The Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) and Heraklion International Airport Crete have entered into a strategic partnership, signing a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at harnessing scientific expertise and technological research for the operation and development of the new airport. The memorandum was signed by FORTH Board Chairman Professor Vassilis Charmandaris and Heraklion International Airport Crete Chief Executive Nikos Anastasiou.
According to the announcement, the aim is for the research community and the aviation sector to work together to develop and implement innovative solutions, drawing on FORTH’s expertise.
Under the memorandum, the parties will, among other things, explore and assess technological solutions that could address Heraklion International Airport Crete’s current or future operational needs, as well as pilot, test and evaluate innovative technologies in areas and infrastructure at the new airport under real operating conditions.
The new airport will play a pivotal role as a test bed for innovative technologies in real-world conditions, enabling the two organisations to explore, develop and assess pioneering solutions with a view to scaling them up more widely.
Heraklion International Airport Crete CEO Nikos Anastasiou said: “Today we are taking a very important step towards creating a broader research and innovation ecosystem for Crete, in which it is a particular honour to have FORTH participate, an institution with a strong research record and international recognition.
I am convinced that our joint efforts will deliver multiplier benefits not only for our organisation and Crete, but also for the research community and infrastructure as a whole. ”
FORTH Board Chairman Professor Vassilis Charmandaris said: “The signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation with the new Heraklion International Airport Crete represents a decisive link between scientific research and the real needs of a major, modern infrastructure project in our country.
FORTH has highly skilled scientific staff and considerable expertise across a wide range of technological fields, contributing for many years to the development and application of innovative solutions and products.
Crete’s new airport will not simply be a gateway bringing tourists to the island from every corner of the world, but a two-way channel through which the island’s high-quality products, natural wealth, tourism and culture, together with the technological applications developed by FORTH and to be used at the airport, will become more widely known. We are confident this cooperation will make a tangible contribution to strengthening innovation, technological development and the economy in Crete and beyond”
It is recalled that Heraklion International Airport Crete has been established to build and operate the new international airport at Kastelli, Crete. Its shareholders are the Greek state (45.90%), GEK TERNA S.A. (32.46%) and GMR Airports Ltd (21.64%).