Project partner
Name	CERTH: Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (ΕΘΝΙΚΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΕΧΝΟΛΟΓΙΚΗΣ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗΣ)
Address	6th Klm. Charilaou - Thermi Road P.O. BOX 60361 GR - 570 01 Thermi, Thessaloniki GREECE
Phone number	+30 2310 498210
Fax number	+30 2310 498110
E-mail	certh@certh.gr
Website	www.certh.gr
Contact person
Name	Ms. Katerina Papadopoulou
Position	Project Manager
Phone number	+30 2310 498206
Fax number	+30 2310 498280
E-mail	kpap@thestep.gr

The Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CE.R.T.H.), the largest research centre in Northern Greece, was founded in March 2000.
CERTH is a non-profit organisation that directly reports to the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT), of the Greek Ministry of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs.

Today, six Research Institutes operate at CERTH:

• Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute - CPERI
• Informatics and Telematics Institute -ITI
• Hellenic Institute of Transport - HIT
• Institute of Agrobiotechnology - INA
• Institute for Solid Fuels Technology & Applications - ISFTA
• Institute of Biomedical & Biomolecular Research - IBBR (newly founded)

The mission of CERTH is to carry out fundamental and applied research with emphasis on development of novel products and services of industrial, economic and social importance in the following fields:

1. Chemical and Biochemical Processes and Advanced Functional Materials
2. Informatics and Telecommunications
3. Land, Sea and Air Transportation
4. Agrobiotechnology and Food Engineering
5. Environmental Friendly Technologies for Solid Fuels and Alternative Energy Sources and
6. Biomedical Informatics, Biomedical Engineering, Biomolecular Medicine and Pharmacogenetics 

As an International Centre of Excellence, CERTH greatly contributes to the development of knowledge based regional economy. In addition to the above mentioned research activities, CERTH actively participates in a number of regional and interregional initiatives enhancing innovative entrepreneurship (e.g. "Thessaloniki Technology Park", "Technopolis", "Innovation Pole of RCM", "Alexander Innovation Zone of Thessaloniki"). As the biggest public research institute in Northern Greece (~450 staff), CERTH has strong official bonds with regional & national authorities (decision makers) and has been a key player in policy debate for entrepreneurship and development based on knowledge and innovation. Therefore CERTH's know-how on the field of setting up business infrastructures like Business Parks in the region of C. Macedonia (analysing a region's potential for growth, identifying gaps and proposing additional measures) will contribute to FIBIDE overall aim, which is to enable an environment for innovative entrepreneurship in the SEE area.

CERTH's previous experience in EU-funded projects:

Up to date CERTH has carried out over 450 projects supported by EU, Greek State, Public Organizations and enterprises with total budget exceeding 100 million €. The projects are carried out in collaboration with 900 partners from Greece and abroad. CERTH's Central Directorate employs experienced personnel (~45) and is organized in 5 units. Indicatively previous projects related to FIBIDE actions are: Feasibility study of the Science & Technology Park of Bitola (Large Scale Socio-economic development in FΥRΟΜ, European Agency of Reconstruction (ERA). SEED-REG: Examination of early-stage financing models for enterprises, (134.100 € – INTERREG IIIC), Development of Innovation and Technology Transfer Network for Entrepreneurship Development in the cross border area Greece – Bulgaria (240.000 € – INTERREG IIIA / PHARE CBC), Technology transfer through Technology Clinics (432.000 € – ERDF), Establishment of Innovative Entrepreneurial Excellence Prize in Central Macedonia, (77.727 € – ERDF).