Our Team

Dr. George Papamichail is the Director of Science & Technology Park of Crete (STEP-C). He has been involved in more than 40 national and EU funded RDT projects related to Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Exploitation of Research Outcomes, Technology Transfer (TT) & Intellectual Property management (IP), Business Incubators, as well as with mobility of Greek and foreign researches issues.

Dimitris Hatzidakis has carved out a three-decade career in the dynamic realm of digital technology and its applications in advertising, online services and e-commerce. Serving as the co-founder and CEO of Phaistos Networks S.A., he has consistently demonstrated unparalleled foresight, positioning the company as a leader in cutting-edge technological services.

Under his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to innovation, Phaistos Networks has delivered a plethora of successful projects that surpass technological boundaries, setting industry benchmarks. These initiatives have not only added value to the ecosystem but have also garnered the trust of companies operating in the Greek market.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Dimitris Hatzidakis is an enthusiastic supporter of the local community. He is actively participating in initiatives and programs aimed at empowering local talents and promoting youth entrepreneurship.

Dimitris Hatzidakis’ journey continues as the CEO of Phaistos Networks, aiming to ensure the company’s continued success and leadership in an era of constant innovation and evolution.

Prof. Dimitrios Plexousakis is the director of the Institute of Computer Science (ICS), FORTH is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science, University of Crete and Head of the Information Systems Laboratory of FORTH-ICS. He is also the Vice President of the Board of Directors of FORTH. He received his B.Sc. degree in Computer Science from the University of Crete in 1988 and M.Sc. and Ph.D degrees in Computer Science from the University of Toronto in 1990 and 1996 respectively. He was a visiting Professor at the Universities of Vienna, CNAM, Orsay and Paris-Est.

His research interests span the following areas: Knowledge Representation and Knowledge Base Design; formal knowledge representation models and query languages for the Semantic Web; Formal reasoning systems and applications of artificial intelligence in database systems and Ambient Intelligence. He has published over 250 articles in international conferences and journals. According to Google Scholar, his work has received more than to 7,700 citations with an h-index of 42. He has extensive experience in the scientific coordination of research projects at the national and European levels. He is a member of the ACM and AAAI. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the European Research Consortium on Informatics and Mathematics, a member of the ESFRI Strategic Group on Digital and the Chair of the National Scientific Council on Informatics.

Dr. John Vontas is Director of the Institute Molecular Biology and Biotechnology – FORTH and Professor Pharmacology, Agricultural University of Athens.

John Vontas obtained his bachelor and PhD (1997) from the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA). Consecutive Marie Curie fellowships took him to Cardiff University (1998-2001), Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (2002) and IMBB-FORTH (2002-2004). He was appointed Lecturer at AUA (2005) and Associate Professor at the Biology Dept University of Crete (2008-2013). He worked at the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) (2013-14), to develop a framework for funding New Paradigms for malaria control. He was appointed Professor and Director of Pharmacology lab at AUA, as well as Group Leader Molecular Entomology at IMBB (2014+).

Since 2021, he is the Director of IMBB-FORTH. He has supervised >20 PhD thesis. His research explores biotechnology based approaches for insect control, with emphasis on insecticide resistance.

He has published many papers and gave a number of invited talks worldwide. He is Academic Editor and Editorial Board member in several international journals and has organized several conferences and symposia.

He participates in many international panels worldwide (including ERC, ANR, FWO, FCT, MRC etc). His research has received funds from a range of organizations, including EU and Industry; currently coordinates NextGenBioPest (2024-2028) and MicroBioPest (www.microbiopest.eu)

Dr. Nikos Papandroulakis is the Research Director at the Institute of Marine Biology Biotechnology and Aquaculture, of HCMR (https://imbbc.hcmr.gr/user/npap/), since 2012. He is Member of the Sectorial Scientific Council of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology for Agricultural Production, Food, Food, Agro-biotechnology and Aquaculture (since 2014) and vice president (elected) of the Hellenic Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform since 2018 (two terms).

His research focuses on the improvement of the rearing methodologies and technologies of the Mediterranean aquaculture and the application of research results in the industry. He is leading the Aquaculture Production technologies Lab, and is interested in establishing successful husbandry methods for larval rearing and grow-out developing modern precision farming tools and applications based on modelling, principles of circular economy (IMTA), aiming adaptations to new challenges such as CC. Furthermore concepts of offshore aquaculture in a multipurpose frame with marine renewables are developed. He has been involved as coordinator or partner in 41 National and EU projects.

• Ph.D., Marine Biology, University of Crete,  Greece 2000
• M.Sc., Theoretical Physics, University of Crete, Greece1988
• B.Sc., Physics, University of Crete, Greece. 1986

Dr. Michalis Katharakis, Vice-President of the Regional Council for Research and Innovation of Crete, has profound experience in managing funded European programs for leading institutions such as the Foundation for Technology and Research and the University of Crete.

He is the Director of the Technical Schools of the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce, focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship. In the past, he served as the head of the European network, Enterprise Europe Network for Heraklion Chamber.

He also holds the position of manager at the Mediterranean Agrofood Competence Center (MACC) and was a member of the eleven-member council of the Technological Educational Institute of Crete, responsible for approving the institution’s budgets and shaping innovative development policies.

Furthermore, he was a director in the management of European programs for the Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Katharakis holds a degree in Physics from the University of Crete, specialized in atomic and molecular physics, a Ph.D. from the National Technical University of Athens in the field of Lasers, and a second doctoral degree from the Technical University of Crete in innovation management and Business clusters. He has co-authored books and articles on entrepreneurship and innovation and serves as an evaluator for European innovation programs.

Dr. Emmanuel Stratakis is a Research Director and Deputy Director of the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser of the Foundation of Research and Technology Hellas (IESL-FORTH).

He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Crete (UOC) in 2001. After graduating, he joined as a visiting Researcher the IESL-FORTH working on the ultrafast laser engineering of materials. In the fall semesters of 2006 and 2008, he was appointed as a visiting Researcher at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of California, Berkeley. In 2007 he was elected Researcher at IESL-FORTH where he is leading the “Ultrafast Laser Micro- and Nano- processing” laboratory (https://www.iesl.forth.gr/en/research/ULNMP-Group).

His research interests are in the fields of (a) Laser-matter interaction; (b) Ultrashort pulsed laser development of biomimetic surfaces; (c) Laser engineering and diagnostics of Graphene and related 2D materials; (d) Advanced photonic processes in photovoltaic and energy storage devices; (e) Photo-assisted synthesis of nanocrystals; (f) Applications on non linear imaging in materials science and biology; (g) Laser assisted biofabrication for tissue engineering applications. 

He has over 270 SCI publications and more than 14000 citations, h-index=65 and he has coordinated many National and European grants. He has delivered more than 70 invited and keynote lectures and has been organizer and chair in major international scientific conferences. 

He has been an Editor of the journals ‘Optoelectronic Advances’, ‘Materials Today (Bio)’, and ‘International Journal of molecular Sciences. Since 2015, he is the Director of the Nanoscience Facility of FORTH, part of the NFFA-Europe EU Infrastructure, where he is a member of the General Assembly. He is a National expert in the High-Level Group of EU on Nanotechnologies, Advanced materials, Biotechnology, Advanced Manufacturing and Processing. He is an OPTICA Fellow and Ambassador of the European Innovation Council.

He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Biomimetic (www.biomimetic.gr). 

Alexandros Markantonakis was born in Chania and studied Chemical Engineering in England.

He holds a Master’s degree in Food Science & Business Administration.

He worked in food companies in England and France and since 1985 he has been an executive of Mills of Crete.

Today he is :

• Coordinator of the cluster DELIGHTS OF CRETE in which participate the companies MILLS OF CRETE , ABEA ANATOLI, VIOKHYM S.A., MILK PROCESSING INDUSTRY OF CRETE S.A., HIOTAKIS S.A. .
• CEO of MILLS OF CRETE
• General Manager of ABEA ANATOLI.
• CEO of CRETE MILK PROCESSING INDUSTRY S.A.

Dr. Konstantinos-Alketas Oungrinis is Professor at School of Architecture, Technical University of Crete. Also, he is Director of the Transformable and Intelligent Environments Laboratory (TUC TIE Lab) at the Technical University of Crete, Vice Rector of Research and Innovation at the Technical University of Crete, and Vice-President of the Archeological Museum of Herakleion.

His expertise is in the application of modern technologies and the development of methodologies that create a participatory, human-centered research and application framework, aiming to enhance everyday life and to change the paradigm in contemporary society. Modern technologies are understood as an interface between man and space, at all levels, from concept to experience. He has developed two specific approaches for the successful implementations of IT in design titled Spatial Economy and Sensponsive Architecture. His thematic areas of study are interdisciplinary, rooted in the field of architecture and from there on branching out mainly into the domains of psychology, neuroscience, interactive media, robotics, and computer science.

In particular, in the field of applications around conservation of monuments and cultural heritage sites, his work explores the optimization of 3D modelling techniques from 3D scanning, the management of construction data, the optimization of identification of visual data, and finally, enhancing the visitor’s experience aiming to project the feeling and atmosphere of the place through time, and to create an experience capable of generating cognitive associations in order to facilitate the sense of the “genius loci”. Its contribution to applied research exists through the implementation of 51 main and 31 pilot research projects, which have been completed or are in the process of being implemented. He is the author of 2 books, has edited 4 books and has 86 scientific publications. He has 17 national and international awards, including the Europe 40 under 40 Architecture Award (2008).

He holds a Diploma in Architecture and Architecture, a Master’s Degree in Architecture and a Master’s Degree in Architecture. He holds a PhD in Architecture and Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1994) with a PhD thesis at the same University on Structural Morphology and Mobile Structures in Changing Spaces (2009). Between 2004-2006 he was a Visiting Research Associate at the Harvard Graduate School of Design [GSD].

Giorgos Mastorakis is a graduate of the School of Management and Economics of the Department of Accounting of the Hellenic Mediterranean University, holds a Class A Accountant license and is a member of the Economic Chamber. He specializes in the legislation of Public Limited Companies, in the field of operation, conversion and merger of companies.

He has been working as a freelance accountant since 1994 and works with companies operating in the IT sector and in the sectors of Tourism, Construction and Commerce.

In some of them, he participates in the Board of Directors having an active role in the center of business decision making, practicing Management Accounting, and participates in the process of defining their financial strategy.

He has also participated in the past in consultation committees of the Mediation and Arbitration Organization (OMED) for the determination of Enterprise Labour Contracts.

Efsevia (Evi) Basta is a graduate of the Department of International and European Studies with a postgraduate specialization in Human Rights and Immigration Studies, from the University of Macedonia. She has expertise in political and social science, international relations and diplomacy and a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics surrounding these issues.

As part of her undergraduate studies, she participated in the Erasmus+ program in Brussels seeking collaboration and interaction with different academic environments. While doing her internship in the Region of the Ionian Islands, she dealt with management issues of the regional unit of Zakynthos. Her interest in the field of human rights is reinforced through the interniship she carried through at the National Commission for Human Rights during which she conducted research and edited texts on the topic of combating discrimination and inequalities.

Her practical experience includes working as an Administrative Employee in a tranfer company, in which her responsibilities concerned the orderly and smooth management of the company’s administrative affairs, as well as the communication with local education, tourism and private bodies.

She is fluent in English and has a good command of French.

She works at the Science and Technology Park of Crete (STEP-C) as Junior Project Assistant.

Maria Fotini (Maro) Flouskouni is a graduate of the Department of Business Administration and Tourism at the Hellenic Mediterranean University. She has volunteered in the sales department of the non-profit organization AIESEC Greece, which is based on the 17 sustainable development goals.

Aikaterini Drosou holds a Diploma in Environmental Engineering from the Technical University of Crete, two master’s degrees in the fields of Environmental Engineering and Energy and Environmental Chemical Technologies, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Crete. She has extensive research and teaching experience in environmental engineering, photocatalysis, heterogeneous catalysis, and advanced catalytic and nanostructured materials for energy and environmental applications. She has participated in several national and international research projects and has contributed to the preparation of scientific publications and technical deliverables. Her scientific output includes 13 peer-reviewed journal publications and 52 conference contributions. Her research interests focus on the development of advanced and sustainable technologies for CO₂ utilization, the energy transition, decarbonization, and the circular economy.

Athina Thomopoulou is the co-founder of TheThoms, with more than 20 years of experience in strategic business development, marketing, and commercial management. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a specialization in Marketing from the University of West Attica. Her expertise includes brand development, digital transformation, project management, and business development for SMEs and startups.

Thomas Papageorgiou is the co-founder of TheThoms and a Business Development Consultant with more than 30 years of experience in the banking, financial services, and commercial sectors. He holds an MBA and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in strategic planning, financial management, and the development of sustainable business models.