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On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the Athena Research Center had the honor of welcoming H.E. the Ambassador of the French Republic to Greece, Ms. Laurence Auer, to its facilities in Maroussi. The visit was organized following the Ambassador’s expressed interest in being informed more broadly about scientific research and innovation in Greece and as part of the strategic partnerships promoted by Athena.

 

Ambassador Auer was welcomed by the President and General Director of the Athena Research Center, Professor Ιοannis Emiris, who warmly thanked her for the visit, highlighting the importance of international scientific collaboration and France’s longstanding contribution to cutting-edge research. In turn, Ms. Auer emphasized the significance of Franco-Hellenic cooperation in the fields of research and technology.

 

As part of the visit, brief presentations were given by Center executives, showcasing key areas of the Center’s research and development .

 

Professor Ioannis   Emiris presented the strategy, mission, and impressive achievements of the Center. He stressed Athena’s unique position as a nationally significant research organization focused on Digital Sciences and Technologies. He showcased the remarkable growth of the Center in recent years, with over 900 personnel, more than 90 new projects in 2024 alone, and active participation in major research and innovation ecosystems, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and sustainable development. Particular emphasis was placed on international collaborations (Athena has active partnerships with more than 20 universities, research centers, and companies in France) and the Center’s role in shaping policies for open science, education, and technology transfer.

 

Next, Professor Yannis Ioannidis of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and former President of Athena, spoke about the Center’s role in the OpenAIRE open science hub. He highlighted the Center’s leading role in pan-European initiatives on open science, data management and analysis, and large research infrastructures. Special mention was made of Athena's participation in EBRAINS, the European digital research infrastructure for neuroscience, and the establishment and growth of Opix—one of Athena's five active spin-offs, which specializes in providing decision-making services to businesses and public organizations using cutting-edge technologies, Big Data analytics, and AI. Professor Ioannidis emphasized the importance of international connectivity and digital transformation as foundations of modern research excellence.

 

Dr. Haris Papageorgiou, Deputy Director of the Institute for Language and Speech Processing at Athena, presented the long-standing work of the Institute. He highlighted its core pillars, including Language Technologies using Artificial Intelligence and AI applications for showcasing cultural heritage, digitizing cultural assets, and applying AI in education. Dr. Papageorgiou presented the Institute’s latest achievements, such as “Meltemi”, the first Greek Large Language Model, and its latest version, “LamaKrikri.” Special reference was also made to the digital assistant “SciNobo” (AI co-scientist). The Institute’s active participation in major European research infrastructures like ALT EDIC and EDIH’s. Lastly, the recent involvement of Athena in the new AI Factory “Pharos” and its role in shaping the AI landscape in Greece and Europe were highlighted.

 

Professor Timos Sellis, Head of the Archimedes Unit of the Athena Research Center, presented the dynamic progress and achievements of this research unit, established in 2022 with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The unit focuses on cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence, data science, and algorithms. It is staffed by approximately 150 researchers, including more than 60 distinguished professors from Greek and international universities, along with doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. The unit’s strategic aim is to bridge connections with the Greek scientific diaspora through active collaborations with top universities in the USA, UK, France, Czech Republic, and Singapore. Archimedes places special emphasis on education and talent development, organizing summer schools, international conferences, and educational visits, and supervising doctoral and postgraduate studies. A highlight was the 1st National AI Competition for high school students, with the winning team representing Greece in the 2nd International AI Olympiad in China.

 

Professor Phoebe Koundouri of the Athens University of Economics and Business, and Head of Athena’s Sustainable Development Unit, presented the unit’s vision for a scientifically substantiated transition to sustainability. This is achieved through innovative mathematical and computational models that integrate environment, economy, and society. The unit leads initiatives such as the SDSN Global Climate Hub, promoting digital tools, AI-driven approaches, and Digital Twins in collaboration with universities and research organizations. Major projects presented included Carmine, Arsinoe, CHOICE, and JustReDi, addressing climate neutrality and resilience, as well as Doors, SeaWise, and MariTech, focusing on the blue economy. Emphasis was placed on education, innovation acceleration, and skills development for the green and digital transition, aiming to strengthen policy impact and drive social transformation at both national and international levels.

 

Professor Gregory Yovanof, Executive Director of HERON – Hellenic Robotics Center of Excellence, discussed the Robotics Institute at Athena, established in February 2023. The Institute focuses on three core research directions: robotics for safety and health, field and service robotics, and humanoid and assistive robotics. It is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility and aims to develop autonomous robotic systems for critical national priorities such as security, agriculture, shipping, and healthcare.Additionally, the first Greek Center of Excellence in Robotics, named HERON, was presented. Established by a european project led by Athena, HERON aims to position Greece as an international hub of excellence in the convergence of robotics and AI. Dr. Yovanof discussed HERON’s strategic goals, such as fostering partnerships with industry, mobilizing the Greek robotics ecosystem, connecting with the international diaspora, and supporting education and training of new scientists in robotics and emerging technologies.

 

Ms. Eleni Petra, Head of the Innovation Unit for Women, had a distinct role and presence during the visit. She emphasized the intention to foster close collaboration with the French Embassy and the French Institute in Greece, aiming at the joint organization and support of innovation initiatives that encourage women’s participation in the fields of technology and computer science. Ms. Petra also referred to the upcoming hackathon, which is part of the celebratory activities themed around the Oceans and serves as an initial opportunity in this direction.

The visit concluded on a particularly positive note, highlighting the strong prospects for Greek-French cooperation in the fields of research, innovation, and technology. The Athena Research Center reaffirms its commitment to international scientific outreach and continues to act as a bridge of knowledge and collaboration between Greece and the global scientific com