At a critical juncture, the University of Western Macedonia (UoWM), the Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator (DESFA) and the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a meeting held in Kozani, on Friday 27 May 2022. This tripartite agreement opens a new chapter for joint action in the fields of education and training, as well as in research and innovation, with multiple benefits for the students, researchers, employees, but also the unemployed of the Region of Western Macedonia.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed includes:
• Research partnerships on green energy and sustainable network development.
• Educational level partnerships with the participation of the Technical Training Center of DESFA in joint programs that will be prepared by DESFA, the University of Western Macedonia and the Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute (CPERI) of CERTH. At the same time, the possibility of internships for students and the elaboration of dissertations by the PhD candidates at the Technical Training Center of DESFA in Nea Messimvria is provided.
• Creation of an Entrepreneurship Cluster for the connection of the academic community with the labor market in specialties that are in demand with emphasis on the gas sector as well as the formation of joint business programs between the scientific community and the specialized staff of DESFA.
On the occasion of the signing, the Chief Executive Officer of DESFA, Maria Rita Galli, stated: "We are very glad for the signing of today's MoU, which further reconfirms the broad scale commitment of DESFA in the region. In the context of the Western Macedonia pipeline development, we implement a wide range of initiatives in the field of education and R&D, in close cooperation with the local authorities, among other, by the retraining of workers and unemployed in the region in natural gas and green energy technologies, through DESFA’s Training Center at Nea Mesimvria, and by promoting a stronger connection of higher education with the labor market, contributing significantly to the strengthening of employment and the energy transition of the region.”
The Rector of the University of Western Macedonia, Professor Theodoros Theodoulidis, noted: "The signing of the understanding agreement between DESFA-UoWM-CERTH strengthens the important role of the University in the re-education and re-training of employees and unemployed of our Region in new low-carbon emitting technologies. Our university is steadily moving towards the new era and creates the conditions for our students and graduates to meet the new professional challenges that are being shaped in the post-lignite era."
The Director of CPERI/ CERTH, Dr. Spyros Voutetakis, stated: "The Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute (CPERI), one of the largest institutes of the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), maintains a continuous and long-term presence in the energy sector of Western Macedonia. Zero carbon emission technologies strongly challenge the establishment of sustainable development, one of the main research directions of the Institute. The Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Western Macedonia contributes to the attraction of high-level researchers intending to establish Western Macedonia as a hub for the development and pilot use of new energy technologies".
Present at the signing were also, from DESFA, Ms. Eva Tsoukalidou, Benchmarking, Cost Control and Technical Training Center Department Manager, Ms. Elissavet Kalligka, Performance Monitoring & Technical Training Center Unit Lead, Ms. Natasha Chatziantoniou, Communications & CSR Senior Manager, on behalf of the University of Western Macedonia, Professor Nikolaos Sariannidis, Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Professor Georgios Iordanidis, Vice-Chancellor for Finance, Planning and Development. CERTH was represented by Dr. Panagiotis Grammelis, Director of Research at CPERI and responsible for CPERI’s branches in Athens and Ptolemaida.
