Greece’s dynamics in the field of Research & Innovation and the steps that should be taken in the immediate future for its further support and development, especially with regard to the area of Health which is also a priority for the government, were mentioned by Vice-Minister for Development Zoi Rapti, on the stage of the InnoHealth Forum 2024, held at the JOIST Innovation Park in Larissa.
In the panel “Investments for Strengthening Health Systems”, which was also attended by the Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou and Mayor Larissa Athanasios I. Mamakos, the Vice-Minister highlighted that in our country in recent years the Ministry of Development has invested more than one billion euros, as research and innovation in the health sector has gained a central role in several thematic axes, such as Precision Medicine, therapeutic protocols for the microbiome, artificial intelligence in drug development, but also the development of entrepreneurship in applied biotechnology.
At the same time, as I said, with resources from the Recovery Fund, which amount to 346 million euros, the building infrastructure and equipment of research centres in Greece are being reinforced, in order to promote the development of new technologies, while the ministry currently has an additional 189 million euros for research projects that will strengthen research and create innovation in the provision of services and products and, ultimately, value chains for our country, and improve the healthcare system.
Regarding how the State will help companies and scientists invest in this area, the deputy minister explained that the government will grant some incentives, such as tax exemptions capable of attracting investors, etc. For example, private investments will receive 900,000 euros in tax exemption.
Therefore, in the next period a bill will be introduced that will detail these new incentives.
The Deputy Minister highlighted that the EU has attached great importance to the field of Research and Innovation in Europe and to its further development and, therefore, from the 75 billion euros that was originally earmarked for this sector, its funding has increased to 95 billion euros.
Greece ranks 8th in terms of Horizon programme uptake, with the 2014-2020 programme receiving €1.75 billion and 5,000 business proposals being submitted. The 2nd phase of the programme ended recently with the completion of 1,920 proposals.
Research programs
Furthermore, as Mrs Rapti mentioned, several research programmes have been financed using resources from the Recovery Fund, the QREN and the National Development Programme (PND), some of which have been completed and are now being integrated into medicine, while others are at an advanced stage and expected to be completed. These include the implementation of the National Network for Precision Medicine in Cardiology and Prevention of Sudden Death in Young People, the application of Artificial Intelligence in the development of medicines and the Platform for diagnosing ADHD in children and adolescents.
Finally, Ms. Rapti emphasized in her presentation that these investments are not just numbers and statistics. They are the basis for improving the quality of life of all citizens, as well as for the economic development of our country. In Greece, as she said, in recent years, significant investments have been made in research and innovation, both by the private sector and by the State, in the health sector, producing a significant amount of new knowledge and, by extension, new technologies, while our country has a highly qualified scientific potential in the areas of health and life sciences.
It is worth noting that the two-day conference held at the JOIST Innovation Park in Larissa with co-organizers from the HealthHub Digital Innovation Hub, the Thessaly Region, the Institute of Technology and Research (ITE), the smartHEALTH Digital Health Innovation Hub and the Larissa General Hospital has attracted the interest not only of many investors and scientists from Greece in the healthcare field, but also of the international scientific community.