ISI: 25 Years of Innovation and Excellence
The Athena Industrial Systems Institute celebrates its journey and outlines its future.
31-05-2024
There was significant interest and public participation in the presentation of the Industrial Systems Institute (ISI) of the Athena Research Center at the 12th Regional Growth Conference (RGC), held from May 30 to June 1, 2024, at the Conference Center of the University of Patras.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of its founding, ISI reviewed its contribution to regional and national development through the promotion and application of 4th Industrial Revolution technologies. In the first part of the session held on Thursday, May 30, from 17:20 to 18:10, a distinguished panel including Director of ISI, Professor Chrysostomos Stylios, Emeritus Professor Stavros Koubias, former Rector of the University of Patras and former member of scientific council of ISI, as well as, Research Directors Dr. Athanasios Kalogeras, Dr. Aristeidis Lalos, and Dr. Apostolos Fournaris, discussed the institute’s significant research results and their potential further utilization.
The second session, lasting over an hour, featured an even more dynamic panel where the discussion focused on ISI’s 25-year journey in research and excellence. The discussion was opened by Professor Athanasios Kyriazis, General Secretary for Research and Innovation, who highlighted the pivotal role of GSRI in overseeing research entities, mitigating brain drain by creating incentives for researchers, fostering startups, and cultivating collaborations with industry.
Next, Panagiotis Papadopoulos, Deputy Regional Governor (Western Greece) for Entrepreneurship, Research, and Innovation, emphasized ISI’s significant contribution at regional, national, and broader levels, expressing confidence in the institute’s further development and affirming the Region’s support for research organizations and universities in the area.
Professor Christos Bouras, Rector of the University of Patras and Professor at the Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics, spoke about the University’s role in linking research with entrepreneurship and the market, announcing the construction of a 3D-printed building on the University campus to house a pre-incubator for startups.
Dr. Dimitris Tzovaras, President of CERTH, highlighted the importance of creating synergies, citing ISI as a model of collaboration and mentioning its partnership with CERTH in various programs. Emeritus Professor Kleomenis Barlos, President of the Association of Industries and Businesses of the Peloponnese and Central Greece, spoke about the successful cooperation the Association has maintained with ISI over the years.
A notable moment came when the first Director of ISI, Professor George Papadopoulos from the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Polytechnic School of the University of Patras, spoke about the institute’s evolution over 25 years, expressing his emotion over its successful trajectory due to its excellent staff and its commitment to applied research and industry connections.
Former ISI Director and current President of CTI Diophantus, Professor Dimitris Serpanos, described ISI as an example of interdisciplinary research, combining various engineering directions, and praised its success in capturing the pulse of the times and leading research activity in the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Professor Ioannis Emiris, President of the Athena Research Center, stated that ISI covers the entire spectrum of research, from basic to applied, innovation, and business connections, aligning with Athena’s vision. He described ISI as a “fundamental cell of the ecosystem we develop at Athena, with many collaborations and exchanges of knowledge and innovation nationwide, aiming at excellence on a European and international level.”
The discussion concluded with ISI Director Professor Chrysostomos Stylios outlining the institute’s goals for the next 25 years, stating that “our main direction is to leverage new ideas, open innovation, and create collaborations. ISI aims for further growth with more spin-offs and research outcomes, as well as exploring new research areas by understanding emerging trends and designing the future.”
The discussion was moderated by journalist Sotiris Papandreou (Peloponnisos newspaper), and participants had the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in industrial research and technology and network with prominent members of the research community.