Regional Research and Innovation Council

The Regional Scientific Council for Research and Innovation (PSEK) is an advisory body to support various development actions and the implementation of the National Strategic Research, Technological Development and Innovation (ESETAK).

The administrative support of PSEK is provided by the Directorate of Development Planning of the Region of Central Greece.

Responsibilities of Research and Innovation Councils

National Research and Innovation Council

According to article 9 of Law 4386/2016 "Regulations for research and other provisions", ESEK is the highest advisory body of the State regarding the drafting of the National Strategic Research, Technological Development and Innovation (ESEK) and supports the Minister of Education, Research and Religious Affairs and the General Secretary of Research and Technology in the matters that pertain to their competence.

The ESEK consists of seventeen (17) members, who are distinguished for their training and experience in the fields of ETAK, and come from the research, academic and business fields of the country or abroad and in particular from:

a) The president.

b) The vice president.

c) Eleven (11) members, experts in key thematic areas of ETAK.

d) Two (2) members who come from the productive business area and, cumulatively, hold a master's degree, have experience in the design and implementation of research/development programs and have the status of a top executive of a company or industry.

e) Two (2) members of the Regional Research and Innovation Councils (RCICs).

The mission of ESEK is:

a) The monitoring of national and international developments in ETAK and the submission of relevant proposals to the Minister of Education, Research and Religious Affairs and the Greek National Research Council.

b) Contributing to the formation and updating of ETAK, monitoring the progress of its implementation in accordance with the provisions herein, as well as the drafting and publication of an annual progress report.

c) The submission of proposals for the utilization, strategic formation and distribution of public funding for ETAK.

d) The contribution to ensuring close creative cooperation between research, education and the productive sectors of the economy with the aim of introducing innovative processes or producing innovative products or significantly improving them or offering innovative services in the context of strengthening the international competitiveness of country and the effort to increase the standard of living of its population.

e) The contribution to the promotion of international cooperation for the formation of strong ties between the Greek and the international research community.

f) The systematic cooperation with the public research bodies of the country.

g) The submission of proposals to the Minister of Education, Research and Religious Affairs regarding the composition of the electoral bodies from which the directors of the research centers and institutes are selected.

h) The implementation of other objectives assigned to it by the Government or by the respective legal framework.

Regional Scientific Councils for Research and Innovation (PSEK)

According to Article 8 of Law 4386/2016 (A 83) which replaced Article 10 of Law 4310/2014 (A 258), by decision of the regionally competent Governor, which is published in the Government Gazette, in each Region a Regional Scientific Council for Research and Innovation (PSEK), as a support body for development actions and implementation of the National Strategic Research, Technological Development and Innovation (ESETAK).

Support is provided with recommendations, field studies, records and evaluations of existing infrastructure or available human resources and comparative assessments regarding the creation of regional clusters of research organizations, technological entities, businesses, other entities and regional authorities, to promote innovation, encouraging the development of public and private sector partnership schemes and shaping the conditions and prospects for the successful participation of regional organizations in national and European research projects.

In particular, the content of PSEK's recommendations and support concerns:

a) In the horizontal networking of the regional factors involved in ETAK, such as public research organizations, technological bodies, businesses and other bodies, as well as in proposals for integration and interconnection of the factors and research organizations in the regional economies.

b) In the joint analysis of the strategies for the development of ETAK in the region and the undertaking of coordinated Center-Region actions together with the GGET.

c) In defining criteria and conditions for the evaluation of research proposals submitted to the regional authorities.

d) To expand the beneficiaries' access to funding sources, as well as the inclusion and interconnection of research organizations in the regional economies.

e) To the full utilization of the research potential of the regions and the strengthening of the employment of new graduates at the national, EU or international level, with measures such as:

aa) The support of public research organizations for the acquisition of appropriate research equipment and the development of a material environment that allows them to fully utilize the available research potential.

bb) The provision of aid for research infrastructures to which access is ensured on a transparent, non-discriminatory basis.

cc) The support for the organization of work meetings (workshops) and conferences to facilitate the transfer of knowledge or the development of promotion and publicity activities, as well as the undertaking of initiatives for the dissemination and transfer of research results in the productive sector of the country, in other countries and internationally markets.

dd) The determination of the needs and possibilities of strengthening the research capacity of the public research bodies that exist in the Regions and which can be financed.

The (PSEK) consists of eleven (11) members, of which 6 are university professors or researchers from research centers supervised by the Deputy Minister responsible for research. The remaining 5 members come from professional chambers and scientific associations, the cultural bodies, the local government and the productive bodies of the region. All members of PSEK must hold at least a master's degree or an equivalent title with recognized prestige and have long-term research and professional experience in ETAK issues. The term of office of the members of the (PSEK) is four years and may be renewed only once by the following procedure, by which they were initially selected.

After their appointment, the members of PSEK form a body and elect the president, vice-president and his secretary with his deputy.

The presidents and vice-presidents of PSEK meet in a plenary session of PSEK, form a body and elect a president and vice-president from among their members.

The place and time of meetings, the quorum, the method of decision-making and any more specific issue of the operation of the PSEK are defined by a decision of the President of the relevant PSEK, in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Administrative Procedure. Regarding the plenary session of the PSEK, the above issues are defined by a decision of the G.G.E.T. PSEK members may participate in meetings remotely via video conference.

The costs of travel, overnight stay and daily allowance of PSEK members for the participation in their meetings provided for by the provisions are covered by the Region's own resources.

PSEK are assisted in their work by the existing structures of the region concerned. The secretarial and administrative support of PSEKs are provided by the region.