ATHENS — The non-profit organisation SciFY – Science For You, in collaboration with the internationally renowned American research organisation SRI International, the NCSR Demokritos research centre and the Foundation for Technology and Research (FORTH), and with the support of the US Embassy in Athens, on Tuesday launched the innovative tech transfer programme "Prometheus", which aims to train Greek researchers in technology transfer and AI.

From April 13 to April 21, dozens of researchers from across the country will see in practice how they can turn their research or ideas into products and services, as well as the role of critical factors, such as artificial intelligence.

According to Sci-FY, although 2 pct of university graduates in Greece hold a doctorate, most Greek doctorates are not associated with innovation, as most doctorates pursue academic careers and companies do not pursue doctoral programmes. Therefore, the innovation produced in research centres rarely reaches the Greek business ecosystem.

"Diamonds are hidden in the drawers of research institutes in the country and remain unexploited. Research whose results have never reached our lives. That could make our lives much, much better," SciFY Marketing Manager, Vassilis Giannakopoulos, said.

"Νew diagnostic tests or treatments for diseases, new materials with amazing capabilities may exist there, anything we can imagine! And things that we cannot … And this is because researchers are not trained in how to put their idea into practice, how to create products, services, companies. How to work together to offer us real innovations. We often hear that in Greece there are exceptional minds. With this programme we want to unleash the creative ability of people who want to move forward with market research: Researchers who want to create solutions for society, solutions that take us all one step further. Researchers from NCSR Demokritos, FORTH and other research bodies, as well as executives of new spin-offs companies will have the opportunity to be trained and we hope to surprise us," he added.

With the "Prometheus" programme, dozens of researchers from all over Greece will learn how they can put their idea into practice, developing new products and services with serious prospects, how to communicate their research to the public and potential investors in an understandable way, as well as how to use AI and the perspectives it offers in the research and business field.

The programme, among others, includes technology transfer workshops, artificial intelligence seminars, online training materials and mentoring by experienced mentors with international prestige.