A move that should have been made many years ago was made not by the state but by the Association of Greek Defence Material Manufacturers.
In an emblematic and historically defined alliance with Educational Institutions and Research Centres of scientific excellence of the country's higher educational scale, it announced the establishment of the "Defence Industry, Higher Education and Research Liaison Company" with the distinctive title "DefencEduNet".
The announcement specifically states: "The impetus for the establishment of this Company is the national responsibility and debt to the Homeland for a Greece that is a producer of new dual-use products and technologies with basic defense self-sufficiency, and an active and decisive actor in the international arena for the benefit of the Armed Forces, the National Economy and the Scientific Community of the country.
This is the first institutionalized initiative to link Higher Education Institutions with the Greek Defence Industry. The event, organized by the Association of Greek Defence Equipment Manufacturers together with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and held at the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce, was attended by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Macedonia, the International University of Greece, the Democritus University of Thrace, the University of Ioannina, the University of West Macedonia, the National Centre for Research & Technology Development, and representatives of Defence Industry companies.
The event reflected the commitment and common ambition of the two poles to strengthen research and science links with the Greek defence industry and the Armed Forces in general.
The President of the Association of Greek Defence Material Manufacturers, Mr. Anastasios Rosolis, and the Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki set out in a descriptive manner the framework of joint actions and cooperation that can be achieved at the scientific level with the main concern not only to promote the Armed Forces in terms of domestic research and technology in defence equipment, but also to absorb Greek scientists and researchers.
The main objectives of the Company are:
To strengthen the scientific cooperation of the Greek Higher Education Institutions and Research Centres with the defence industry for the benefit of the Armed Forces, the National Economy and the Scientific Community.
To promote research, innovation and interdisciplinarity, enhancing the production of new dual-use products and technologies for the self-sufficiency and technological leadership of the country and the EU.
Strengthening the research and development mechanisms of Universities and Research Centres for the development of European defence technology while increasing the participation of the scientific potential in European programmes and initiatives such as the European Defence Fund.
The promotion of cooperation between the domestic scientific and technological potential and the corresponding potential of the Universities and Research Centres of the Balkan countries, both those that are already members of the EU and those of the Western Balkans and Moldova, which are in the process of association with the EU or accession to it.
The transformation of Western Macedonia into a modern knowledge and technology production centre, capable of meeting the challenges of de-globalisation, attracting investment in cutting-edge sectors for the production of new knowledge, products and technologies in the fields of defence, security, digital transformation and space.
The successful establishment of the company, as well as the horizons that are opening up, require from all of us national responsibility, detachment from known pathologies, a focus on the quality of innovative products, absolute transparency, and respect for the objective pursued:
"Strong Defence Industry means Strong Armed Forces and that means Strong Greece".
