• Bodies
- R&D Policy developers
- R&D Performers


• Funding
• Research Personnel
• Other features of the Greek R&D system

R&D Policy developers

The main entity engaged in drawing up and implementing R&D policies in Greece is the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT), which comes under the Ministry of Development. The GSRT coordinates research projects funded by structural funds from the European Union. As regards developing policies, the GSRT is backed by the National Council for Research and Technology and other joint bodies (chambers of commerce, Federation of Greek Industries, etc.).

The Ministry of Development is also responsible for issues relating to industry, energy, commerce and tourism. In this context, the ministry coordinates all research initiatives and particularly R&D projects funded by the 3nd Community Support Framework (3rd CSF 2000-2006), and supervises the research centres performing approximately 201f the national R&D effort. The principal authority for the entire 3rd CSF negotiation is the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Other ministries involved in R&D projects are the Ministries of Education, Agriculture and National Defence. The Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs is responsible for research organisations in the universities. Moreover, R&D issues in the agricultural sector and the defence sector are monitored by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of National Defence, respectively.

R&D Performers

The government research centres, the higher education institutions and businesses are the bodies which implement R&D projects in Greece.

The majority of government research centres are monitored by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology of the Ministry of Development, while the rest come under other ministries. The GSRT supervises 16 research bodies and 15 technological bodies, including 6 industrial R&D institutions operating as business firms. Other government R&D bodies are the National Foundation for Agricultural Research (NAGREF), which comes under the Ministry of Agriculture, the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME), which comes under the Ministry of Development and the Research and Technology Centre for National Defence, which comes under the Ministry of National Defence.

Higher Education Institutions (universities, technological educational institutes and university research institutes) come under the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs and account for the greater part of research activity, given that most Greek researchers work within them.

Research activity is being developed in various businesses, industries, etc., especially in the information technology and communications sectors. It should be noted, however, that private funding of R&D is extremely scarce.