The Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) was founded in 1983. It is one of the largest Research Centers in Greece with well-organized facilities, highly qualified personnel and a reputation as a top-level Research Institution worldwide. FORTH’s institutes carry out specialized scientific research in strategic high-added value sectors, with major scientific, societal and economic impact, such as: Lasers and Photonics, Microelectronics, Advanced Materials/ Nanotechnology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Human Genomics, Biotechnology, Precision Medicine, Systems Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Data Science, Robotics, Telecommunications, Information Systems, Applied and Computational Mathematics, Chemical Engineering Sciences, Energy, Environment, Human and Social Sciences, Astrophysics and Astronomy, Genomics, Quantum Science & Technology.

FORTH comprises 10 Research Institutes and 3 Units, with presence in 8 cities in Greece. Its headquarters and Central Administration are based in Heraklion, Crete.

INSTITUTES

 FORTH Units: Crete University Press (CUP), PRAXI Network, Science and Technology Park of Crete (STEP-C)

 Publications (2014-2025): 8,714

People (31-12-2025): 1,679

 FORTH is ranked among the leading research centers in Greece and first among the Greek Research Centers in Nature INDEX and in the Ranking Web of Research Centers in Greece (Webometrics 2017, 2018, 2019).

FORTH researchers have received highly competitive grants:
47 ERC Grants, 196 Marie Curie Grants and numerous other international distinctions.

STATE-OF-THE-ART RESEARCH FACILITIES/ACTIVITIES

FORTH has established cutting-edge research facilities such as: Skinakas Observatory, Joint Laboratory on Cultural Heritage Conservation Technology, Ancient DNA Laboratory, AXA Chair in Epigenetics, Genomics Facility, Metabolic Engineering and Systems Biology Laboratory (MESBL), Hybrid Molecular Imaging Unit – HMIU (Micro-PET/MRI) ,  Human Stem Cell Facility, Ambient Intelligence Programme, Computational-Mathematical Intense Data Modelling Unit, Graphene Center, Center for the study of Air quality and Climate Change, Computational predictive-modelling activities for geophysical and environmental flows, Geophysics – Satellite Remote Sensing & Archaeoenvironment Laboratory, Research Department for the study of Ottoman History, National database for the History of Modern Greek Theatre, Center of Maritime History.

EDUCATION / TRAINING

  • > 500 fellowships per year
  • Participation in interdisciplinary graduate programs
  • Onassis Lectures in collaboration with the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation
  • Hosts ~800 students per year and 2,500 visitors during Researcher’s Night
  • Annual summer schools, certified seminars and conferences
  • >20,000 scientists trained in new technologies
  • Has established the Crete University Press (CUP) and the “Mathesis” Open Online Courses

EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

  • Has directly or indirectly created >1,600 highly skilled jobs.
  • Established the Science and Technology Park of Crete and the PRAXI Network (Technology Transfer Unit).
  • Creates and supports business clusters and has developed Scientific and Technological collaborations with more than 300 companies.
  • Develops and supports several spin-off companies.
  • Operates the European Digital Innovation Hub in Smart Health.

REGIONAL AND SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT

FORTH has:

  • Contributed to the design of the Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialization (RIS3) in the Regions of Crete, Western Greece and Epirus.
  • Established health information infrastructures in hospitals and medical units.
  • Provides services for the measurement of air pollution and electromagnetic radiation.
  • Operates the Greek Hotline for illegal Internet Content ‘’SafeLINE’’.
  • Contributes to the analysis, diagnosis and conservation of Cultural Heritage objects and monuments and the promotion of the Greek culture, history and traditional products.
  • Participates in the Entrepreneurship and Development Alliance in Western Greece.
  • Developed technologies for soil remediation and valorization and databases to control agricultural pests and mosquitoes/vector borne diseases.
  • Carried out research on the history of the cities of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea Aegean and Ionian island communities (18th – 20th centuries).
  • Organizes conferences, open events and lectures communicating its scientific accomplishments to the public.
  • Established the Science and Cultural Center in the city center of Heraklion.