On Monday 12 November the first session of the new General Assembly of H.F.R.I. was completed at the Amphitheatre of the Pasteur Hellenic Institute, the main item on the agenda of the Assembly being the election of its new President. The outgoing President of the General Assembly, Professor and Academician Mr Christos Zerefos, coordinated the Assembly, while Deputy Minister of Education, Research and Religious Affairs Mr Kostas Fotakis welcomed Assembly members, in the presence of Secretary General of Research and Technology  Ms Patricia Kyprianidou. Participants in the Assembly panel included Deputy Director of the Scientific Council of the H.F.R.I. Ms Xenia Chrysochoou and Foundation Director Dr Nektarios Nasikas.

The new composition of the General Assembly has a three-year term and consists of a selection of internationally renowned scientists at Higher Education Foundations and Research Agencies in Greece. Through an original governance scheme the research and academic community itself is actively participating in the Administration of the H.F.R.I. with the election of its representatives at the H.F.R.I General Assembly, thus contributing to the shaping of Research and Innovation policy in Greece, without thematic or geographical exclusions, the only criterion being scientific quality and excellence.

The new members of the General Assembly unanimously elected Mr Konstantinos Charitidis as President. Mr Charitidis is a Professor of Nanomechanics & Nanotechnology at the School of Chemical Engineering of National Technical University of Athens with a two-year term.

During his welcome speech Deputy Minister of Education, Research and Religious Affairs Mr Kostas Fotakis thanked the outgoing President of the General Assembly, Professor and Academician Mr Christos Zerefos, for his significant contribution to the early, critical phase of operation of the H.R.F.I. and congratulated Mr Konstantinos Charitidis on his election. Mr. Kostas Fotakis stressed the Government’s dedication to supporting Research, as has been proven in practice with the increase of expenditure in R&D, as well as with the founding and continued support of the operation of the H.F.R.I. The Deputy Minister added that further funding in the amount of €60 million was recently allocated from the Public Investment Programme for the goals of the H.R.F.I. Lastly, he underlined the importance of the osmosis that must transpire between the H.R.F.I. and other state agencies, such as the National Council for Research and Innovation (ESEK) and the Sectorial Scientific Councils (TES) in order to best utilise the resources and potential of Greece.

The Secretary General of Research and Technology Ms Patricia Kyprianidou reiterated the support of the Secretariat towards the work of the H.R.F.I. and the availability of her executives for the transfer of know-how.

The Deputy Director of the Scientific Council of the H.R.F.I. Ms Xenia Chrysochoou, during her presentation to the new members of the General Assembly, stressed the collective responsibility of the academic and research community in the success of the Foundation’s mission in supporting research. At the same time, she carried the message of constructive cooperation, unity, and trust between the Scientific Council and the General Assembly of the Foundation, aiming at the research being managed by the university and research community itself.

The new President of the General Assembly Professor Konstantinos Charitidis, following his election, stressed the importance of reinforcing the role of the General Assembly and its cooperation with the Scientific Council, the priority of improving the research environment for young researchers, and the emphasis that must be given to the transparency and effectiveness of the new research proposal evaluation system. Among other things, Mr Charitidis pointed out to the new members the competencies of the General Assembly, which concern the selection of the Scientific Council members, the approval of collaborations and cooperations with other public and private sector agencies in Greece or internationally proposed by the Scientific Council for the achievement of the Foundation’s goals, the submission of proposals to the Scientific Council on matters related to the research actions of the Foundation, the proposal of materialisation measures, as well as the approval of the Foundations’ annual report (financial review and action review).

The composition of the new General Assembly of the H.F.R.I. can be found here:
https://www.elidek.gr/en/governing-bodies/general-assembly/

The CV of the new President of the General Assembly Professor Konstantinos Charitidis can be found here:
https://www.elidek.gr/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/CV_C.A.Charitidis-EN-NEW.pdf

Photo caption from left to right:
The outgoing President of the General Assembly Professor and Academician Mr Christos Zerefos, Deputy Director of the Scientific Council of the H.F.R.I. Ms Xenia Chrysochoou, the new President of the General Assembly of the H.F.R.I. Professor at National Technical University of Athens Mr Konstantinos Charitidis, Deputy Minister of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs Mr Kostas Fotakis, and Secretaty General of Research and Technology Ms Patricia Kyprianidou.

Attachments

• PRESS RELEASE_The new General Assembly of H.F.R.I. held its first meeting_13.11.2018