Minister of Development Takis Theodorikacos today announced the inclusion of funding for the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI) in the Sectoral Development Programme of the Ministry of Development for the four-year period 2026–2030. The announcement was made during a meeting between Minister Theodorikacos and HFRI Plenary President Dimitris Vergados, Scientific Council President Georgia Andreou, and HFRI Director Giorgos Karydakis. Secretary General for Research and Innovation Dimitris Terzis was also in attendance. This decision by the Minister of Development is part of a broader strategy to strengthen research and innovation, with emphasis on leveraging scientific knowledge, bridging the gap between academia and industry, and creating new growth opportunities through transparent processes and rigorous evaluation of initiatives.
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Theodorikacos: We support research and innovation with planning and action
Immediately following the meeting, Minister Theodorikacos made the following statement: “We support research and innovation — and the researchers behind it — with concrete planning and action, with the goal of driving the productive transformation of the economy, boosting productivity and competitiveness, and strengthening social cohesion. To that end, we are fully integrating the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation’s programming into the Ministry of Development’s Sectoral Development Programme for the 2026–2030 period.
The details of the programme will be determined in close collaboration with the Foundation’s leadership. We want research funding to deliver real results — through transparency and rigorous evaluation. Immediate priority is being given to the creation of a national digital repository for research output, enabling better utilization and wider dissemination of research findings.
We are also focused on establishing flagship centres of excellence and innovation through partnerships between universities, research institutes, and businesses — so that research can generate innovative products and services with significant economic and social impact, while remaining competitive on the international stage.”
