Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Aephoria
The Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Αephoria (AE4RIA) is an initiative for collaboration between research institutions, innovation accelerators and science-technology-policy interface networks, focused on sustainable development. Our mission is to facilitate a science driven and human centric transformation towards the joint implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of UN Agenda 2030, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the European Green Deal.
- ReSEES Research Laboratory – Athens University of Economics and Business
- Stochastic Modeling and Applications Laboratory – Athens University of Economics and Business
- Sustainable Development Unit – Athena Research Center
- Department of Technology, Management, and Economics – Technical University of Denmark
Research and Innovation Centers
Research Laboratory on Socio-Economic and Environmental Sustainability (ReSEES)
Research Laboratory on Socio-Economic and Environmental Sustainability (ReSEES) at Athens University of Economics and Business focuses on interdisciplinary research on socio-economic and environmental systems. ReSEES via its interdisciplinary and international research team has an impressive track record in attracting research funding from European Commission, International Organizations and Foundations. Such as the (ERC) Water-Futures: Smart Water Futures: Designing the Next Generation of Urban drinking Water Systems, (Horizon 2020) ARSINOE: Building a low-carbon, climate resilient future: Research and Innovation, (Horizon 2020) BRIDGE-BS: Advancing Black Sea Research and Innovation to Co-Develop Blue Growth within Resilient Ecosystems, (Horizon 2020) IMPETUS: Dynamic Information Management Approach For the Implementation of Climate Resilient Adaptation Packaged in European Region. ReSEES research tools include, among others, financial analysis, socio-economic and econometric analysis, environmental valuation, political and institutional analysis, integrated environmental-economic modeling, life cycle analysis, risk analysis, geographical information systems, game theory, information technology decision making tools development and systems innovation approach.
Scientific chair and Director: Prof. Phoebe Koundouri
Sustainable Development Unit (SDU)
The Sustainable Development Unit (SDU), at “Athena” Information Technology Research Center leads systemic research on the Green and Digital Transition. SDU engages in cutting-edge research to enable the transition to resilience and sustainability, through the implementation of UN Agenda 2030 (17 SDGs), the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal. The Unit focuses on interdisciplinary systems research and the delivery of innovative solutions for the transition to a green, digital, job-based and fair future. The work on its large interdisciplinary team focuses on the inter-dependencies between research and innovation, the economy, the society, the environment, policy-making and politics. The thematic priorities of the Unit are namely: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Sustainable Blue Growth; Water-Food-Energy Nexus; Circular Economy; Sustainable Finance; Research Commercialization and Innovation Acceleration. Among the research projects of the Unit are: (Horizon 2020) DOORS: Developing an Optimal and Open Research Support system to unlock the potential for blue growth in the Black Sea, (Horizon 2020) SEAwise: Shaping ecosystem based fisheries management and (Horizon 2020) ARSINOE: Climate Resilient Regions Through Systemic Solutions and Innovations.
Scientific chair and Director: Prof. Phoebe Koundouri
Stochastic Modeling and Applications Laboratory
Stochastic Modeling and Applications Laboratory at Athens University of Economics and Business serves research and educational needs in the cognitive subject “Stochastic Procedures – Stochastic Analysis – Applied Probability – Stochastic Models” and more specifically, in using advanced theoretical and computational methods in constructing and comprehending stochastic models to describe complex phenomena in contemporary technologies and finance.
Director: Prof. A. Yannacopoulos
DTU Management Department of Technology, Management and Economics
DTU Management conducts excellent research at the intersection of management, technology, and economics. They focus on developing solutions in collaboration with companies and public authorities. The department’s research goals are centered around enhancing welfare, productivity, and sustainability in society. They place a significant emphasis on the role of technology and its interactions with industries and individuals. DTU Management provides diverse courses and programs at bachelor, master, and PhD levels within DTU’s study programs. The department has approximately 200 employees, with about 50% of them being international. Professor Phoebe Koundouri holds the position of Research Professor in the Department of DTU Management.
Innovation Acceleration Hubs
UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub
The Global Innovation Hub, launched in November 2021, aims to promote transformative innovations for a low-emission and climate-resilient future. The Hub expands the global innovation space by facilitating solutions that support the climate-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and that address core human needs for food, shelter, mobility, and access via alternative value chains aligned with those SDGs. The Innovation Hub complements the current approach to innovation for climate solutions —an approach that has tended to be incremental, sector-based and problem-oriented—with a transformative, need-based and solution-oriented one. Hosted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Innovation Hub leverages the convening power and climate leadership of the United Nations with the dynamism of the private sector. The Hub will provide a global cross-disciplinary community of practice with a space— physical and virtual—to share ideas and design climate solutions in a spirit of radical collaboration.
BRIGAID Connect Association
BRIGAID Connect Association, , is a research driven incubator that turns innovation ideas into real climate adaptation solutions. BRIGAID Connect is a solution provider for the ambitious climate adaptation strategy. This Association is the outcome of an EU-funded project “BRIGAID: Bridging the gap for Innovations in Disaster Resilience” (2016-2020) and engages over 120 climate adaptation innovations in an advanced stage of development. The project evaluated 125 innovations from across Europe, selecting 40 of them to participate in a collaborative technical readiness assessment, and accompanying 26 more through its market readiness programme.
Founding member: Prof. Phoebe Koundouri
MENA Maritime Accelerator
The MENA Maritime Accelerator (previously Maritime ClimAccelerator), through its vast network of collaborators, will offer participating start-ups funding, training, peer to peer coaching and theme-specific mentoring (both virtually and in-person). Up to 5 startups will be accepted per year and will be asked to provide innovative solutions for the transition to sustainability of the maritime industry, both locally and globally, and will be given the opportunity to present their ideas in front of investors, port authorities and shipping companies. The MENA Maritime Accelerator will thus provide start-ups with a unique opportunity to test, demonstrate and validate their solution.
Founding member: Prof. Phoebe Koundouri
Black Sea Accelerator
The BSA is a set of activities tailored to support business creation, marine and maritime innovation, and the development of new marine-based technologies for sustainable growth. Application of the BSA is a ground-breaking approach for the Black Sea basin that will enable the effective exploitation and exchange of research results, generating ideas and start-ups and engaging entrepreneurs in a new way of thinking. The main target is Black Sea-based eligible organizations such as companies, start-ups, and universities, but the program also welcomes non-regional applicants interested in extending their solutions in the region. Both established (market-ready) and emerging solutions are eligible. if you are a Black Sea company, start-up, or university promoting sustainable Blue Economy solutions we invite you to apply here (Deadline 31st October 2023).
The Accelerator is facilitated by the Blue Growth Accelerator-DOORS (WP6) and ‘Industry 4.0’ business models – BRIDGE-BS (WP7).
EIT Climate-KIC Greece Hub
The EIT Climate-KIC Greece Hub of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, hosted by the ATHENA RC focuses on accelerating technological and social innovations for the transition to a climate neutral economy with many Research Deep demonstration projects and a Maritime ClimAccelerator, in which 25 startups were incubated. EIT Climate-KIC Greece Hub is a connector between policymakers, innovators and the society, seeking the transformation of the society. This process is ensured through implementation research, participatory workshops, educational training, capacity building, local actions and innovation support and communities of practice. Through our network, we can offer seminars and training to stakeholders at the Municipality level, as well as the co-responsible public authorities such as Ministries of Environment and Agriculture or Port authorities, at the business sector such as entrepreneurs, farmers, shipowners, investors and bankers about the meaning and importance of implementing the Systems Innovation Approach and more importantly why it is relevant for protecting the economy while at the same time integrating the new technologies into the market.
Scientific chair and Director: Prof. Phoebe Koundouri
Science - Policy Networks
Sustainable Development Solutions Network
SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement.
SDSN Global Climate Hub
The SDSN Global Climate Hub (GCH) has made it its mission to provide science-based recommendations for combating the climate crisis and preventing further deterioration. It will use extensive data, knowledge, and technologies provided by experts in various fields to implement country-specific action plans to be adopted and reinforced by society. SDSN GCH holds nine Units that represent the stages that a country should work through for the design and implementation of detailed climate neutrality and climate resilience pathways. The nine units are led by talented experts and members of the UN SDSN.
SDSN Europe
SDSN Europe is a regional network whose leadership is constituted from existing National SDSN European networks, and its mission is to serve as a science driven interface with European Commission policymaking. Under SDSN Europe operates the SDSN European Green Deal Senior Working as well as the SDSN European SEAs Initiative.
Co – chair: Prof. Phoebe Koundouri
SDSN Greece
SDSN Greece is a national network of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement and is co-hosted by the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), the Political Economy of Sustainable Development Lab (PESD) and “Athena” Information Technology Research Center (ATHENA RC). SDNS Greece has included in its network almost all Universities and Research Centers of the country (27) as members.
Co – chair: Prof. Phoebe Koundouri
Water Europe
Water Europe is a member-based multi-stakeholder platform with an ambition to represent the whole value-chain of water and achieve a European Water- Smart Society. Its mission is to improve coordination and collaboration in the water sector and water using sectors in the EU and beyond, to enhance the performance and competitiveness of the European water sector and water using sectors and to contribute to solving global challenges through research and innovation. Member of Water Europe is ATHENA RC.
Co-Leader of the WE VLT1 on the Value of Water: Prof. Phoebe Koundouri
Vice President of Research and Technology: Chrysi Laspidou
NEXUS Cluster
The NEXUS Cluster is a group of independent research initiatives who team up for increased and more impacting communication and dissemination of the Nexus. The Nexus includes sectors like water, energy, food, land and climate, as well as important societal challenges like public health and rural-urban development.
Steering Committee & Founding member: Prof. Phoebe Koundouri
Scientific Associations and Academies
The World Council of Environmental and Resource Economists Associations serves as a coordinating organization, comprised of the following esteemed members: theAsian Association of Environmental and Resource Economics(AAERE), theAssociation of Environmental and Resource Economists(AERE), theAfrican Association of Environmental and Resource Economists(AFAERE), and theEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists(EAERE). Additionally, theLatin American Association of Environmental and Resource Economists(LAERE) actively participates as a partner, while other associations have the opportunity to join as members or partners in the future. As a global platform, WCEREA facilitates joint activities among member associations and fosters fruitful cooperation among environmental economists worldwide. One of its key responsibilities is to coordinate the organization of the prestigious World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists (WCERE), which has been held every four years since 1998. EAERE’s Annual Conference has been integrated into the World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists since its inception, signifying an essential international event jointly organized with AERE. From 2018 onwards, the event is co-organized by AERE, EAAERE, and EAERE.
Founded in 1990, EAERE has approximately 1,200 members in over 60 countries from Europe and beyond, from academic and research institutions, international organisations, the public sector, and the business world. Membership is open to individuals who by their profession, training and/or function are involved in environmental, climate and resource economics as a science, and to institutions operating in fields connected with the aims of the Association.
