The insightful seminar on the Innovation Ecosystem was successfully held on Monday, February 17, 2025, at the Aristotle University Research Dissemination Center of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH).
The event was organised by the Alexander Innovation Zone in collaboration with Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), CERTH, the University of Macedonia (UoM), the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI), and the International Hellenic University (IHU). Its goal was to inform participants about enhancing entrepreneurship through the creation of spin-offs, promote collaboration between academic community, the business world, and the public sector, and facilitate the transition from research to market with solutions that address modern societal and technological needs.
OBI was represented by its General Director Mr. Panagiotis Kanellopoulos, who delivered the opening speech and participated in a panel titled “Creating Spin-Offs: Opportunities and Challenges.”
Mr. Kanellopoulos emphasized that industrial property is one of the key factors for the development of innovation and the strengthening of the economy, while education in this field is crucial for its utilization. Acknowledging the importance of innovation, OBI has already taken significant steps in engaging with the research community.
Referring to the industrial property rights received by OBI, he pointed out that data from the last three years (2021–2023) indicate an increase in annual applications from universities and research centers, reaching approximately 4%, compared to just 1% in the years before 2022.
As he mentioned, despite this lag, there is movement, which, in fact, concerns not only national but also European patents. He noted that “this demonstrates that universities and research centers are gradually (albeit slowly) adopting the logic of protecting industrial property and commercial exploitation, moving away from ‘research for research’ with the sole purpose of publication. Securing a patent is highly significant, as according to a study by the European Patent Office (EPO), 88% of European investors have spin-offs with active patents in their portfolios.”
He further explained that, as an innovation organisation, OBI contributes to the national ecosystem by digitizing its services, mentioning, among other things, the operation since April 2022 of the Artificial Intelligence System “THALES”, which will assist researchers.
He also stated that “the Organisation solidifies its mutual cooperation by signing collaboration protocols with universities and productive entities, such as the agreement with the Alexander Innovation Zone, as well as its collaboration with ELEVATE Greece, the Registry of Startups in Greece.” He further highlighted the OBI’s steady presence in Greek universities through educational seminars and its collaboration with the European Patent Office (EPO) and WIPO on European programs, aiming to connect innovation with production.
Finally, Mr. Kanellopoulos referred to the establishment of the OBI’s Innovation Support Unit (Innovation Agency), whose goal is to design strategies and identify ways to strengthen Greek startups by providing new knowledge and incentives for investments in startups, as well as the Hellenic Industrial Property Academy (HIPA), which aims to educate and train professionals in Greece on issues related to industrial property.
