The General Secretariat for Research and Technology (G.S.R.T.) was founded in 1985. G.S.R.T. is the central Department for the administration of the Greek R&D system.

Through its programmes, it supports the research activities of both the country's scientific research institutes and those of its productive industry, focussing on areas that are important for the national economy and for the improvement of the quality of life; it promotes the transfer and dissemination of advanced technologies throughout the country's productive sector, thus ensuring early utilisation of the results of research activity; it contributes to the reinforcement of the country’s research manpower; it represents Greece in relevant institutions of the European Union, thus bringing the country's research and technology activities into line with the requirements of the international community; it promotes cooperation with other countries and international organisations on research and technology issues; it establishes new institutes and technological centres in support of sectors of high priority for the development of the Greek economy; it supervises and underwrites the fixed costs of, and otherwise provides support for 21 of the country's best-known research and technological centres; it supports the dissemination of research and technology information throughout the country and internationally by means of advanced ΙΤ systems and networks; it encourages activities aimed at raising awareness of the general public about research and technology issues.

G.S.R.T employs about 150 well qualified staff, along with external collaborators, the members of the National Advisory Council for Research and Technology and other experts from Greece and abroad.

Previous experience: GSRT is a very experienced public body with many national and international activities that are quite relevant to the tasks of the WBC-INCO.NET. Among others, GSRT prepared the ‘EU – Balkan countries Action Plan for S&T’, an initiative of the Greek Presidency of the EU, which has been adopted in Thessaloniki Summit, in June 2003. GSRT is actively participating in the SEE-ERA-NET project, implementing the WP5 which is directly connected with the implementation of the Pilot Joint Call. GSRT is also participating in 14 ERA-NET projects and many other initiatives of the FP. After the year 2000, especially with Balkan countries, GSRT had funded almost 250 bilateral joint research projects with a total budget of 3.5 million euros.

Source: project partner description