PwC Greece and the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) officially launched their strategic partnership during a special event held on Tuesday, June 17th, at the Science and Technology Park of Crete, within FORTH’s premises in Heraklion. The event gathered representatives from local authorities, academia, and the business community and was honored by the presence of the Regional Governor of Crete, Mr. Stavros Arnaoutakis.

The collaboration builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2023 and has since evolved into a solid and active partnership. As part of this development, PwC Greece has established a physical presence within FORTH’s facilities, underscoring its commitment to operating beyond major urban centers. This initiative aligns with PwC’s broader decentralization strategy, implemented since 2022, through the creation of satellite offices across Greece.

The primary objective of the partnership is to strengthen the connection between scientific research and production, fostering innovation and promoting entrepreneurship. Coordinated by Mr. Ioannis Voutsinos, Head of EU Affairs & Funding at PwC Greece, the initiative focuses on developing structures and synergies that support businesses and enhance their competitiveness through innovation.

The collaboration emphasizes the creation of innovation ecosystems in specific geographic and thematic areas, encouraging entrepreneurship through the exchange of expertise and know-how. Key pillars include joint participation in research and development projects, as well as training and skills development for both industry professionals and the research community. Through these actions, PwC and FORTH aim to bridge the gap between theory and practice by transforming research outcomes into tangible, market-ready solutions.

The PwC–FORTH partnership is expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening innovation and knowledge transfer, delivering both immediate and long-term benefits at local and national levels. At the same time, it advances PwC Greece’s mission to actively contribute to a sustainable, outward-looking, and technologically advanced business environment.

Attendees

On behalf of PwC:

Mr. Kyriakos Andreou, Partner, Territory Strategy, Clients & Markets Leader

Mr. Ioannis Voutsinos, Head of EU Affairs & Funding

On behalf of FORTH:

Prof. Vassilis Charmandaris, Chairman of the BoD

Prof. Dimitris Plexousakis, Vice Chairman of the BoD and Director of the Institute of Computer Science

Mr. Panagiotis Karniouras, Head of Administrative and Financial Services

Dr. George Papamichail, Director of the Science & Technology Park of Crete

Dr. Konstantinos Vavekis, Director of the PRAXI Network

The event was also honored by the presence of: Prof. Georgios Kontakis, Rector of the University of Crete, Prof. Maria Vamvakaki, Vice Rector, Prof. Michalis Pavlidis, Chairman and CEO, and Mr. Nikolaos Kokkinis, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Property Development and Management Company of UoC.