Contract Signing for the Landscaping Project at the Athena Building in Xanthi
National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0” with funding from the European Union – NextGenerationEU
17-04-2025
On Holy Wednesday, April 16, 2025, the contract signing ceremony for the project “Landscaping of the Surrounding Area at the Athena Research Center Building in Xanthi” took place at the auditorium of the Athena Research Center in Xanthi. The project has a budget of €980,988.24 (including VAT) and is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), as well as through the loan agreement between the Hellenic Republic and the European Investment Bank.
The contract was co-signed by Professor Yannis Emiris, Chairman of the Board and General Director of the Athena Research Center; Mr. Lazaros Tsatalmpasidis, CEO of the Development Agency of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace; and Mr. Athanasios Ekmektsis, Chairman and CEO of “ALEXANDROS S.A.”. The event was held in the presence of Mr. Stavros Kalafatis, Deputy Minister of Development responsible for Research and Innovation, and Dr. Vasilis Katsouros, Director of the Institute for Language and Speech Processing of the Athena Research Center.
The planned landscaping works are absolutely essential for rendering the Athena building in Xanthi fully operational. These include the installation of perimeter security systems, regulated and controlled access, protected parking areas, and improved energy efficiency.
This specific project forms part of a broader initiative titled “Subproject 2: Construction/Renovation of Building Facilities for the Athena Research Center”.
Following the signing ceremony, attendees toured the Athena facilities, where research activities were showcased in fields such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, 3D digitization, robotics, digital archaeology, archaeometry, and physico-chemical measurements.
Also, in attendance were: Mr. Christodoulos Topsidis, Governor of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Ms. Polyxeni Brika, Deputy Governor of Xanthi, Dr. George Pavlidis, Head of the Athena Research Center Branch in Xanthi, Ms. Paraskevi Chouridou, General Director of the Development Agency of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace S.A. "Peri EXELIXIS", Ms. Erianna Christodoulopoulou, Head of the Construction Department at the same agency, Mr. Vasileios Kyriakopoulos, representative of the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations (Growthfund), Ms. Athanasia Ioannidou, Civil Engineer, Mr. Nikolaos Tsardidis, Civil Engineer
The Athena Research Center in Xanthi serves as a regional hub of scientific and technological excellence in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. It offers access to advanced technologies (e.g., 3D digitization, AI for cultural heritage), state-of-the-art multimedia infrastructure (e.g., stereoscopic projections, virtual reality), and specialized services (e.g., archaeometry, physico-chemical analyses, smart agriculture applications). It attracts highly educated research personnel and fosters national and international collaborations with distinguished institutions, in a region that struggles to retain its own scientific human capital.
Following the signing, Dr. Vasilis Katsouros, Director of the Institute for Language and Speech Processing, stated: “Today marks another important step in strengthening the presence of the Athena Research Center in Xanthi. The landscaping and infrastructure upgrades at the facilities in Kimmeria, along with the renovation of the neoclassical building in the old town, enhance the Center’s functionality and its interaction with the local community. The Institute for Language and Speech Processing leads at a European level in language and culture technologies and, through the AI factory ‘FAROS,’ brings artificial intelligence to the forefront of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Warm thanks to the Ministry of Development for its support, to the Region of EMTh for its continuous assistance through the Development Agency ‘Periexelixis,’ which is responsible for the technical supervision of the project, as well as to the Growthfund for the efficient execution of the tender.”
Professor Yannis Emiris, Chairman of the Board and General Director of the Athena Research Center, also remarked: “Today we signed the contract for the landscaping project at the Athena Research Center building in Xanthi, which includes an energy upgrade of the facility located in the Democritus University of Thrace campus. This is the fourth infrastructure project contracted by Athena, aiming to strengthen our research activities in Thrace, while also enhancing the extroversion and innovation of the Center and its partner institutions in the region. I emphasize the support of the State, marked by the visit of the Deputy Minister of Development to Athena’s premises, as well as the support of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, signified by the Governor’s presence at the signing ceremony.”
Both Mr. Emiris and Mr. Katsouros, as well as the entire Athena team, extended heartfelt thanks to Deputy Minister Mr. Stavros Kalafatis, who stated: “We are actively supporting the upgrade of the Athena Research Center’s facilities so it can continue its pioneering work in generating digital innovation and new knowledge. Our core goal is to provide a high-standard, fully functional scientific working environment for researchers in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace – a region that must retain its own human capital. For the Government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, investing in research and innovation is a top priority. At the Ministry of Development, our mission is for Greece to become internationally competitive, and for Research and Innovation to be a driving force for strong regional development and national progress.”
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