News

Greece leads in securing Horizon Europe funding among the 15 European Union "Widening" countries, i.e. those that are lagging behind in research and innovation capacities. Six of the top ten positions among these countries winning Horizon Europe funding belong to Greek organizations, emphasizing our country's leading presence in the European research and innovation landscape.

 

The Athena Research Center is distinguished among these esteemed organizations for its contributions across various scientific fields. As Horizon Europe moves towards the midpoint of its seven-year duration, the focus is on Greece's exceptional performance, with the Athena Research Center highlighted among the top 20 organizations in terms of funding secured, showcasing its innovative approach to research.

 

The "Widening" initiative, introduced in 2014, aims to reduce disparities in research and innovation across Europe. Although "Widening" countries represent 27% of the European Union's total population, they have historically secured a smaller share of European contributions. However, in the current cycle of Horizon Europe, "Widening" countries are winning approximately 13.4% of the total funding, marking a significant improvement from Horizon 2020.

 

The achievements of the Athena Research Center in this context underscore the critical role of research teams and the pursuit of excellence in scientific research. While the gap between "Widening" countries and Europe's top research nations remains, the steps taken by organizations like Athena represent significant milestones in the effort to reduce this gap and promote a more balanced European research ecosystem.

 

The success of the Athena Research Center and other Greek institutions highlights their contributions to scientific progress and reflects broader efforts to enhance research and innovation capabilities throughout Europe.