The National Technical University of Athens and Columbia University Launch a New Strategic Entrepreneurship Initiative in Greece to Empower the Next Generation of World-Class Scientists and Visionary Entrepreneurs

The National Technical University of Athens proudly announces the launch of the initiative “Lab to Market: Bridging Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” a joint venture between NTUA and Columbia University, aimed at empowering the next generation of scientist-entrepreneurs in Greece. Focused on fostering innovation and contributing to the country’s sustainable development, the initiative is addressed to NTUA researchers and students.

The initiative is implemented by NTUA and Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, in collaboration with the Columbia Global Center Athens, Endeavor Greece, and the Hellenic Institute of Advanced Studies (HIAS), with the support of the Blavatnik Family Foundation.

The goal of the Lab to Market initiative is to bridge the gap between academic research and its entrepreneurial application. Through a comprehensive learning and mentoring framework, participants acquire the necessary entrepreneurial skills, tools, and market access to transform pioneering ideas into viable enterprises.

The initiative, launching in January 2026, will run for five years, and the first cohort will accept up to 50 participants. It focuses on sectors of critical importance for the country’s future: Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Sustainability, and Health. Specifically, each cohort includes:

Educational Workshops: 18 months of intensive bootcamps and online training sessions covering core entrepreneurial skills, customer analysis, and the commercial application of technology.
Mentoring from Distinguished Figures: Personalised mentoring from leading figures in technology, entrepreneurship, and academia.
Pitch Competition & Seed Funding: Opportunity to present to investors, with cash prizes for outstanding teams.
Trip to New York: A fully funded visit to Columbia University’s innovation ecosystem and the city’s investment community.

On 10 November 2025, the first informational event for the initiative took place at NTUA, attracting an exceptionally large audience of students, researchers, and academic and research staff. Representatives of NTUA and Columbia Engineering presented the application process, participation requirements, and programme benefits, and answered questions from those in attendance.

NTUA Rector, Professor Ioannis Chatzigeorgiou, opened the event by underscoring the National Technical University of Athens’ enduring commitment to innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship, as well as the institution’s contribution to the country’s development, while highlighting recent initiatives such as the strengthening of the Technology Transfer Office and the establishment of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Professor Emmanouil Varvarigou, Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Outreach at NTUA, and Professor George Deodatis, Vice Dean of the Fu Foundation School of Research, Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University and NTUA alumnus, spoke about the vision and objectives of the initiative and expressed their warm gratitude to all partners. They emphasised the contribution and role of all parties involved, noting that while NTUA is internationally renowned for its outstanding research achievements and the quality of its staff and students, there remains a gap between research outcomes and real-world application — a phenomenon observed more broadly across the country. At NTUA, this gap is tending to close through the intensive initiatives undertaken by the administration. They expressed hope that this initiative and the collaboration between the two leading institutions, as well as the contribution of distinguished members of the Greek diaspora — many of them alumni of Columbia University and NTUA — will make a meaningful impact in addressing this challenge.

On behalf of Columbia University, Professor John Kymissis, Vice Dean for Infrastructure and Innovation of the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Ivy Schultz, Senior Director of Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship at Columbia Engineering, presented a detailed overview of the initiative’s structure, application procedures, key dates, and the extensive network of distinguished international mentors.

Stelios Vernados, Research Associate at NTUA’s Technology Transfer Office and Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, presented the office’s activities, strategy, and achievements to date, while Maria Christina Grelloni, Director of Development at Endeavor Greece, spoke about the importance of mentoring and the value of Endeavor’s international mentor network, which includes many NTUA and Columbia University alumni.

Professor Theodora Varvarigou of NTUA’s School of Electrical & Computer Engineering and member of the HIAS Board of Directors, spoke about the unique strength of the Greek diaspora, the role and contribution of HIAS to the initiative, and the desire of Greek scientists and entrepreneurs abroad — many of them alumni of NTUA and Columbia University — to make a tangible contribution to the country’s development.

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On Monday 3 November, at the Eugenides Foundation, the official presentation of Greece’s first Master’s programme on «Ship Performance Analysis and Management» was held with great success and wide participation.

The event was hosted at a venue of deep significance for shipping and education — the Eugenides Foundation, which has long supported and promoted maritime education in Greece and internationally.

The event was opened by the Rector of the National Technical University of Athens, Professor Ioannis Chatjigeorgiou, who spoke about the historical journey and enduring contribution of the School of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering to education, while highlighting the vision and strategic plan of NTUA for continuous development and academic excellence in the years ahead. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of the new master’s programme for the future of Greek shipping, with warm thanks expressed to the Eugenides Foundation for its hospitality and steadfast support.

A greeting was delivered by the President of the Eugenides Foundation, Mr. Leonidas Dimitriadis-Eugenidis, who referred to the long-standing collaboration between the Foundation and NTUA and to the importance of investing in knowledge and in young Greek seafarers and engineers, who continue to excel internationally. He also underscored the importance of collaboration between the academic community and the shipping industry as a decisive factor in shaping a sustainable and innovative future for the sector. Speaking about the new Master’s Programme and the School of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering at NTUA were:

Professor Konstantinos Belibassakis, Dean of the School of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering at NTUA, who presented the School, its modern facilities and technological equipment, and its dynamic research activity.
Dr. Nikolaos Kakalis, NTUA alumnus and LR Global Bulk Carriers Segment Director, who highlighted the current needs and challenges of the shipping market that the new programme aims to address.
Associate Professor Giorgos Dimopoulos, Director of the Programme and member of the School of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering at NTUA, who presented in detail the structure, content, and objectives of the Master’s Programme.

The event brought together a large number of distinguished representatives of the Greek shipping community, founders and senior executives of major shipping companies.
Following the presentations, a productive discussion and exchange of views took place among the participants, confirming the strong interest of the shipping industry in this new academic initiative.

This Programme arrives at a time when Greek Shipping, a global pioneer, is called upon to respond to a new, complex, and demanding environment, full of challenges but also opportunities, such as:

The energy transition and the increasing need for green and sustainable maritime transport.
The digitalisation and automation of ships and maritime processes.
Stricter regulatory and environmental requirements.
The need for strategic thinking and specialised human resources.

The National Technical University of Athens, with its long tradition and expertise, aspires through this new Programme to contribute actively to shaping the next generation of leaders in naval technology and science, strengthening Greece’s role as a global centre of excellence in shipping and maritime technology.