Greece is to establish two new research institutes, announced Christos Dimas the deputy minister for Development and Investments in parliament on Wednesday.
Mr Dimas told the Greek parliament that the Institute of Quantum Computing and Quantum Technology would be founded at the National Centre of Scientific Research “Demokritos” in Attica, while the Institute of of Human Genomics would be founded at Crete’s Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH).
The deputy minister announced the founding of the institutes, the first of their kind in Greece, during the debate on a bill to settle the fate of the Elefsina Shipyards.
Mr Dilmas said research findings from the Institute of Quantum Computing and Quantum Technology would have applications across a range of industry sectors. He added that the institute would also establish inter-disciplinary programmes, graduate-school programmes as well as programmes for public administration and business management.
He added that the institute would use European Union research funding in quantum technology which would have a direct benefit on the Greek economy.
The deputy minister said that the proposed human genomics institute in Crete would work to improve the country’s public health services through its research on local genome variations. He said its work on genetic issues that related to Greece’s population would help improve medical diagnosis and therapeutic options.
Mr Dilmas said that Greece had researchers of a high calibre in genomics and computational biology whose experience was not being properly utilised.
In response to a question from opposition Syriza deputy Theodoros Dritsas, Mr Dilmas said that each institute would fall under Demokritos and FORTH as would their budgets but added that “to a greater degree their funding will also come from the Recovery Fund…. funding is guaranteed to a great degree,” Mr Dilmas told parliament.