Belt and Road Transfer Center (BRTTC)

13/10/2026

 

It is a pleasure to join you online for the inauguration of the Greek Innovation Hub of the Belt and Road Transfer Center at the University of Ioannina.

As a chair of the Special Standing Committee on Research and Technology, I congratulate the University of Ioannina and all the partners whose work has brought us to this moment.

I also extend a warm welcome to the distinguished guests from China, whose presence reflects a shared commitment to strengthening scientific cooperation and creating opportunities for our researchers, universities and businesses.

The establishment of the Greek Hub, the fourth in the international network and the second within the European Union, is a meaningful recognition of the quality of the Greek scientific community.

It also creates an opportunity for Greece to strengthen its role as a bridge for scientific and technological cooperation across Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean.

The choice of Ioannina carries particular significance.

It demonstrates that scientific excellence and international ambition can flourish throughout our country.

Regional universities are essential to Greece’s innovation capacity.

They bring together talented people, specialised knowledge and strong connections with local communities, industry and business.

The University of Ioannina is showing how these strengths can open new international horizons while delivering value close to home.

One of the central challenges of research policy is ensuring that knowledge reaches the people and enterprises that can put it to use.

A discovery in a laboratory can become a safer food product, a more sustainable packaging solution, a more precise sensor, or an advanced material with practical applications.

With the right support, it can also become a new business, a skilled job, or an export opportunity.

Technology transfer provides the connections that make this possible.

It helps researchers understand industrial needs and enables businesses to access expertise, develop new products and compete in international markets.

The focus of this Hub on agrifood, packaging, food safety, advanced materials and sensors is therefore particularly relevant.

These fields connect scientific progress with everyday needs and with sectors that are important to the economy of Epirus and of Greece as a whole.

Another strength of this initiative is its collaborative character.

The connections with Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Patras, ELGO-DIMITRA and the Greek Exporters Association offer a foundation for a wider national network.

Such cooperation can bring complementary expertise together, support joint projects and give businesses a clearer route to the knowledge they need.

It can also create valuable opportunities for young researchers and students to exchange ideas and gain international experience.

For this partnership to succeed over time, it must be based on equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit.

Clear agreements, respect for intellectual property, responsible knowledge sharing and research security are essential foundations of trust.

Cooperation should develop in full accordance with European rules, giving every partner confidence to contribute and innovate.

From my parliamentary role, I attach particular importance to an environment that supports excellent research, encourages productive partnerships and helps innovation reach society.

I wish the Greek Innovation Hub every success, and I look forward to seeing this cooperation deliver concrete results for Greece, China and the wider international research community.

Thank you very much.