Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) / PRAXI Network

Overview

The Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), established in 1983, is one of the largest research centres in Greece with well - organized facilities and highly qualified personnel and consists of seven Research Institutes located throughout Greece: Heraklion, Rethymnon, Patras and Ioannina. The Foundation's headquarters are located in Heraklion, Crete. The research and technological directions of FORTH cover major areas of scientific, social, and economic interest, such as: Computer Sciences, Molecular Biology, Lasers, Telecommunications, Medical Engineering, Microelectronics, Robotics, Biotechnology, Materials, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Applied and Computational Mathematics, Biomedical Technologies, Bioinformatics as well as Historical and Cultural Studies. Over the years, FORTH has become one of the top European research centers, thanks to its high impact research results and its valuable socioeconomic contribution. 

PRAXI Network is the leading technology transfer and innovation support organization in Greece, bringing together 30 years of unique know-how in assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and research organisations throughout the country. It’s mission is to make Greek enterprises and research organisations more competitive via the linkage between research and industry, the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship as well as the transnational cooperation. In particular, PRAXI Network:

Functions as an administrative unit of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), the largest and most well organized, equipped and staffed research center in the country, with research successes that render it among the top in Europe.
Employs more than 30 executives with high academic backgrounds and professional experience within industrial, research and consulting fields
Has presence in 5 cities in the country: Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Volos, Patras.

SMEs which consider themselves innovative, dynamic and extrovert or start-ups which claim their share at the international market, turn to PRAXI Network for support. Depending on the request, the challenge varies: from mediation to find business or technology partners, to advisory support for identifying suitable funding tools and consulting regarding intellectual property management, licensing or spin-offs.

PRAXI Network started out in 1991 by the need to link industry with academia and was evolved to one of the major innovation and technology transfer support organizations at European level. Being the Technology Transfer Office of FORTH, it provides support to researchers regarding the commercial exploitation of research results and infrastructures. In this framework, PRAXI Network supports researchers to identify and assess the potential for innovation and further exploitation of their research results and infrastructures, advises on intellectual property rights and management issues and helps them to find funding through European and national programs, as well as industry partners to develop their ideas and acquire further technological readiness. It also evaluates mature cases of technology findings, helps networking with prospective investors or users, assists research teams to shape their presentation portfolio, prepares them for contacts with investment schemes and supports during the negotiations. PRAXI Network is also official member of the European Technology Transfer Offices (TTO) Circle, the Network of TTOs from the largest research organisations in Europe.

PRAXI Network is member of the Enterprise Europe Network, the largest network of integrated business support to SMEs, and coordinator of the Enterprise Europe Network – Hellas. In parallel, PRAXI Network acts as National Contact Point for the Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development and currently Horizon 2020.

Additionally, PRAXI Network has significant experience in supporting international R&D cooperation, both within and outside Europe, mainly in China and South Africa. In this context, it functions as the coordinator of the European node of ASEM – Cooperation Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation - CCSTI.

Finally, the PRAXI Network operates a Foresight Unit to systematically investigate future trends and promote innovative thinking and creativity for businesses, organizations and research institutions that strengthen their strategic position.

Taking advantage of its long experience, know-how and networking, it has consistently contributed to the design and implementation of national and regional policies, initiatives, mechanisms and tools which develop, support and finance innovation. Businesses, organizations and research institutions that strengthen the strategy position.

As a living and evolving organization, it systematically invests in staff training, development of new skills and usage of new tools. It evolved alongside SMEs needs and enriches its services, responding to the demands of modern entrepreneurship.

In annual basis, PRAXI Netork:

Mediates for the conclusion of 15-20 business, technology and research collaborations at international level.
Provides high added-value innovation support services to more than 350 companies.
Organizes or participates in more than 20 international technology transfer and business cooperation events, in which on average more than 100 participants engage in 300 bilateral meetings.

Counting three decades of continuous presence in the Greek business and research scene, PRAXI Network has contributed decisively to:

the conclusion of more than 500 business and technological cooperation agreements between Greek and foreign companies and organizations
the support of hundreds of Greek businesses and research laboratories during the preparation and submission of proposals for research and innovation programs of the European Commission as part of its role as National Contact Point
the establishment of 6 spin-off companies from Universities and Research Institutions in the country
the creation and operation of knowledge intensive clusters in various technological fields (Hellenic Bio Cluster, Hellenic Photonics Cluster, Innovation Greece).
Digital technologies.