On Wednesday, July 9, in the framework of the Onassis Lectures 2025 that took place from July 7 to 11 at the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH) in Heraklion, Crete, Nobel Laureate Frances Arnold delivered a compelling –open to the public- speech on harnessing the power of evolution to engineer enzymes and proteins with new or improved functions.

Prof. Frances Arnold is highly esteemed in Science and Technology. In addition to receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, she was the first female scientist elected as a Fellow of all three National Academies of the USA (Engineering, Medicine, Science).

Prof. Frances Arnold (2018 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry) will give the speech on Wednesday, July 9 at 20:00 at the G. Lianis Auditorium of FORTH (main building), in Heraklion Crete.

The Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) is launching a new series of open events under the title “epikoinonITE” (a Greek acronym for: Science–Society–FORTH). These series will be of great interest to the general public, aiming to disseminate the research results and to connect scientific knowledge with everyday life and the core values of society.

The program will begin with “Contact Point”, an original series of public discussions, each time featuring a FORTH scientist and a distinguished artist. “Contact Point” brings Science and Culture into a Creative Dialogue, fostering open and constructive communication of science through art.

The CHAngeing project invites students, researchers, healthcare professionals, and early-stage entrepreneurs to apply for the CHAngeing Entrepreneurial Programme, a fully online, 4-week (October 6–31, 2025) intensive course focused on driving innovation in health and active ageing.

The Science and Technology Park of Crete (STEP-C) of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) and the Managing Company of the Science & Technology Park of Crete (EDAP STEP-C S.A.), in the context of their ongoing efforts to provide high-quality services to businesses, partners, and the research community, have successfully obtained ISO 9001:2015 certification. The certificate was awarded to the Director of STEP-C, President & CEO of EDAP STEP-C S.A., Dr. George Papamichail, by the CEO of TÜV NORD Hellas, Ms. Vasiliki Kazazi, in the presence of the President of FORTH, Prof. Vassilis Charmandaris, and Ms. Uxue Azpiroz, Director of the TÜV NORD Hellas office in Crete.

On Monday, May 26, 2025, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Greece, Mr. Andreas Kindl, visited the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), accompanied by Dr. George Kaloutsakis, Honorary Consul of Germany in Heraklion. They met with the President of FORTH, Professor Vassilis Charmandaris, the Vice President Professor Dimitris Plexousakis, Directors of the Institutes and Heads of Special Units of FORTH. They were informed in detail about the Foundation’s research activities and its long-standing collaborations with major academic and research institutions in Germany.

The competition was held this year on 6 and 7 May in Georgioupolis, Chania, coordinated by the Science and Technology Park of Crete (STEP-C) of the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), in collaboration with the Innovative Business Observatory (IBO) of the Region of Crete. STEP-C has been a long-standing participant in the EUSAIR POPRI Youth initiative, in the framework of its cooperation with Primorski Tehnološki Park in Slovenia, while this year it also took on the coordination of the Greek participation.

Recent publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters: New findings by an international team of astrophysicists, based on data collected by IXPE, have revealed the mechanism that creates the bright X-ray radiation, which is associated with the extremely powerful plasma jets that erupt from supermassive black holes.

FORTH will have a dynamic presence at the International Defence Exhibition Athens, taking place from May 6 to 8, 2025, at Metropolitan Expo, in Hall 1, Booth 08 of the Ministry of Development. Leading companies and organizations will showcase the latest technology, equipment and systems across land, sea and air. The exhibitionwas will be held under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence.

FORTH had a dynamic presence at the International Defence Exhibition Athens, taking place from May 6 to 8, 2025, at Metropolitan Expo, in Hall 1, Booth 08 of the Ministry of Development. Leading companies and organizations showcased the latest technology, equipment and systems across land, sea and air. The exhibitionwas held under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence.