On Friday April 2^nd 2021, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Institute of Petroleum Research (IPR) of the Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH) and the Institute of Physics of the Earth's Interior and Geohazards - an academic unit of the Hellenic Mediterranean University Research Center (HMURC). The MoC was signed by the President of the Foundation for Research and Technology Prof. Nektarios Tavernarakis and the Rector of Hellenic Mediterranean University, Prof. Nikolaos Katsarakis. Prof. Nikolaos Pasadakis Director of the Institute of Petroleum Research along with the Director of the Institute of Physics of the Earth's Interior and Geohazards Prof. Filippos Vallianatos attended the ceremony via teleconference.

The purpose of this MoC is to strengthen the bonds between the Institutes and to identify collaboration opportunities in the fields of basic and applied research in the hydrocarbons’ sector relevant to the Physics of the Earth's Interior and Geohazards studies. Mutual goals are the development and implementation of mutually beneficial research projects and activities, as well as the enhancement of the academic/ educational work in various ways like establishing joint graduate programs, sharing expertise, joint research publications, organizing conferences, workshops and events, and the exchange of scientific personnel.