Heraklion: FORTH Innovation Hub opened

On Friday, 18 September 2026, the opening ceremony for the Innovation Hub and Advanced Training Centre of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) was held in Heraklion. Development Minister Takis Theodoricopoulos attended the ceremony, representing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The blessing was conducted by Bishop Methodios of Knosos. Also present at the event were Deputy Development Minister Stavros Kalafatis, FORTH President Vasilis Charmandaris, Regional Governor of Crete Stavros Arnaoutakis, institute directors, former FORTH presidents, the Mayor of Heraklion, municipal officials, local parliamentarians and representatives of various organisations.

FORTH is one of the country’s largest research institutions, headquartered in Heraklion. Minister Theodoricopoulos described it as “a jewel for Crete and research”, saying it “represents the very best and most useful that exists in the country, together with EKETA in Thessaloniki, in the field of research and innovation”. According to the minister, over 300 million euros have been allocated for new research infrastructure nationwide, of which approximately 60 million euros were directed to FORTH for five new facilities. Deputy Minister Stavros Kalafatis stated that this represents the largest funding in FORTH’s history, amounting to 56 million euros from the Recovery Fund and the European Investment Bank, through which corresponding infrastructure is being enhanced in five cities across the country. The project was funded through the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the EIB to upgrade research centre infrastructure, using European Union resources via the “Greece 2.0” programme.

Deputy Minister Kalafatis argued that the investment “makes Crete an Innovation Hub of the Eastern Mediterranean”, linking—as he said—research excellence with the market and the economy. FORTH President Vasilis Charmandaris thanked the state for its confidence in the vision presented by the institution’s previous administration and spoke of a “new era” for FORTH. Regional Governor of Crete Stavros Arnaoutakis noted that through cooperation with research and educational institutions, the region is investing in research, innovation and technology. The Development Minister, earlier on the same day during a visit to an enterprise in the Heraklion Business Park, stated that the ministry supports 95 productive investments registered under the development law in Crete, with a total budget of 270 million euros, of which 140 million euros come from the ministry, resulting—according to his statement—in the creation of over 1,200 new jobs. As he said, half of these investments concern manufacturing on the island.

The announcements come at a time when Heraklion is also at the centre of other infrastructure and public consultation issues, such as recently entity letters concerning works on the central road network, or developments surrounding school canteen facilities in the city. The Development Minister linked the opening ceremony to the ministry’s broader strategy for the development law, saying that evaluations of investment applications are now completed within 90 days, compared to two to three years previously. According to him, new rounds of investments follow concerning Major Investments nationwide, manufacturing, as well as special provisions for border regions. The organisations that participated in the opening ceremony did not announce a specific timeline for the operation of the Innovation Hub’s new facilities.