Science Agora - Innovation to Society participated in the 2nd Annual Conference of the National Technology Transfer Offices Network (ΜΕΤΕΧ), hosted by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki on November 21 and 22, 2025, in Thessaloniki.
The conference was attended by over 100 executives from Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) across Greece’s universities and research centers. Participants also included representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Local Government officials, and members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Science Agora coordinated the session titled: "Proof-of-Concept (PoC): Experience, Challenges, Prospects, and Best Practices". The session presented statistical data on PoC implementation during both the previous and current funding periods, and provided guiding directions and advice for current-period PoC execution. Discussions highlighted best practices for implementing PoCs in collaboration with market and industry partners, citing examples of PoC realization by Science Agora with funding from Google and the Hellenic Development Bank.
The Network also participated in the session "Presentation of the Collaborative Actions of the Six Technology Transfer Networks in the ESPA Program. During this session, each Network's representative detailed the collaborative actions already implemented and those planned under the new funding framework. The discussion addressed challenges in inter-agency cooperation within the Networks, alongside opportunities for developing greater synergy among them.
Furthermore, executives from Science Agora’s partner organizations were actively involved in two additional sessions:"Challenges in the Operation of Technology Transfer Offices – TES”, which presented the results of a survey conducted across all TTOs by the Sectoral Scientific Council (TES) for Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property and"Technology Transfer: Best Practices from the US and the Opportunity for Greece", which introduced a model for an Intellectual Property (IP) license agreement. This model is intended for distribution to all participants as a concise and practical guide featuring indicative terms for such contracts.
The conference proved to be an excellent networking opportunity for executives from Greek university and research center TTOs, facilitating significant knowledge exchange. Discussions covered key topics, including industry-research collaboration, the organization and management of innovation within TTOs, and the financing of innovation in Greece.
