Portugal), Toscana (Italy), KøgeBay (Denmark), Burgas (Bulgaria), Helsinki-Uusimaa (Finland), Pärnumaa (Estonia), Eastern Crete (Greece), Castilla y León (Spain), the Nordic Archipelago (Finland, Åland and Sweden), and Troodos (Cyprus Republic). About the National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos Founded in July 1961 as a Research Centre for Nuclear Research, Demokritos is today the largest multidisciplinary Research Centre of Greece with approximately 180 Researchers in tenured and tenure-track positions and over 500 Research Personnel working in projects funded mainly by grants from State Funds, the European Union and Private Industries. The Centre consists of six independent Institutes focusing on different scientific fields. It is governed by the Board of Directors and is supervised by the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation, which is part of the Ministry of Development. Media contact Carmen Antuña Rozado Project Coordinator carmen.antuna@vtt.fi Rosa Vallespinós Communication Manager rosa@revolve.media
May 13, 2024 / National Centre For Scientific Research Demokritos