The Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Greece, Mr. Arif Mammadov, paid an official visit to the facilities of FORTH in Heraklion, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, accompanied by Mr. Konstantinos Karamesinis, an official of the Embassy.

The visitors were welcomed by FORTH’s Vice President and Director of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies, Prof. Gelina Harlaftis. A meeting was also held afterward, attended by Directors of FORTH’s Institutes and Special Units, as well as heads of research laboratories. The Ambassador was informed in detail about the Foundation’s activities, the individual Institutes’ research priorities, and ongoing international collaborations.

Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Greece and Azerbaijan and on fostering collaboration in research, technology, and innovation, with particular emphasis on researcher mobility and exchange opportunities. This prospect is expected to be facilitated by the new direct flight connection between Heraklion and Baku. This makes Crete an important hub of communication and cooperation with Azerbaijan and opens new pathways for joint research initiatives in fields of mutual interest between FORTH Institutes and corresponding organizations in Azerbaijan.

This was followed by a guided tour to the Foundation's research laboratories, where the Ambassador had the opportunity to learn about pioneering projects carried out at FORTH, see the impressive exhibits and interactive systems, and engage in discussions with researchers.

At the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL), the Ambassador was introduced to the research activity of the Photonics for Heritage Science (PhoHS) group, which develops advanced laser-based methodologies for the analysis, diagnosis, and conservation of historical monuments and artworks.

At the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), he visited the Insects and Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, which studies the molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance in insect species of medical and agricultural importance, aiming to develop applications for managing and mitigating resistance phenomena.

At the Computational Vision and Robotics Laboratory (CVRL) of the Institute of Computer Science (ICS), the Ambassador was introduced to state-of-the-art mobile “intelligent” robotic systems, designed for applications in the sectors of defense and security, inspection, search and rescue, and more.

Finally, at the Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics (IACM), the Ambassador was informed about the Coastal and Marine Research Laboratory’s work in modeling, monitoring, and analyzing coastal and marine systems, addressing issues related to climate change, pollution, spatial planning, and cultural heritage. The Lab’s cutting-edge computational methodologies for the sustainable management of the marine environment were also presented.

The Ambassador expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and hospitality, and his enthusiasm for the high level of research carried out at FORTH. He emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between research institutions in the two countries and expressed the clear intention of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Greece to actively support and promote joint actions and collaborations in the fields of research and innovation.

On behalf of FORTH, the visit was attended by Prof. Gelina Harlaftis, Vice President of FORTH; Prof. Panos Tsakalides, Deputy Director of the Institute of Computer Science; Prof. Ioannis Vontas, Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; Dr. Emmanuel Stratakis, Deputy Director of the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser; Prof. Savvas Christoforidis, Director of the Institute of Biomedical Research; Dr. Kostas Vavekis, Technical Director of the PRAXI Network; and Dr. Nikos Kampanis, Research Director, Head of the Coastal and Marine Research Laboratory at the Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics.