All Clusters & Associations

Corallia is a leading organisation in the Greek innovation ecosystem and a unit of the Athena Research Center. Its vision is to help create a Greek environment where science, innovation and entrepreneurship can grow, connect with the market and compete internationally. Corallia’s mission is to bring together people, ideas, companies, research teams, investors and public organisations in strong innovation ecosystems. It supports sectors where Greece has talent, knowledge and export potential, helping them become more organised, collaborative and internationally visible. In practice, Corallia designs and runs innovation clusters, incubators, accelerators and entrepreneurship programmes. It helps startups, SMEs, research teams and young entrepreneurs turn ideas and technologies into viable products, services and companies. It also supports networking, mentoring, access to funding, business development, international partnerships, skills development and technology transfer. Corallia has long experience in building and managing specialised technology communities. It has developed high-tech clusters in areas such as nano/microelectronics, space technologies and applications, gaming and creative technologies, bringing together innovative companies, university laboratories and research institutes. Through programmes such as ESA BIC Greece, STARTAB and other national and European initiatives, Corallia has supported many startups, scaleups, students, researchers and entrepreneurs. With nearly two decades of experience, Corallia acts as a bridge between research and industry, startups and investors, Greece and international markets. Its work is focused on practical impact: stronger companies, better cooperation, new jobs, international growth and a more competitive innovation economy for Greece.

The Hellenic Association of Space Industry (HASI) was founded in 2008 following a joint endeavour on behalf of the main part of the Hellenic Industry active in the space technology and space applications sector. The association includes more than 55 active members. All HASI members are high-tech companies, employing over 2500 employees, of which the vast majority constitute highly educated personnel in space technology and its applications. HASI members currently accumulate Greece’s research and manufacturing personnel in the space technology and applications sector. Almost all HASI members have been participating successfully in ESA programs, either through the ESA-Greek Task Force Call for Ideas or independently through ESA open ITT tenders, and thus have been ac-cumulating significant know-how and expertise with regards to developing and managing space-related programs, technologies, and applications. Additional experience and know-how have been developed through the participation of the Greek Space Industry in different EC Framework Space Technology Programs. HASI, in collaboration with Corallia since 2009, has launched the Hellenic Space Technologies and Applications Cluster (si-Cluster) to under-pin the national space strategy. HASI undertakes the development of communication and collaboration channels between the Association members, as well as with similar ac-tors within the European and the International space marketplace. HASI also strives to achieve the optimization of the Greek participation in ESA, the National contribution to EUMETSAT, the participation to the Hellenic MoD’s programs involving space-related technologies and ap-plications, as well as any potential for industrial cooperation opportunities resulting from the aforementioned participations.

The Hellenic Space Technologies and Applications Cluster is an industry-led and user-driven innovation cluster operating in the field of space technologies and applications in Greece. It was established in 2009 as a joint initiative of Corallia, and the Hellenic Association of Space Industry (HASI). The cluster brings together more than 70 Greek businesses, academic and research centres, and other private and public sector and civil society organisations. The vision of the si-Cluster is to sustain a world-class cluster on space technologies and applications, and its mission is to build capacities that will sustain high-impact research, innovation, and commercial activities that will benefit the society. To achieve the above, the si-Cluster underpins industrial and scientific excellence in specific fields of space technologies and applications, respecting the diverse missions, roles, and responsibilities of industrial members, the academic and research community, the public administration, and end users. The cluster operates within an active quadruple helix for the benefit of the whole space ecosystem and other important sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, transport, environment, security, defence, telecommunications, etc. The si-Cluster members have been recognised internationally for the innovative technologies and solutions they develop. The si-Cluster is considered the leading hi-tech project of the country. Its cooperative structure and its successful operating model guarantee success and synergies in an extremely demanding technological sector. The important infrastructures, the international network of collaborations, and the close links with actors of the wider innovation ecosystem have created a strong framework for the development of competitive advantages.