“From the paradise of the USA, the returned researchers became entangled in the hell of the Greek bureaucracy. Those who wanted to invest in innovation had to do so outside of universities.” Story, yesterday, oh B. digalakiuniversity professor and chairman of the parliamentary committee on education, on the environment prevailing in the mid-90s, reflects the state of affairs that has hampered the use of business for decades research project of Greek universities and research centers. Now, as the participants of the seminar “Problems of using research – an example of techno-field companies” noted yesterday, the situation has changed dramatically.

spin-offs, as their English name, are companies based in universities and research centers that offer innovative products and services. According to Chr. Municipality, Deputy Minister of Development and Investment in charge of research and innovation, by December 2021, 101 techno-seeds have been created in Greece, obtained from 13 AEIs and 7 public research centers. By the end of 2022, there was an increase of 15.8%, as 16 new artificial factories were created in 2022 (12 from universities and 4 from state research centers). In total we have about 120 artificial plants.

In 2022, five universities were added to the universities that created technophiles, and eight new universities are expected to be added this year.

In addition, according to the statements of universities and public research centers, it is planned to install 94 more artificial factories in 2023, i.e. an increase of just over 80%. Indicative was the statement by N. Tavernarakis, President of the Foundation for Technology and Research (ITE), that ITE had established three new artificial factories in 2022 and that five more were expected to be installed in 2023.

“An abrupt improvement has been observed since the enactment of Law 4864/2021 on the creation of a framework for artificial plants. It is clear that the new law has activated the creative forces of researchers so that they can begin to transfer technologies, creating innovative enterprises with significant growth prospects for the benefit of society and the economy.” said Mr. Demas “K”.. Interestingly, five universities (Thessaly, EKPA, Athens University of Economics, Harokopio and Aegean University) have been added to the bodies that established the techno-fields in 2022 based on the new institutional structure, and by 2023 eight more new bodies declare their intention to continue with the creation of techno areas, six of which are universities and two research centers. “The law aims to return to the society that finances scientific research, the product created by these very studies,” he stressed for his part. in “K” English. wheezingDeputy Minister of Education.

In fact, artificial plants are evidence of the scientific wealth of the country and the dynamism of our universities and research centers. However, their commercial survival is judged when they hit the market. “Most researchers say we are not entrepreneurs. The survival of companies needs financing, which requires other skills,” Mr. Christos Tarantilis, academician and chairman of the parliamentary research and technology committee. According to No. Doxiadis, vice president of the National Council for Research, Technology and Innovation (ESETEK) and partner in technology investment capital Big Pi, offers two management models – spin-off leadership. The one from Oxford, on the basis of which the company is looking for an experienced leader for the position of its managing director from day one. According to the second model, the CEO is one of the founders of the company who assumes sole responsibility. As Mr. Doxiadis points out, “in this case, the professor leading the research project must decide that the new researcher will make financial decisions, not him.”

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