Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) - Comprehensive Analysis Report

Summary

The Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) is the largest research center in Greece, established in 1983 and supervised by the Ministry of Development. With its headquarters in Heraklion, Crete, FORTH is globally recognized for its high-quality basic and applied research. Its core mission involves developing expertise in advanced technological fields, exploiting this knowledge through innovative products and services, and facilitating knowledge transfer to industry and the public sector in Greece and Europe. FORTH is also dedicated to educating and training young scientists, solidifying its role as a pivotal institution for scientific advancement and innovation.

1. Strategic Focus & Objectives

Core Objectives

FORTH's main objectives include:

Conducting Cutting-Edge Research: Performing high-quality basic and applied research in fields with significant scientific, social, and economic impact.

Developing Advanced Expertise: Cultivating deep knowledge in advanced technological domains.

Knowledge Transfer and Exploitation: Translating research outcomes into specialized innovative products and services, and transferring knowledge to Greek and European industries and the public sector.

Education and Training: Providing comprehensive education and training opportunities for young scientists in advanced technology fields.

Promoting Information Society Development: Contributing to the growth of the Information Society at regional, national, and European levels.

Specialization Areas

The organization's expertise spans a broad spectrum of scientific and technological fields, including:

Microelectronics, Lasers, and Photonics

Materials Science and Nanotechnology

Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biotechnology, and Bioinformatics

Computer Sciences and Robotics

Telecommunications, Applied and Computational Mathematics

Chemical Engineering Sciences, Energy, and Environment

Human and Social Sciences, Cultural Studies, and Astrophysics

FORTH also engages in environmental robotics research, specifically focusing on the recovery and sorting of recyclable materials, in collaboration with international partners.

Target Markets

FORTH primarily targets:

Academic and Research Communities: Serves as a hub for scientific advancement and collaboration.

Greek and European Industry: Aims to transfer knowledge and develop innovative solutions for industrial applications.

Public Sector: Provides expertise and contributes to policy development and technological advancements.

Young Scientists: Offers education, training, and career development opportunities in advanced technology domains.

2. Financial Overview

Funding History

FORTH is partly funded by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology of the Hellenic Ministry of Development and Investments. The organization has consistently demonstrated strong financial performance in securing competitive funding. It has notably ranked first in attracting grants from the European Research Council, a testament to its scientific excellence and research quality. FORTH also received a prize of €4,781,173 from the "Excellence" program of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT) in 2005.

3. Product Pipeline

As a research center, FORTH's "products" are primarily its research outcomes, intellectual property, and high-value services derived from its scientific expertise. These include:

Innovative Technologies and Methodologies: Developed across its various institutes, such as advanced laser applications, novel bio-molecular techniques, and computing algorithms.

Specialized Software and Systems: Including, for example, developments in information and communication technologies from the Institute of Computer Science.

Consultancy and Expertise Transfer: Providing specialized knowledge to industry and public sector entities for problem-solving and innovation. This includes its role in developing and exchanging application know-how for the CIDOC-CRM standard.

Educational Programs: Training young scientists in advanced technical fields.

Astrophysical Data and Research: Contributions from the Skinakas Observatory and the Institute of Astrophysics, benefiting the global scientific community.

4. Technology & Innovation

Technology Stack

FORTH operates through specialized research institutes, each housing distinct technological platforms and proprietary methodologies:

Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL): Expertise in Laser Science, Micro/nano-electronics, Polymer Science, Materials Science, and Astrophysics. It also manages the Skinakas Observatory. The centre actively participates in the Graphene FLAGSHIP.

Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB): Advanced facilities for Life Sciences and Biomedicine research.

Institute of Computer Science (ICS): Leads in Information and Communication Technologies, conducting basic and applied research.

Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics (IACM): Focuses on computational mathematics and intense data modeling.

Institute for Mediterranean Studies (IMS): Engaged in Mediterranean and historical studies, leveraging specific methodologies for cultural and historical research.

Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT): Dedicated to chemical engineering sciences.

Institute of Astrophysics (IA): Focuses on astrophysics and astronomy, including observational extragalactic astrophysics, infrared & millimeter observations, and galaxy evolution.

Institute of Petroleum Research: Engaged in research related to petroleum and geoenergy.

Hellenic Institute of Human Genomics: Established in 2022, focusing on genomic research.

FORTH also hosts a competence center for the CIDOC-CRM (ISO21127:2006, ISO21127:2014) standard, providing expertise, consultancy, and contributing to the standard's evolution. Other facilities include a Micro-PET facility for advanced hybrid imaging systems.

5. Leadership & Management

Executive Team

Vassilis Charmandaris (President): Professor of Observational Astrophysics at the Department of Physics of the University of Crete. He obtained his BSc in Physics from the University of Thessaloniki in 1989 and his PhD in Astrophysics from Iowa State University, USA, in 1995. His career includes postdoctoral fellowships in France and a research associate position at Cornell University, where he contributed to the development of the Infrared Spectrograph of the Spitzer Space Telescope. He served as Director of the Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing of the National Observatory of Athens (2013-2018) and as Director of the Institute of Astrophysics at FORTH and Skinakas Observatory (2019-2025). He was elected President of FORTH in January 2025 and assumed the role in March 2025. He was awarded the Public Service Award by the University of Crete (2023) and the title of “Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques” by the French Republic (2024). His research focuses on galaxy evolution, particularly star formation and gas accretion in galactic nuclei using space telescope data. He has coauthored 258 peer-reviewed papers with approximately 26,500 citations and an h-index of 78.

Recent Leadership Changes

Professor Vassilis Charmandaris was unanimously elected President of FORTH in January 2025 by a 7-member Evaluation Committee and officially assumed the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors in March 2025. He succeeded Nektarios Tavernarakis, who served from 2016–2025.

6. Talent and Growth Indicators

Hiring Trends and Workforce

FORTH currently comprises 1,551 researchers and is recognized for its highly skilled and specialized staff. The organization has a unique ability to attract and retain top Greek researchers, contributing to a "Brain Gain" for the country. FORTH's commitment to education and training also indicates a focus on nurturing new talent within its various institutes. The range of research areas suggests a continuous need for specialists in advanced scientific and engineering disciplines.

Company Size and Expansion Metrics

FORTH has grown to encompass 10 Research Institutes and 3 Special Units across 8 cities in Greece. This expansion indicates a sustained growth trajectory and a commitment to broad scientific engagement nationwide.

7. Social Media Presence and Engagement

FORTH maintains a digital presence to engage with its community and disseminate its research.

LinkedIn: The organization actively shares updates on research, events, and collaborations.

Facebook: FORTH uses Facebook to communicate news and engage with a broader audience.

Twitter: FORTH's Twitter presence is also used for updates and outreach.

The broad range of topics covered in its updates, from scientific breakthroughs to cultural studies, reflects its diverse research portfolio and engagement with various stakeholders.

8. Recognition and Awards

FORTH has consistently received significant recognition for its scientific excellence and impact:

Top Research Center in Greece: It has consistently ranked as the topmost research center in Greece in comparative evaluations by international committees, achieving the highest scores in national evaluations. In 2005, FORTH scored 4.67 (excellent) out of 5 in an evaluation by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology. Five of its seven institutes also received top ranks.

European Research Council (ERC) Grants: FORTH consistently ranks first in attracting competitive funding by European Research Council (ERC) grants, indicating its strong performance in securing highly competitive European research funding.

Highly Cited Researchers: In 2025, Prof. Alexandros Stamatakis and Prof. Athanasios Nenes from FORTH were recognized in the "Highly Cited Researchers" list compiled by Clarivate Analytics, highlighting their significant influence in their respective fields.

Green Innovation Award: In March 2025, a portable robotic unit for recyclable materials sorting, developed by FORTH, won the Green Innovation award at the Greek Green Awards 2025.

International Emotion Recognition Challenge: A research team from FORTH's Institute of Computer Science, in collaboration with other institutions, won the 1st place award in an international emotion recognition challenge using EEG signals in March 2025.

L'OREAL-UNESCO Greek Award for Women in Science: In 2024, Dr. Maria Charisi from the Institute of Astrophysics at FORTH received this award in the field of Natural Sciences.

9. Competitive Analysis

In the Greek research landscape, FORTH operates among several other prominent research centers, distinguishing itself through its multidisciplinary approach and international reputation.

National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos": This is the largest multidisciplinary research center in Greece, founded in 1961. Demokritos has a strong international presence and focuses on areas like nuclear research, informatics, biosciences, and nanosciences. It also operates its own technology park, similar to FORTH's initiatives to connect research with industry.

"Athena" Research and Innovation Center in ICT: Founded in 2003, this center is exclusively focused on information technology and its applications. It operates in multiple cities and has achieved success in securing European projects and spinning off companies.

National Hellenic Research Foundation (NRF): Established in 1958, NRF is known for its unique coexistence of humanities/historical research and natural sciences institutes.

FORTH differentiates itself through its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research, consistent top rankings in scientific evaluations and ERC grant attraction, and its comprehensive ecosystem that includes a university press and a technology park. Its diverse portfolio, which includes everything from molecular biology to cultural studies and astrophysics, provides a unique breadth that few other centers can match.

10. Market Analysis

Market Overview

The Research and Development (R&D) expenditure in Greece reached €3.37 billion in 2023, representing 1.49% of GDP. While Greece's R&D intensity is around 15th among EU-27 countries, it has shown significant growth since 2018. The public sector, including government and higher education, contributes significantly to R&D expenditure, being around the EU average. Regions like Crete exhibit high R&D intensity.

Growth Potential

Greece's R&D landscape shows increasing investment and a growing number of personnel, with R&D employment reaching 73,263 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions in 2023. The country has strong innovation activity, particularly in product and process innovation, surpassing the EU average in some metrics. There are ongoing efforts to support technology transfer and foster innovation-driven entrepreneurship.

Key Market Trends

Increased R&D Investment: Both public and business sectors have shown growth in R&D expenditures.

Focus on Key Scientific Areas: High spending areas include Medical & Health Sciences, Social Sciences, and Engineering & Technology.

International Collaboration: Greek research centers like FORTH are highly engaged in competitive European projects and international collaborations.

Innovation and Knowledge Transfer: Growing emphasis on translating research into practical applications, innovative products, and services for societal benefit and economic growth.

Market Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges:

Despite growth, business R&D investment and access to venture capital remain below the EU average.

Inadequate public support in terms of direct government funding and tax incentives for business R&D.

Opportunities:

Significant opportunities for public research institutions like FORTH to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

Leveraging strong performance in attracting European funding to drive national innovation.

Expanding specialized innovative products and services and knowledge transfer to stimulate economic impact.

11. Strategic Partnerships

FORTH's activities are significantly enhanced by several strategic partnerships:

Crete University Press (CUP): An independent non-profit scientific publishing house, which complements FORTH's mission by disseminating scientific knowledge.

Skinakas Observatory: Operated in collaboration with the University of Crete, the observatory is a crucial asset for FORTH's astrophysics research.

Science and Technology Park of Crete (STEP-C): This partnership fosters technology transfer and innovation by connecting research with entrepreneurial endeavors.

PRAXI Network: An established technology transfer organization operating as a distinct administrative unit within FORTH. It has extensive expertise in assisting SMEs and research organizations across Greece with cross-border technological cooperation. PRAXI Network acts as a bridge between industry and academia and, since 2008, has been coordinating the Greek consortium of the Enterprise Europe Network, which supports SMEs with innovation and technology transfer services.

12. Operational Insights

FORTH holds a leading position as the premier research organization in Greece, recognized globally for its excellence.

Competitive Advantages:

Multidisciplinary Research Portfolio: Its wide array of institutes covering diverse scientific fields allows for extensive interdisciplinary collaboration and offers a holistic approach to complex problems.

Strong Funding Attraction: Consistent success in securing highly competitive European Research Council (ERC) grants demonstrates its research quality and ability to attract significant funding.

Established Infrastructure and Expertise: State-of-the-art facilities and highly specialized personnel contribute to its high-quality research output.

Knowledge Transfer Ecosystem: The presence of PRAXI Network and STEP-C enables effective translation of research into economic value through innovation and commercialization.

Operational Strengths:

High Scientific Impact: Consistently ranks first in research production, scientific excellence, and bibliometric profiles among Greek research centers.

Talent Development: Committed to educating and training young scientists, ensuring a continuous pipeline of highly skilled professionals.

International Recognition: Its global standing enhances opportunities for international collaborations and partnerships.

Areas for Improvement:

While strong in public funding, further integration with the private sector and increasing business R&D investment could enhance its economic impact further, aligning with broader national goals of increasing private R&D spend.

13. Future Outlook

Strategic Roadmap

FORTH's future outlook is centered on reinforcing its position as a global leader in scientific research and innovation.

Continued Research Excellence: Maintaining and enhancing its focus on cutting-edge basic and applied research across its diverse scientific domains.

Expansion of Impact: Further leveraging its expertise to develop innovative products and services with high added value, contributing to societal and economic development.

Strengthening Knowledge Transfer: Expanding mechanisms for transferring knowledge and technology to Greek and European industries and the public sector, fostering innovation and competitiveness.

Developing Human Capital: Continuing to invest in the education and training of young scientists, addressing the demand for highly skilled professionals in advanced technological fields.

Strategic Collaborations: Deepening existing partnerships and forging new alliances with international companies, research institutions, and universities, particularly in emerging fields like environmental robotics.