Scientists from the Foundation for Research & Technology -Hellas (FORTH), the National Centre for Scientific Research -NCSR “Demokritos” and the Athena Research Center, visited China between 12-19 October 2024, aiming to foster collaboration between the two countries. The visit was organised with support from the Chinese Embassy in Greece, in partnership with the Palace Museum of the Forbidden City in Beijing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and other institutions. Notably, this is the first mission of its kind, reflecting a mutual desire to strengthen bilateral relations and establish research partnerships in areas of shared interest.

The Greek delegation included Professor Nektarios Tavernarakis, Chair of the Board of Directors of FORTH, and Professor John Vontas, Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Dr. Vangelis Karkaletsis, Director of the Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications at NCSR Demokritos, and Dr. Kostas Eleftheriadis, elected Director of the Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety, while Athena Research Center was represented by Minos Garofalakis, Director of the Institute of Information Systems (IIS) and Professor at the Technical University of Crete.

The six-day program included visits to research institutions in Beijing and Shanghai, which have developed partnerships with Greek institutions, such as the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (ISTIC), the Palace Museum, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the NICE Organization, and major tech companies (Huawei, Xiaomi, etc.), highlighting China’s unique cultural heritage and technological innovations.

Prof. Nektarios Tavernarakis stated:

"FORTH has long established a systematic and multifaceted collaboration with China through joint research and academic activities in areas such as artificial intelligence, lasers, molecular biology, and biotechnology, as well as through initiatives for knowledge exchange and the mobility of students and researchers. FORTH has signed MoUs with significant governmental, research, and academic institutions in China, such as XJTLU University, the ISTIC Institute, the JITRI Research Institute, the Qingdao National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, and the Palace Museum of the Forbidden City in Beijing. We were delighted to visit some of these institutions, as well as many others with which we hope to collaborate in the near future.In an era where global challenges, such as pandemics and climate change, demand immediate solutions, promoting intercontinental academic and research collaboration is particularly important."

Dr. Karkaletsis commented: "In recent years, Demokritos has initiated a series of joint actions with the support of the Chinese Embassy in Greece, focusing on the use of digital technologies in culture and philosophy. With the launch of AiTHERION (https://aitherion.gr/) at the Athens Conservatory, a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and Demokritos, we are designing and implementing cultural experiences in ancient Greek philosophy through digital technologies. This has led to visits by Chinese students and researchers to the site, as well as visits by AiTHERION representatives to the Palace Museum and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. These initial exchanges resulted in a memorandum of cooperation with Shanghai Jiao Tong University for research and educational activities in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, culture, and philosophy. We were delighted to visit these and other organizations, where we discussed the potential for collaboration. We hope to expand our joint research activities in these areas and also in areas like energy and the environment, which are of particular importance to us."