The document discusses innovation challenges and opportunities in the region of Crete, Greece. It provides details on the higher education and research institutions in Crete and describes some of their activities. It also presents a SWOT analysis of the region and discusses some successful examples of technology transfer and regional innovation projects.

1. P.Ignatiadis Technology Manager Science & Technology Park of Crete & IRC Help-Forward E-RAIN project meeting , Grenoble 08-09/11/2006 Innovation Challenges in the Region of Crete, Greece

2. CRETE: Competitive Region based on a)culture and history, b) sea and sun destination, c) the Mediterranean Cuisine During the last 30 years : A high number of HEI’s and Research Centres were established: Univ. of Crete (1977), FORTH (1983), Technical Univ. of Crete (1984), MAICh (1985), Inst. Marine Biology of Crete (1987) Crete has a high capacity in R&D , but lacks the critical mass of quality research infrastructures and SMEs collaboration to become a region of knowledge

3. General information about the region Crete is located to the southern end of Europe, it is the closest European Region to the equator and almost equidistant from mainland Europe (110 km), Asia (175 km) and Africa (300 km). These geographic characteristics of the island provide Crete with a unique chance to play a key role in the international scene. Crete is Greece’s largest island and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean basin. It covers an area of 8.336 square km, which is 6.3% of the total area of Greece. It’s population of 603.000 houses 5,5 % of the country’s people. Crete is the 13th Region of Greece and is divided into four regional councils. The two biggest cities of Crete, Heraklion and Chania , are also the two main gateways for people and trade.

5. HIGHER ACADEMIC & RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS IN CRETE TEI of C UNIVERSITY OF CRETE FORTH NMRC AGRIC RESEARCH CENTERS TU of C 30000 students

6. Regional Innovation System (www.innocrete.gr)

7. SOCIETY REGION Research Spin off Education Incubation SME support Excellence FORTH ACTIVITIES CITIES STEPC IRC H-F

8. FORTH: The largest Res. Organization in the country (~1000 employees) RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 7 Institutes : Crete, Patras, Ioannina (in the periphery of the country) - Institute of Molecular Biology Biotechnology - Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser - Institute of Computer Science - Institute of Applied Mathematics - Institute of Mediterranean Studies Institute of Chem.Eng. & High Temperature Processes Institute of Biomedical Research TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND COMMERCIALIZATION 3 Science Parks (Crete, Patras, Thessaloniki) HELP-FORWARD

9. UNIVERSITY OF CRETE (www.uoc.gr) Established : 1977, 8000 STUDENTS 5 SCHOOLS School of Philosophy (Philology, Philosophy & Social Studies, History & Archaeology) School of Education (Pre-Primary, Primary Education) School of Social Sciences (Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Political Sciences) School of Sciences (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Materials Science & Technology) School of Medicine : Internationally recognized Dept of Ophthalmology MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY OF CRETE (www.nhmc.uoc.gr)

11. MODEL FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND REGIONAL INNOVATION AT STEPC INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, NTBF INCUBATION (PHYSICAL, VIRTUAL) LIAISON OFFICE IRC H-F CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BANKS PROGRAMS IDEAS, PROJECTS, INITIATIVES, PROGRAMS, RESULTS RESEARCH CENTRES &UNIVERSITIES LOCAL ENTERPRISES

19. MUTUAL LEARNING PLATFORM SPIN OFF CREATION AND TECH/TRANSFER RTD COLLABORATION IT TECHNOLOGIES BIOTECHNOLOGIES MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES INNOVATIVE SERVICES ENERGY IT REGIONAL FORESIGHT REGIONAL BENCHMARKING MANAGEMENT OF THE GROWTH POLE INNOVATION POLE IN CRETE (2007-2008)