A state-of-the-art industrial hub that embodies the “test-before-invest” philosophy was inaugurated on Thursday, October 23rd, in Koropi, during a major event attended by representatives of the Greek government, local authorities, academia, and the business community.
The labs and new facilities of the “TEST BEFORE INVEST FACILITY” at ICCS/NTUA were buzzing with activity — filled with presentations, technology demonstrations, and pilot trials that showcased the power and potential of Greek research and innovation.
At the center of it all was the technology of the future: robotic systems, artificial intelligence, smart sensors, and immersive collaboration environments came together to create a space where innovation is truly tested in practice.
The “TEST BEFORE INVEST FACILITY”, an initiative of the I-SENSE Research Group of the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), hosts laboratories of international standards and cutting-edge equipment for Industry 5.0 applications. It has been designed to support high-level basic and applied research, housing the pilot activities of more than 200 ICCS researchers, while bridging scientific knowledge with industry and the market.
The inauguration event was a true celebration of Greek research and innovation, highlighting the pivotal role of ICCS and NTUA as pillars of the nation’s technological growth and outward orientation.
“In Greece, despite the existence of exceptional research activity and highly skilled scientific talent, there remains a gap in the transfer of knowledge and technology to production.Businesses often lack access to testing environments, equipment, and know-how that would allow them to experiment, validate, and adapt innovative solutions before investing in them. Our vision for creating the TEST BEFORE INVEST FACILITY was precisely to bridge this gap — acting as an intermediary link between academic research and industrial application. It will offer a safe, flexible, and realistic environment where scientific knowledge is transformed into tangible results, enabling Greek companies to reduce risk, innovate faster, and strengthen their competitiveness”
emphasized Dr. Angelos Amditis, Research and Development Director of ICCS and the visionary behind this initiative.
In his remarks, Professor Emeritus Ioannis Psarras, Director of ICCS/NTUA, added:
“With the TEST BEFORE INVEST FACILITY, ICCS brings to life a vision years in the making: the transition from research to real-world application — and the essential connection between academia and industry.”
The event also featured greetings and messages from:
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Dimitris Papastergiou, Minister of Digital Governance
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Nikos Papaioannou, Deputy Minister of Education
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Stavros Kalafatis, Deputy Minister of Development, responsible for Research and Innovation (via video message)
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Vassilis Oikonomou, Member of Parliament for Eastern Attica
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Dimitris Damaskos, Deputy Regional Governor of Eastern Attica
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Dimitris Kioussis, Mayor of Koropi
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Panagiotis Tzanakas, Dean of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NTUA
The event was also attended by Manolis Christodoulakis, Member of Parliament for Eastern Attica (PASOK), who toured the facility.
The infrastructure has been fully funded and developed with ICCS’s own resources, designed to host researchers from diverse fields and to foster the exchange and co-creation of ideas.
It is also open to NTUA students, offering them the opportunity to apply their knowledge and research in real industrial conditions.
Its strategic location in an industrial zone, combined with modern facilities and extensive space, allows for large-scale experiments and the installation of industrial equipment in near-real production conditions.
It is worth noting that even in its early months of operation, the facility is already hosting ICCS’s spinoff CogniSensus, which develops sensor, data analysis, and automation technologies for demanding industrial environments.
Furthermore, collaborations have already been established with the Region of Attica and HERACLES Group for the implementation of the IMMERGE application, as part of the “Learn to Do It Right” campaign.
