PRESS RELEASE

Inauguration of the Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative

The new Innovation Center in Microelectronics was inaugurated in Athens by the Minister of Development Mr. Dimitris Sioufas. The new Center provides vital space for innovative Greek companies with the desire to excel at an international level.

Signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the Foundation of Sophia Antipolis from France.

ATHENS – 17 January 2007 – The Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative (www.htci.gr), an innovative and particularly ambitious project with aim the advancement of innovation through dynamic, new companies operating in Greece, was presented today in a special event organized by the Research Center “Athena”. The inauguration event was led by the Minister of Development, Mr. Dimitris Sioufas. Among the speakers were representatives of the Hellenic Semiconductor Industry Association, the president of the Sophia Antipolis foundation of France, officers of the European Commission, as well as representatives of the academic community.

During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Sophia Antipolis, foundation of France with aim the technological collaboration between the Greek and French cluster initiatives. This collaboration is based on technological innovation which takes place in France, in Greece and in Europe in general, as well as on international cluster initiative experience.

“Through contacts with the management of HTCI we concluded that the Greek cluster initiative possesses many of the characteristics that contributed to the international success and recognition of Sophia Antipolis, thirty years after its inauguration”, stated the Senator and President of the Sophia Antipolis Foundation Pierre Laffitte. “Among the goals of our Foundation is to support worthwhile efforts, including efforts in the area of Microelectronics. This Memorandum of Understanding, the day of inauguration of HTCI, indicates our belief that we have found a worthwhile partner” Senator Laffitte added.

“Greece has great strength solely on the number of researchers that do work in microelectronics and has the potential to play an important role in the European Union for the advancement of research and development” stated Vassilios Makios, General Manager of HTCI. “There are many impressive examples of technological innovations developed from Greek researchers, as well as Greek companies that compete in the global market with innovative products and technologies. We believe that HTCI can function as catalyst for Public Private Partnerships in microelectronics as well. The initiative will further support our research efforts through the establishment of Innovation Research & Development Centers that will function as springboards to launch innovative, global companies.”

In the pilot phase, the efforts of the HTCI initiative are centered on the creation of the Innovation Center in Microelectronics which houses firms of the first cluster in Greece in the area of microelectronics and embedded systems. Aim is to establish a competitive position in the European and global markets and to promote Greece as an attractive market for foreign investors through the support of new, innovative companies and R&D centers in the above mentioned areas. Final goal is to increase exports through development at a regional level with successful competition at a global level.

Inauguration event speakers included the president of the Hellenic Semiconductor Industry Association Theodoros Varelas, the director of the European Semiconductor Industry Association , Dr. Martin Spaet, the officer on Innovation Policy Development, DG Entenprise & Industry, Directorate Innovation Policy, Dr. Nikos Pantalos, member of the Board of Management of the Marfin Financial Group, Dr. Constantinos Los and member of the Advisory Board of HTCI and Professor of INSEAD and the University of Piraeus Spyros Makridakis. Furthermore, an address from the president of the American Semiconductor Industry Association was, Mr. George Scalise, was announced.

About HTCI

The Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative (HTCI) is part of the Operational Program “Competitiveness” of the EU third Support Framework. It manifests the vision of the Greek Ministry of Development and a small group of private companies, up and coming businessmen, research centers and University labs in Greece, with aim to develop cluster initiatives in specific technology fields.

HTCI targets the creation and advancement of cluster initiatives that can compete at a global level, are knowledge intensive, are capable of attracting direct foreign investments and promoting Greece into a value-added service market. The first pilot program of HTCI targets the area of semiconductors and embedded systems. It includes more than twenty organizations some of which are multinationals, small and medium enterprises, research centers and University microelectronics labs.

More information is available at the web-site: www.htci.gr

Contact information for the press:

Danai Kalantidi, Advocate/B-M for ΗTCI, +30 210 6931008, dkalantidis@advocate-bm.gr,
Dimitris Papaioannou, Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative, +30 210 6300776, d.papaioannou@htci.gr