May 15, 2026
A national proposal to strengthen knowledge transfer, university incubators, and Proof-of-Concept funding.
BioInnovation Greece (BiG) submitted a strategic proposal to the national committee responsible for the formation of Greece’s new unified Ministry of Higher Education, Research & Innovation, contributing to the national dialogue on the future of science, innovation, research commercialization, and technology-driven growth in Greece.
The proposal focuses on one of the country’s most critical structural challenges: the gap between scientific excellence and the effective translation of research into innovation, startups, and economic value.
Despite Greece’s strong academic and research output, as well as the global success of Greek scientists and the broader Greek diaspora, the transition from laboratory research to market application remains limited. According to the proposal, this restricts the development of high-technology startups, the creation of highly skilled jobs, and the country’s ability to fully capitalize on its scientific talent base.
To address this challenge, BioInnovation Greece proposes the creation of an integrated national knowledge transfer mechanism built around two interconnected pillars:
* University Incubators and Innovation Centers, designed to systematically support academic entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and early-stage innovation development within universities.
* A National Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Program, aimed at funding the early technical validation and maturation of innovative research outcomes, helping bridge the well-known “valley of death” between research and commercialization.
The proposal highlights that Greece currently lacks a cohesive national framework capable of systematically supporting the transition from scientific discovery to commercially viable innovation. It emphasizes that strengthening knowledge transfer is not simply an innovation policy objective, but a strategic national priority tied directly to economic growth, competitiveness, talent retention, and the long-term sustainability of the country’s research investments.
Among the key objectives outlined in the proposal are:
* The creation of sustainable high-technology startups
* Stronger links between academia, industry, investors, and the Greek diaspora
* Attraction, utilization, and repatriation of scientific talent
* Increased return on public investment in research
* Development of a stronger innovation culture within Greek universities and research institutions
The proposal also places particular emphasis on biotechnology and life sciences, recognizing the sector as a major global growth opportunity for Greece, especially in areas where the country already demonstrates strong scientific capacity and international connectivity.
BioInnovation Greece notes that the creation of the new Ministry represents a unique strategic opportunity to redesign the national innovation ecosystem and establish long-term mechanisms that can help position Greece as an emerging international hub for biotechnology, innovation, and science-driven entrepreneurship.
The organization remains available to support the further development and implementation of these initiatives in collaboration with the State, universities, industry, investors, and the broader Greek and international scientific community.