RTP projects

The general structure of Central Macedonia Regional Technology Plan is defined by 6 priorities and 22 projects. Of these six priorities, three related to reinforcing the technology capability of firms (financing of innovation, inter-firm technology co-operation, training), one to boosting technology transfer, one to support the endogenous technology supply and demand, and one to the implementation and evaluation of the plan.

Each priority includes specific projects falling into two groups: lead projects, marking the character of the priority, and projects which fulfil the conditions for immediate implementation.

Most projects are fairly elastic with respect to size: in other words, they can be implemented on different scales, from experimental through small to large. The extent of their application may be finalised once the initial stages of implementation have been completed and the evaluation by the recipients has been assessed.

Priority 1: INCREASE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES FOR TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Lead project:

• 1. Funding Businesses for Technological Modernisation. (Financial support for Central Macedonia firms for technology audits and modernisation. Proposed by KEPA).
• 2. Funding Businesses for Research and Technological Development (Financial support for Central Macedonia firms for the hiring of Research & Development personnel and the assignment of R&D contracts. Proposed by KEPA).
• 3. Funding Businesses from European R&D Programmes. (Support for Central Macedonia firms enabling them to part in the European Commission's 4th R&D Framework Programme. Proposed by the Thessaloniki Technology Park.)

Priority 2: SUPPORT TECHNOLOGICAL CO-OPERATION AMONG BUSINESSES

Lead project

• 4. Foreign Direct Investment and International Technology Co-operation (Opening of an office for the purpose of attracting, supporting and encouraging local co-operation with multinational investments. Proposed by the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace and the Region of Central Macedonia).
• 5. Networking in the Food Industry (Creation of a network and an action plan for firms in the food industry. Proposed by Branch Associations and the Prefectures of Central Macedonia).
• 6. Networking in the Textile Industry (Creation of a network and an action plan for firms in the textile industry. Proposed by Branch Associations and the Prefectures of Central Macedonia).

Priority 3: INCREASE OF HUMAN RESOURCE TECHNOLOGY SKILLS

• 7. Employee Technology Training (In-house training and professional orientation in horizontal technologies. Proposed by the Macedonian Labour Institute).
• 8. Training in Innovation Management. (Training for businessmen and top-level executives in managing production and product innovation. Proposed by KEPA).
• 9. Training in Risk Management. (Training for businessmen and top-level executives in risk management and the South-East European investment environment. Proposed by the University of Macedonia and the Association of Industries of Northern Greece).
• 10. Training in Quality and Exports.(Training in quality, packaging and export promotion. Proposed by the Association of Northern Greece Exporters).

Priority 4: SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND BUSINESS ACCESS TO EXTERNAL SOURCES OF TECHNOLOGY

Lead projects

• 11. Technology Transfer Department at the Thessaloniki Technology Park. (Development of a department for technology transfer at the Thessaloniki Technology Park. Proposed by the Thessaloniki Technology Park), and
• 12. Centre for Research Dissemination at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. (Development of a centre and infrastructure for the dissemination of research results. Proposed by the Research Committee of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki).
• 13. Textiles Institute of Northern Greece. (Proposed by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology and the Region of Central Macedonia).
• 14. Food Company of Northern Greece.(Proposed by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology).
• 15. Local Centres and Network for Technology Services. (Development and networking of local centres providing technology services at the Prefectural level. Proposed by the Prefectures and the Region of Central Macedonia).
• 16. Centre for Industrial and Developmental Studies of Northern Greece. (Proposed by the Association of Industries of Northern Greece).

Priority 5: SUPPORT THE ENDOGENOUS TECHNOLOGY SUPPLY AND DEMAND

Lead project

• 17. Association for Industrial Information Technologies. (Creation of an association including research units of the universities, technical institutes, and information technology local providers. Proposed by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Macedonia, the Technical Educational Institutes, and various firms).
• 18. Association for Anti-Pollution Technologies. (Creation of an association including research units of the universities, technical institutes, public R&D centres, and private firms in the anti-pollution sector. Proposed by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Technical Educational Institutes and various firms).
• 19. Association for Automation Systems. (Creation of an association including research units of the universities, technical institutes, and local providers in the automation systems sector. Proposed by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Technical Institutes and various firms).
• 20. Association for Quality Control. (Creation of an association including research units of the universities, technical institutes, public R&D centres, and local firms in the quality control sector. Proposed by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Association of Industries of Northern Greece).
• 21. Association for Agro-technologies. (Creation of an association including research units of the universities, public R&D centres, and local firms in the farming and agrotechnology sector. Proposed by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Association of Industries of Northern Greece).

Priority 6: MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF RTP ACTIONS

Lead project

• 22. Expansion of the RTP Observatory. (Expansion of the RTP Observatory and development of a continuous evaluation system. Proposed by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace, the Prefectures and the Region of Central Macedonia).

A brief description of each project follows, including its aim, the technology services provided, the actions necessary for its implemention, and the demand for the technology services offered found in Central Macedonia's businesses.