The Minister of Development, Mr. Christos Folias, presented the Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative’s new name - Corallia

The Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative new name - Corallia, was revealed during a special event that took place late in January, 2008 at the Microelectronics Innovation Center in Maroussi, Athens – Greece. During the event, a presentation of the progress achieved throughout the first year of the Microelectronics Innovation Center operation, along with the strategic objectives about future innovation and growth in Greece, was presented.

The Minister of Development, Mr. Christos Folias, announced the commencement of the event and revealed HTCI’s new name. The Minister gave special credit to this specific initiative, which in only one year, brought to life the Ministry of Development’s vision for Greece to excel in the international cutting edge technology market.

The Minister of Development, Mr. Christos Folias, referred to the important initiatives to be undertaken by the Ministry in relation to the development and enhancement of innovational ecosystems, such as the thematic technological clusters. These initiatives will be implemented in the period 2008-2010. He added that "These initiatives are taking place within the context of the Operational Program “Competitiveness”, which will generate fundamental prerequisites for the development of innovation in sectors of the Greek Economy that possess the dynamic to create an international competitive advantage. We are confident that our policies will promote vibrant business trends as well as maximum exploitation of the Public and Private sector synergy. One of our main objectives is, through the promotion of new forms of economic partnerships such as clusters, to boost entrepreneurship and to increase the founding of new companies."

In his introductory speech, Professor Vassilios Makios, Manager of Corallia and Vice President of the Research Center “Athena”, emphasized that “We have registered 365 days of Innovation and development. Our vision, which we presented one year ago, with the vital support of the former Minister of Development and current President of the Hellenic Parliament Mr. Sioufas is turning into reality today. From the acronym ‘HTCI’ to ‘Corallia’ and with our attention turned to international recognition and acknowledgment, we are rediscovering Greece of Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Our new name has the dynamic to support all we have envisioned and has now become reality, beyond the Greek and European borders”.

Corallia Today and Tomorrow

Under the “umbrella” of the new name Corallia, new activities will be developed which concern further progress in the Microelectronics sector, the foundation of new thematic clusters, the creation of a designated cluster zone, the development of new synergies in R&D and between Industries (local and foreign), Universities and Research Centers, as well as a stable partnership with venture capitals.

Corallia’s future goals and HTCI’s achievements, were presented by the Director of Strategy and Business Development of Corallia, Dr. Jorge-A. Sanchez –P. and the Director of Technology and Cluster Operations, Dr. Nikos Vogiatzis. During a brief retrospect of what’s been done throughout 2007, they referred to the Microelectronics Innovation Center’s activities, which are now the hub for over 30 microelectronic companies and more than 700 executives. As Dr. Sanchez- P. explained “the Center is a prototype ecosystem which supports entrepreneurship via mechanisms that sustain and enhance the capabilities of members for the benefit of the whole.”

It should be noted that the Research Center’s first year of operation yielded great successes related to the establishment of R&D Centers increase by foreign companies, the foundation of the first start-ups and spin-offs companies and the synergies between the Industry, Greek Universities and Research Centers. “Greece has become an international business focal point with the trade mark “Innovation Made In Greece”", stated Dr. Vogiatzis who also emphasized that Corallia’s Program is promoted by the European Union as a best practice and that partnerships with international clusters have already been formed.

The event attended representatives of the Greek and International enterprise and academic society. Dr. S. Konidaris (Adviser DG IST), European Committee Official, extensively analyzed the importance of Innovation and referred to the great potentials Greece has, to become a pioneer in the field. Hellenic-SIA President and CEO of Helic, Dr. Y Koutsoyannopoulos, spoke of the potential and the advanced technologies developed in the field of Microelectronics in Greece. The President of Archon and CEO of Systema, Dr. K. Davarakis, elaborated on the innovations promoted by the Greek companies in the sector of Technologies of Knowledge and Hbio President and CEO of Micrel, Mr. A Tsoukalis, presented the Greek activity and accomplishments in the field of Biotechnology and Biomedicine. Finally, the EC Deputy Director General for DG Enterprise and Industry, Mrs. Francoise Le Bail, via a message she had sent to address the event, stressed that “cluster initiatives like Corallia constitute excellent examples that contribute in the creation of new workplaces, increase the culture of innovation and enhance the vision for a more prosperous future in Europe”.

The Name Corallia

The new name incorporates the Hellenic Technology Cluster Initiative’s fundamental values, which like a coral reef, is a complete “ecosystem”. Corallia is a merge of the following words and meanings:

Co, Coral, Core, Rally, Co-Rally, All, Allia and Alliance

Corralia’s semantic characteristics are:

• Ecosystem and cooperativeness
  complementary organisms which co-evolve in harmony
   
• Development and dynamism
  a living structure which evolves, emerges and develops dynamically
   
• Subtle force and healthy competitiveness
  resistance against the storm, protecting life
   
• Positivism and Innovation
  symbolized by the coral color
   
• Networking and Polycentricism
  stating solidarity and the closely networking character of clusters
   

About Corallia

The Hellenic Technology Clusters Initiative - Corallia promotes as its objective the formation and development of clusters, in selected areas, whereby Greece can achieve a worldwide competitive advantage. Within this framework, Corallia provides comprehensive support to the member companies of clusters, with the ultimate goal of increasing their productivity, enhancing their export activities and securing financial growth, through the promotion of their innovations to the international market. Corallia is funded by the Greek government’s operational program “Competitiveness”, under the European Union’s 3rd Community Support Framework and is the result of the common vision and team effort undertaken by the Greek Ministry of Development, a group of private companies, businesspeople, Research Centers and University Labs in Greece, towards the creation of targeted clusters in specific technology areas.

Photos from the event

[1] The Minister of Development Mr. Christos Folias, during a tour through the μIC Exhibition Area, conducted by Prof. Vassilis Makios, Corallia General Director.

[2] The Minister of Development Mr. Christos Folias and Prof. Vassilis Makios, right after the reveal of the new identity.

[3] Prof. Vassilios Makios, during his opening speech.