The strategic choice of the government to invest systematically in research, innovation and the knowledge economy was highlighted by Minister of Development, Takis Theodorikos, in his speech in 171st Meeting of Presidents of the Research Centres and Technological Agencies of the country.
The Minister of Development announced a very important initiative to finance Greek research, noting that "we are going to extend the loan agreement with the European Investment Bank to finance the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (ELIDEK-2), in full cooperation with Ministry of National Economy and Finance. This is a strategic move, as total resources are released which, together with national participation, touch on EUR 286 million for the period up to 2028“ It’s just that I’ve been thinking. ”
Addressing the chairmen of research centres and the members of the scientific and research community, he stressed that in a particularly fluid international environment of geopolitical challenges the real power of the states is built on knowledge, research and innovation. ‘We're not just following developments, we're putting them together.“, she stressed, adding that Greece has gone to a new era for its research and technological position internationally.
Mr Theodorikos noted that "Our country was transformed by a promised country, in a mature, institutionally armored and extremely dynamic cutting-edge technology pole in southeastern Europe".
Special reference was made to recent initiatives of the country at European and national levelOn 29 May 2026, at the European Union Competitiveness Council, the Recommendation on a European Framework for Scientific Diplomacy was adopted, recognizing science as an instrument of foreign policy and strategic autonomy. At the same time, on 30 April 2026 the Sectoral Scientific Council for Synergies with the Hellenic Scientific Diaspora and the Technological Diplomacy was established within the framework of the ESETEK.
Presenting the results of government policy from 2019 to today, the Minister of Development highlighted the historical increase in national Research and Development spending from 2.2 billion euros in 2018 to 3.65 billion euros in 2024, recording an increase of 68% and reaching 1.54% of GDP.
"The strengthening of research was accompanied by strong tax incentives to businesses, with the excess of research costs reaching up to 315% for green transition actions and cooperative schemes," he stressed.
As a leading result of this policy, creating 20,000 new highly qualified jobs in the last six monthsa, contributing substantially to the reversal of brain drin.
On the issues of research centres, Mr Theodorikos presented four key priorities: simplifying the framework for the management of co-financed projects, ensuring the smooth implementation of the Recovery Fund, strengthening flexibility in staffing research projects under IDC contracts, while shielding legality and audit competence, as well as settling the balance of the regular grant of 2025.
The emphasis was also placed on transparency of the process of assessing research infrastructures, with a commitment to clear timetables for final arrangements and objections.
In closing his position, the Minister stressed the Government's will to ongoing dialogue with the research community on critical institutional and labour issues.
The Conference of Presidents of Research Centres and Technological Agencies was also attended by Deputy Minister for Development Stavros Kalafatis and Secretary-General for Research and Innovation Dimitris Terzis.