NEWSLETTER // 21 // Bright Innovation for a Brighter Season |
NEWSLETTER // 21 // Bright Innovation for a Brighter Season |
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Our Latest Activity Report Published
A Breakthrough Year for Digital InnovationA year of scientific progress, meaningful collaborations, and growing talent showcases the organization’s expanding role in digital research while contributing to the creation of a more open, responsible, and forward-looking technological future with tangible benefits for society. Let’s see how fun 2024 was! |
Our Latest Activity Report Published
A Breakthrough Year for Digital InnovationA year of scientific progress, meaningful collaborations, and growing talent showcases the organization’s expanding role in digital research while contributing to the creation of a more open, responsible, and forward-looking technological future with tangible benefits for society. Let’s see how fun 2024 was! |
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| EC Executive VP Henna Virkkunen at Athena: Key Stop in Greece |
EC Executive VP Henna Virkkunen at Athena: Key Stop in Greece |
Her visit emphasized the Center’s growing strategic relevance in Europe’s AI and digital innovation agenda. Discussions highlighted national progress, emerging initiatives, and the shared goal of advancing an open, responsible technological ecosystem with strong societal impact. |
Her visit emphasized the Center’s growing strategic relevance in Europe’s AI and digital innovation agenda. Discussions highlighted national progress, emerging initiatives, and the shared goal of advancing an open, responsible technological ecosystem with strong societal impact. |
| | SynAI Network: Joining Forces to Advance AI in Greece |
SynAI Network: Joining Forces to Advance AI in Greece |
The new alliance brings together leading institutions to accelerate AI innovation, support young scientists and entrepreneurs, and promote the responsible integration of advanced technologies into society and the economy, strengthening Greece’s evolving digital ecosystem. |
The new alliance brings together leading institutions to accelerate AI innovation, support young scientists and entrepreneurs, and promote the responsible integration of advanced technologies into society and the economy, strengthening Greece’s evolving digital ecosystem. |
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| Professor Phoebe Koundouri Receives Prestigious Cyprus Award of Excellence |
Professor Phoebe Koundouri Receives Prestigious Cyprus Award of Excellence |
The distinction recognizes her global influence in sustainability science, interdisciplinary innovation, and international policy advisory. Her long-standing contributions and worldwide impact highlight a career dedicated to shaping forward-looking, responsible solutions to complex environmental and societal challenges. |
The distinction recognizes her global influence in sustainability science, interdisciplinary innovation, and international policy advisory. Her long-standing contributions and worldwide impact highlight a career dedicated to shaping forward-looking, responsible solutions to complex environmental and societal challenges. |
| | French Consul General Visits Athena Premises in Xanthi |
French Consul General Visits Athena Premises in Xanthi |
The visit showcased Athena’s robust R&D presence in Northern Greece and highlighted shared interest in expanding Greek-French cooperation across technology, innovation and applied science, opening pathways for future joint initiatives. |
The visit showcased Athena’s robust R&D presence in Northern Greece and highlighted shared interest in expanding Greek-French cooperation across technology, innovation and applied science, opening pathways for future joint initiatives. |
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| Navigating AI’s Global Race: Emiris’ Perspective in Kathimerini |
Navigating AI’s Global Race: Emiris’ Perspective in Kathimerini |
Professor Ioannis Emiris analyzes the international AI race, the urgency of transparency, and the need for equitable access to advanced systems, while highlighting Greece’s growing presence in Europe’s first AI factories and its emerging role in global technological competitiveness. |
Professor Ioannis Emiris analyzes the international AI race, the urgency of transparency, and the need for equitable access to advanced systems, while highlighting Greece’s growing presence in Europe’s first AI factories and its emerging role in global technological competitiveness. |
| | Agiatis Benardou Reappointed as Director of DARIAH ERIC until 2028 |
Agiatis Benardou Reappointed as Director of DARIAH ERIC until 2028 |
Her renewed mandate reflects strong trust in her leadership and long-standing contribution to the European digital humanities community. The Athena Research Center congratulates Dr. Benardou as she continues shaping DARIAH-EU’s vision, partnerships, and strategic direction for the years ahead. |
Her renewed mandate reflects strong trust in her leadership and long-standing contribution to the European digital humanities community. The Athena Research Center congratulates Dr. Benardou as she continues shaping DARIAH-EU’s vision, partnerships, and strategic direction for the years ahead. |
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| HCDI Visits Athena to Explore Tech Synergies |
HCDI Visits Athena to Explore Tech Synergies |
The meeting spotlighted shared priorities in defense innovation, with focused discussions on technology transfer, joint R&D, and strengthening national capabilities. Researchers showcased relevant breakthroughs, setting the stage for concrete collaborations with real impact on Greece’s defence ecosystem. |
The meeting spotlighted shared priorities in defense innovation, with focused discussions on technology transfer, joint R&D, and strengthening national capabilities. Researchers showcased relevant breakthroughs, setting the stage for concrete collaborations with real impact on Greece’s defence ecosystem. |
| | Athena Contributes to National Dialogue at AIForum 25 |
Athena Contributes to National Dialogue at AIForum 25 |
Athena played an active role in a national forum dedicated to Greece’s evolving AI landscape, contributing to discussions on strategy, digital governance, and the future of data-driven innovation, while highlighting the importance of strong scientific foundations for impactful AI adoption. |
Athena played an active role in a national forum dedicated to Greece’s evolving AI landscape, contributing to discussions on strategy, digital governance, and the future of data-driven innovation, while highlighting the importance of strong scientific foundations for impactful AI adoption. |
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| Professor Yannis Ioannidis in Kathimerini: The Power of Interdisciplinarity |
Professor Yannis Ioannidis in Kathimerini: The Power of Interdisciplinarity |
In a wide-ranging interview, Prof. Ioannidis reflects on his journey, the need for ethical and interdisciplinary approaches to technology, and the role of science–culture synergies in shaping human-centered innovation for a rapidly evolving world. |
In a wide-ranging interview, Prof. Ioannidis reflects on his journey, the need for ethical and interdisciplinary approaches to technology, and the role of science–culture synergies in shaping human-centered innovation for a rapidly evolving world. |
| | Athena at 3rd Future Unfold: Minos Garofalakis on AI’s Real-World Impact |
Athena at 3rd Future Unfold: Minos Garofalakis on AI’s Real-World Impact |
At Grant Thornton’s Future Unfold event, Minos Garofalakis highlighted how advanced AI models and national infrastructures like PHAROS and DAEDALUS can boost productivity, competitiveness, and innovation in Greece while stressing data quality, privacy, and the need to translate research into real economic value. |
At Grant Thornton’s Future Unfold event, Minos Garofalakis highlighted how advanced AI models and national infrastructures like PHAROS and DAEDALUS can boost productivity, competitiveness, and innovation in Greece while stressing data quality, privacy, and the need to translate research into real economic value. |
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| Smart Cities Go Global: Patras Hosts ISC2 2025 |
Smart Cities Go Global: Patras Hosts ISC2 2025 |
The conference brought global leaders together to explore the future of intelligent, sustainable cities. With inspiring keynotes, cutting-edge research, and bold ideas, Patras showcased its growing role in shaping resilient, data-driven urban innovation worldwide. |
The conference brought global leaders together to explore the future of intelligent, sustainable cities. With inspiring keynotes, cutting-edge research, and bold ideas, Patras showcased its growing role in shaping resilient, data-driven urban innovation worldwide. |
| | Strengthening Technology Transfer: Athena at HNTTO 2025 |
Strengthening Technology Transfer: Athena at HNTTO 2025 |
Athena joined national stakeholders in Thessaloniki to discuss Proof-of-Concept challenges, funding gaps, and best practices in technology transfer. The conference fostered knowledge exchange, stronger networks, and fresh perspectives for advancing research commercialization across Greece. |
Athena joined national stakeholders in Thessaloniki to discuss Proof-of-Concept challenges, funding gaps, and best practices in technology transfer. The conference fostered knowledge exchange, stronger networks, and fresh perspectives for advancing research commercialization across Greece. |
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| Bebras Challenge 2025–2026: Record Participation from Students Across Greece |
Bebras Challenge 2025–2026: Record Participation from Students Across Greece |
This year’s Bebras Challenge saw remarkable engagement, with 34,706 students from 899 schools taking part. The results open new avenues for research on problem-solving patterns, student profiles, and emerging educational needs in computational thinking nationwide. |
This year’s Bebras Challenge saw remarkable engagement, with 34,706 students from 899 schools taking part. The results open new avenues for research on problem-solving patterns, student profiles, and emerging educational needs in computational thinking nationwide. |
| | A Growing Dialogue on Open Research Information in Greece |
A Growing Dialogue on Open Research Information in Greece |
A lively event on the Barcelona Declaration brought researchers, libraries, and institutions together to explore how Greece can advance transparency and openness in Science, and responsible data practices. Discussions highlighted national initiatives, new infrastructures, and the growing commitment to Open Science. |
A lively event on the Barcelona Declaration brought researchers, libraries, and institutions together to explore how Greece can advance transparency and openness in Science, and responsible data practices. Discussions highlighted national initiatives, new infrastructures, and the growing commitment to Open Science. |
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| Chief Scientist of The Alan Turing Institute Runs Seminar at Archimedes |
Chief Scientist of The Alan Turing Institute Runs Seminar at Archimedes |
Mark Girolami delivered an insightful seminar at Archimedes, highlighting advances in data-centric engineering, AI-driven infrastructure monitoring, and new statistical approaches to the Finite Element Method. His visit marks an important moment of scientific exchange for Athena. |
Mark Girolami delivered an insightful seminar at Archimedes, highlighting advances in data-centric engineering, AI-driven infrastructure monitoring, and new statistical approaches to the Finite Element Method. His visit marks an important moment of scientific exchange for Athena. |
| | AI & Ocean Sustainability:
A 48-Hour Innovation Sprint by Athena & the French Institute |
AI & Ocean Sustainability:
A 48-Hour Innovation Sprint by Athena & the French Institute |
A three-day creative sprint where science, artificial intelligence, and marine sustainability came together. Participants collaborated intensively to prototype fresh ideas, explore real-world challenges, and showcase how AI can support healthier oceans and a more resilient blue future. |
A three-day creative sprint where science, artificial intelligence, and marine sustainability came together. Participants collaborated intensively to prototype fresh ideas, explore real-world challenges, and showcase how AI can support healthier oceans and a more resilient blue future. |
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| Athena Research Center at IROS 2025: Advances in Surgical & Agricultural Robotics |
Athena Research Center at IROS 2025: Advances in Surgical & Agricultural Robotics |
Athena researchers presented cutting-edge work in surgical and agricultural robotics at IROS 2025 in China, showcasing innovations that improve precision in medical procedures and enable more efficient, sustainable farming strengthening Greece’s contribution to global robotics research. |
Athena researchers presented cutting-edge work in surgical and agricultural robotics at IROS 2025 in China, showcasing innovations that improve precision in medical procedures and enable more efficient, sustainable farming strengthening Greece’s contribution to global robotics research. |
| | Athena at Humannera 2025: Technology, Sustainability & Human-Centered Innovation |
Athena at Humannera 2025: Technology, Sustainability & Human-Centered Innovation |
Through panel discussions and hands-on Code4Europe workshop, Athena’ s Women Innovation Unit explored how technology intersects with sustainability, youth expectations, and inclusivity empowering more women and young people to engage with programming, STEM, and responsible digital futures. |
Through panel discussions and hands-on Code4Europe workshop, Athena’ s Women Innovation Unit explored how technology intersects with sustainability, youth expectations, and inclusivity empowering more women and young people to engage with programming, STEM, and responsible digital futures. |
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| | | The STELAR project concludes with the delivery of the open-source KLMS, a powerful platform enabling advanced data discovery, interlinking, and preparation for AI. Its results lay strong foundations for future intelligent analytics and autonomous data exploration. |
The STELAR project concludes with the delivery of the open-source KLMS, a powerful platform enabling advanced data discovery, interlinking, and preparation for AI. Its results lay strong foundations for future intelligent analytics and autonomous data exploration. |
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| | | The LLMs4EU project promotes Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity by supporting the development of language models tailored to EU languages and domains. It aims to create a central language data hub, reduce entry barriers for LLM developers, and ensure alignment with EU regulations on data and AI. Coordinated by ALT-EDIC, the project brings together top research centers and industry partners. ILSP leads the work on language data collection and infrastructure development. |
The LLMs4EU project promotes Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity by supporting the development of language models tailored to EU languages and domains. It aims to create a central language data hub, reduce entry barriers for LLM developers, and ensure alignment with EU regulations on data and AI. Coordinated by ALT-EDIC, the project brings together top research centers and industry partners. ILSP leads the work on language data collection and infrastructure development. |
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| | | Dr. George Drosatos is a Principal Researcher at the Institute for Language and Speech Processing of the Athena Research Center, specializing in privacy-enhancing technologies for content analysis and retrieval. He holds a PhD in Privacy Enhancement Technologies and has conducted postdoctoral research at the Democritus University of Thrace, focusing on large-scale algorithms for sensitive medical data and on news reliability in social networks. With experience in more than 19 national and European research projects, he has an interdisciplinary profile spanning privacy, information security, and biomedical computing. |
Dr. George Drosatos is a Principal Researcher at the Institute for Language and Speech Processing of the Athena Research Center, specializing in privacy-enhancing technologies for content analysis and retrieval. He holds a PhD in Privacy Enhancement Technologies and has conducted postdoctoral research at the Democritus University of Thrace, focusing on large-scale algorithms for sensitive medical data and on news reliability in social networks. With experience in more than 19 national and European research projects, he has an interdisciplinary profile spanning privacy, information security, and biomedical computing. |
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| | | Ioannis Emiris on Greece’s AI Strategy |
Ioannis Emiris on Greece’s AI Strategy |
Prof. Emiris outlines the priorities shaping Greece’s AI roadmap, highlighting the role of research, quality data, and responsible innovation in driving meaningful national impact. |
Prof. Emiris outlines the priorities shaping Greece’s AI roadmap, highlighting the role of research, quality data, and responsible innovation in driving meaningful national impact. |
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| | | MEDNIGHT 2025 in Xanthi at Athena Research Center | Highlights |
MEDNIGHT 2025 in Xanthi at Athena Research Center | Highlights |
For the second consecutive year, the city of Xanthi hosted the Mediterranean Researchers’ Night - MEDNIGHT 2025, bringing to life a celebration that unites the Mediterranean under the light of science. On Friday, September 26, the Athena Research Center opened its doors at the Kimmeria Campus, welcoming more than 500 visitors to an event dedicated to knowledge, innovation, sustainability, and public engagement. |
For the second consecutive year, the city of Xanthi hosted the Mediterranean Researchers’ Night - MEDNIGHT 2025, bringing to life a celebration that unites the Mediterranean under the light of science. On Friday, September 26, the Athena Research Center opened its doors at the Kimmeria Campus, welcoming more than 500 visitors to an event dedicated to knowledge, innovation, sustainability, and public engagement. |
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| Youth Connect 2026: Media Literacy in the Age of AI |
Youth Connect 2026: Media Literacy in the Age of AI |
9-11 January, 2026, AthensJoin emerging changemakers on 9 -11 January 2026 at the Eugenides Foundation for a dynamic, hands-on ideathon on media literacy, AI, and tackling disinformation. Apply now to collaborate, build new skills, and co-create solutions for a more informed digital future. |
9-11 January, 2026, AthensJoin emerging changemakers on 9 -11 January 2026 at the Eugenides Foundation for a dynamic, hands-on ideathon on media literacy, AI, and tackling disinformation. Apply now to collaborate, build new skills, and co-create solutions for a more informed digital future. |
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| Athena at the Athens Science Festival 2025 |
Athena at the Athens Science Festival 2025 |
19-21 December, 2025, AthensJoin us at the Athens Conservatory, 18 - 21 December, for interactive AI demos, robotics activities, and hands-on workshops. From dialect-speaking AI to creative STEM experiences for all ages, Athena brings festive science and technology to life.
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19-21 December, 2025, AthensJoin us at the Athens Conservatory, 18 - 21 December, for interactive AI demos, robotics activities, and hands-on workshops. From dialect-speaking AI to creative STEM experiences for all ages, Athena brings festive science and technology to life.
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Athena Research Centre, Aigialias & Chalepa, 15125, Marousi, Greece
Tel: +30 210 6875300, e-mail: info@athenarc.gr |
Athena Research Centre, Aigialias & Chalepa, 15125, Marousi, Greece
Tel: +30 210 6875300, e-mail: info@athenarc.gr |
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All content licensed under CC-BY 4.0, except otherwise indicated. |
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