A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Tuesday, July 9th 2024, by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Prof. Nektarios Tavernarakis and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Pharmaceutical Association of Heraklion, Mr. Aristotle Skountakis, aiming at the cooperation of the two Organizations/Institutions, for the development of joint scientific activities.

The development of collaborative activities and synergies for the production, transfer and exploitation of research, technological development and innovation in primary health care is critical for the promotion of public health and healthcare.

In particular, FORTH's collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Association of Heraklion, will focus on the exploitation of innovations for the promotion of public health through pharmacy networks, focusing indicatively on the health needs of the prefecture during the tourist season and on the coverage of geographically inaccessible areas of the prefecture, personalized health services from the community pharmacies of the Pharmaceutical Association of Heraklion, utilizing cutting-edge technologies developed in the research institutes and innovative companies of the Science and Technology Park of Crete (STEP-C).

The MoU also foresees the exchange of best practices on public health and pharmaceutical science issues, the utilization of research tools to upgrade the quality of Primary Health Care in pharmacies operating under the auspices of the Pharmaceutical Association of Heraklion, the organization of workshops, conferences and knowledge dissemination events and the joint submission of proposals in research and educational programmes.