The FORTH’s Friends Association was established in 2018, on the initiative of its President, philologist Professor Mr. Zacharias Karatarakis. The Association is governed by a 7-member Board of Directors with a four-year term.

Since its founding,the Association established two annual awards, of 3,000 euros each:
A. The Miltiadis Karatzis Award and

Β. The Heraklion Chamber of Commerce Award.
These prizes are still awarded today to young researchers (PhD candidates, PhDs, Postdoctoral researchers) working in collaboration with FORTH.

The winners are selected by a special committee set up for this purpose and the prizes are awarded during events that are open to the public and are organized twice a year.

It is worth noting that in its six years of operation, the Association has organized eight events open to the public featuring lectures by distinguished scientists on key topics. An equal number of prizes have been awarded to talented young researchers, amounting to a total of €24,000. All lectures have been published by the Association in four issues (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024), sponsored by Plastika Kritis S.A.

The Board of Directors of FORTH expresses its sincere gratitude to the active Board and members of the FORTH’s Friends Association for their continuous support in promoting the research activities of the Foundation, as well as for the important moral recognition and financial support they offer to young scientists through the establishment of the two awards. We would also like to extend our thanks to the sponsors: Karatzis S.A. and the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce.

The actions and initiatives of FORTH’s Friends Association serve as an inspiration and an example of the dynamics of society and the way in which active citizens can contribute to the promotion of scienceand culture.

Events and Award Ceremonies

September 30, 2019 – Event in memory of Fotis Kafatos
Theme: Time, Science and the Future of Humanity
Speakers:

• Nektarios Tavernarakis, Professor of Medicine, University of Crete, President of FORTH
  “Research in the field of science and the future of humanity”
• Stauroula Tsinorema, Professor of Modern Philosophy and Bioethics, University of Crete
  “Science in society and its practical orientation”

Miltiadis Karatzis Award 2019 presented to Rafail Skalidis, PhD Candidate, University of Crete & FORTH’s Institute of Astrophysics

December 9, 2019
Theme: Time
Speakers:

• Vasiliki Pavlidou, Associate Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Crete
  “The universe and time”
• Periklis Vallianos, Professor Emeritus of Political Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  “A philosophical view on time”

Heraklion Chamber of Commerce Award presented to Konstantinos Papoutsakis, Postdoctoral Researcher, FORTH’s Institute of Computer Science

November 15, 2021 – Event in memory of Fotis Kafatos
Theme: The Human Brain
Speaker:

• Giorgos Ch. Papadopoulos, Neurophysiologist, Professor Emeritus, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  “The brain: a peculiar mirror of the world”

Miltiadis Karatzis Award 2021 presented to Alexandros Spiliotis, Postdoctoral Researcher, FORTH’s Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser

December 19, 2022 – Event in memory of Fotis Kafatos
Theme: Media and Democracy
Speaker:

• Sofia Kaitatzi-Whitlock, Professor of Political Communication, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  “Visible and invisible threats to democracy. The critical political issues of our time”

Miltiadis Karatzis Award 2022 presented to Irini Vasilaki, Postdoctoral Researcher, FORTH’s Institute for Mediterranean Studies

Commendations presented to Evita Dandali and Alkiviadis Kapokakis, PhD candidates, University of Crete

March 22, 2023 – Event in memory of Giannis Papadakis
Theme: Energy
Speakers:

• Nikos Passadakis, Professor, Technical University of Crete, Director of FORTH’s Institute of GeoEnergy
  “Energy transition: Business opportunity or sustainable vision?”
• Grigoris Stergioulis, Former CEO, Hellenic Petroleum Group
• Haris Doukas, Professor, National Technical University of Athens
  “Energy war: Winners and losers”

Heraklion Chamber of Commerce Award 2023 presented to Georgios Perrakis, Postdoctoral Researcher, FORTH’s Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser

October 27, 2023 – Event in memory of Grigorios Sifakis
Speakers:

• Nikos Papadimitriou, Professor, Ionian University
  “Does European culture still exist?”
• Katerina Zografistou, PhD, University of Montpellier III – Paul Valéry
  “The contribution of French letters to shaping the intellectual identity of George Seferis”

Miltiadis Karatzis Award 2023 presented to Christina Vasilakopoulou, PhD Candidate, University of Patras & FORTH’s Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences

May 13, 2024 – Event in memory of Giorgos Grammatikakis
Speakers:

• Stefanos Trachanas, Professor of Physics, former Director of the University of Crete Press (UCP)
  “Science and Democracy in troubled times”
• Vangelis Tzoukas, PhD, Department of Sociology, Panteion University
  “Strange theories, irrationalism, and postmodernity”

Heraklion Chamber of Commerce Award 2024 presented to Theoharis Lamprou, PhD Candidate, University of Crete & FORTH’s Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser

November 13, 2024
Theme: Artificial Intelligence – A Blessing or a Curse?
Speakers:

• Nektarios Tavernarakis, Professor of Medicine, President of FORTH
  “Pros, cons, and applications of AI in pharmaceutical discovery”
• Manolis Froudarakis, Assistant Professor of Neurophysiology, Medical School, University of Crete, Collaborating Researcher at FORTH’s Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
  “Exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and the human brain”
• Antonis Argyros, Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Crete, Collaborating Researcher at FORTH’s Institute of Computer Science
  “Computer vision: The eyes of artificial intelligence”

Miltiadis Karatzis Award 2024 presented to Ioanna Pandi, PhD Candidate, University of Crete & FORTH’s Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Board of Directors of the Friends of FORTH Association

2018 – May 2022

• President: Zacharias Karatarakis
• Vice-President: Manolis Velgakis
• General Secretary: Katerina Zografistou
• Treasurer: Apollon Kalogeropoulos
• Special Secretary: Dinos Konstantopoulos
• Alternate Member: Eleftherios Zouros

Supervisory Council

• President: Giannis Chlouberakis
• Members: Popi Paterianaki, Athanasia Drakouli

June 2022 – Present

• President: Zacharias Karatarakis
• Vice-President: Emmanouil Velgakis
• General Secretary: Katerina Zografistou
• Treasurer: Kalliopi Konsolaki
• Special Secretary: Apollon Kalogeropoulos
• Press Officer: Dinos Konstantopoulos
• Member: Ioannis Tsagkaroulakis

Alternate Members:
Georgios Agrimanakis, Evangelos Grigorakis, Ioanna Giannari, Maria Zachariaki

Supervisory Council

• President: Popi Paterianaki
• Members: Dionysios Zoudianos, Athanasia Drakouli