What Foundation for Research and Technology does

Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH) is a non-profit research foundation established in 1983 and headquartered in Heraklion, Crete, Greece. It is the country's premier multidisciplinary research institution, operating 10 specialized research institutes spanning Information and Communication Technologies (ICS), Electronic Structure and Laser science (IESL), Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Mediterranean Studies (IMS), Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICEHT), Applied and Computational Mathematics (IACM), Astrophysics (IA), Geoenergy (IG), Biomedical Research (BRI), and Human Genomics (GIHG), supported by 155 research groups, 456 active projects, and approximately 1,679 personnel.

FORTH's core offerings are research outputs, advanced facilities, and technology-transfer services rather than commercial products. Substantial technical capabilities include AI and machine learning research across NLP, computer vision, speech/audio processing, autonomous multi-robot systems, hyperspectral imaging, and data-driven astronomy; laser-assisted graphene deposition under the GRAPHERGIA Horizon Europe project; quantum technology at the joint FORTH QuTech facility; and the .gr and .ελ country-code top-level domain registries operated by FORTH-ICS with ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications. Its deliverables span scientific publications, patented inventions (e.g., in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine), digital health services via the smartHEALTH European Digital Innovation Hub, and national infrastructure such as the Greek Safer Internet Center.

FORTH operates an event-driven, grant-funded business model. Revenue is generated through competitive research grants from European Commission programs (Horizon Europe, ERC, ESPA, HORIZON-WIDERA), national funding via the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation, NextGenerationEU/Greece 2.0 recovery funds, industrial collaboration contracts, and service revenues including the domain registry and PRAXI Network technology transfer. Primary customer segments are academic and research institutions (national and international), industry and enterprise partners (via R&D collaboration, licensing, and spin-offs), and public-sector and healthcare bodies in Crete and the EU.

Name

Foundation for Research and Technology

Legal name

Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH)

Website

https://forth.gr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

FORTH is Greece's premier non-profit multidisciplinary research foundation, founded 1983, operating 10 research institutes across ICT, life sciences, photonics, and humanities with ~1,679 personnel. It is funded primarily through competitive EU and national research grants, and operates Greece's .gr/.ελ domain registry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Development Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships) (EDAIABAC)

Keywords

• Multidisciplinary research
• Scientific research services
• Applied research institute
• Biomedical research
• Technology transfer services

Headquarters

HQ city

Heraklion

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Competitive Research Grants: FORTH operates primarily as a publicly funded research institution. Revenue is generated through competitive research grants from European Commission programs (Horizon Europe, ERC, ESPA, Horizon-WIDERA), national funding from GSRT/ESPA, and industrial collaboration projects. Additional revenue derives from technology transfer, spin-off companies, and services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FORTH is a multidisciplinary research foundation that conducts scientific research and delivers R&D services across 10 specialized institutes spanning information and communication technologies, laser and photonics, molecular biology and biotechnology, applied and computational mathematics, Mediterranean studies, chemical engineering, astrophysics, geoenergy, biomedical research, and human genomics. It also operates Greece's country-code top-level domain registry (.gr and .ελ) and supports technology transfer through spin-off companies and the PRAXI Network.

Product overview

FORTH is Greece's premier multidisciplinary research institution founded in 1983, operating 10 research institutes covering Information & Communication Technologies (ICS), Laser/Photonics (IESL), Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IMBB), Mediterranean Studies (IMS), Chemical Engineering (ICEHT), Applied Mathematics (IACM), Astrophysics (IA), Geoenergy (IG), Biomedical Research (BRI), and Human Genomics (GIHG). The institution supports 155 research groups and 456 active projects with 1,679 personnel. Key initiatives include the SPACE-Crete space research program (€35M), smartHEALTH European Digital Innovation Hub, and the .gr/.ελ domain registry infrastructure. FORTH QuTech conducts quantum technology research. The institution operates as a platform of specialized institutes rather than a unified commercial product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Institute of Computer Science (ICS) Primary ICT research institute covering algorithms, systems, networks, human-computer interaction, bioinformatics, and computational vision with 9 specialized laboratories; serves academic and industry research partners across computer science domains.
• Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser (IESL) Laser science, photonics, and materials research institute with divisions in attosecond science, nanophotonics, biophotonics, and ultrafast laser processing; serves researchers and industry partners requiring photonics and laser technology expertise.
• Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IMBB) Biology and biotechnology research institute focused on molecular mechanisms, genetic research, and biomedical applications; serves academic, agricultural, and biomedical research communities.
• Institute for Mediterranean Studies (IMS) Interdisciplinary institute studying Mediterranean history, culture, archaeology, and contemporary society with digital humanities applications; serves researchers in humanities, cultural heritage, and social sciences.
• Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICEHT) Chemical engineering research covering process engineering, environmental sustainability, and energy applications; serves industry and academic partners requiring chemical engineering expertise.
• Institute of Applied & Computational Mathematics (IACM) Mathematics institute developing computational methods and modeling for engineering, physics, and applied sciences; serves academic and industry researchers requiring advanced mathematical and computational capabilities.
• Institute of Astrophysics (IA) Astrophysics research institute studying cosmic phenomena, stellar evolution, and astronomical instrumentation; serves the astronomy research community through observational and theoretical research.
• Institute of Geoenergy (IG) Geoscience institute focused on geothermal energy, reservoir engineering, and sustainable energy solutions; serves energy industry and academic researchers working on subsurface resources.
• Biomedical Research Institute (BRI) Biomedical research covering cancer biology, neurobiology, and vascular biology with clinical translation focus; serves medical research community and clinical partners.
• Greek Institute of Human Genomics (GIHG) Human genomics research institute focusing on cardiovascular genomics and genetic basis of disease; serves medical research, clinical genetics, and pharmaceutical research communities.
• .gr and .ελ Domain Name Registry Service FORTH-ICS operates Greece's country-code top-level domain registry (.gr since 1989, .ελ since 2015), providing DNS services, DNSSEC security, and registrar connectivity via EPP protocol; serves domain registrars and end users in Greece under the supervision of EETT.
• smartHEALTH European Digital Innovation Hub EU Digital Europe Programme hub for precision medicine and e-health services, part of the European network of digital innovation hubs; serves healthcare providers, SMEs, and public-sector health organizations.
• FORTH QuTech Quantum Technology Center Joint quantum technology research facility with University of Crete for quantum computing and communication research; serves academic and industry partners working on quantum technologies.
• Center for eHealth Applications (CeHA) Digital health research unit developing eHealth applications and services for improved healthcare delivery; serves healthcare providers, patients, and public health organizations.
• PRAXI Network Technology Transfer Service FORTH unit supporting technology transfer and innovation, helping transfer research outcomes to industry and society; serves academic researchers, startups, and companies seeking to commercialize research outputs.
• Greek Safer Internet Center National center promoting safer internet use for children and adolescents, operated by FORTH; serves schools, parents, educators, and children across Greece.

Quantifiable outcome

• SPACE-Crete ranked 2nd among 61 European proposals in HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-ACCESS-01-01
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability16 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GRAPHERGIA ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025GRAPHERGIA is a Horizon Europe research project under the Graphene Flagship, led by Greece's Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas. The consortium brings together eleven academic and industrial partners from six European countries, focusing on laser-assisted graphene deposition technology for energy-harvesting and storage solutions. Demo cases are scheduled to begin March 2026.
• European Commission / HORIZON-WIDERAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025SPACE-Crete project coordinated by FORTH, ranked 2nd among 61 European proposals, with €35M in HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-ACCESS-01-01 Teaming for Excellence funding over six years.
• European Research Council (ERC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerERC Advanced Grant 2025 awarded to Professor Saffet Hülya Canbakal affiliated with IMS-FORTH for advanced research funding.
• PRAXI NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationPRAXI Network is a FORTH unit supporting technology transfer and innovation, helping transfer research outcomes to industry and society.
• European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Commission partnership initiative in which FORTH-ICS holds 4-star Reference Site status for innovation in active and healthy ageing, operating across Crete with public sector, academic, private sector, and civil society stakeholders.
• Region of CretecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional authority supporting the 4-star Reference Site for active and healthy ageing and SPACE-Crete initiatives, aligned with Crete's strategic development goals.
• 7th Health Region of Crete (7th Ygeionomiki Periferia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare authority supporting the Reference Site ecosystem for active and healthy ageing innovation in Crete.
• Municipality of HeraklionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal authority supporting the Reference Site ecosystem for active and healthy ageing in Crete.
• University of CretecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFORTH collaborates extensively with the University of Crete, including joint research institutes, shared facilities like Skinakas Observatory, and the FORTH QuTech quantum technology center. The SPACE-Crete initiative is coordinated with University of Crete.
• EURAXESS / HRS4RcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFORTH holds EURAXESS HRS4R accreditation for researcher recruitment and career development, supporting international researcher mobility and attractive working conditions.
• Graphene FlagshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFORTH leads the GRAPHERGIA project under the Graphene Flagship, a major European FET flagship initiative focusing on graphene research and innovation.
• EETT (National Telecommunications and Post Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFORTH-ICS operates the .gr and .el domain name registry under the supervision of EETT, the national regulatory authority for electronic communications.
• ICANNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFORTH-ICS participates actively in ICANN meetings and contributed to international rules for IDN TLDs and domain name policies.
• CENTR (Council of European National Top Level Domain Registries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFORTH-ICS is a member of CENTR, collaborating with other European ccTLD registries on shared standards and best practices.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Max Planck Society: Germany's largest non-profit multidisciplinary basic research organization, operating 86+ Max Planck Institutes across scientific domains with publicly funded competitive grant revenue. Highly comparable to FORTH as a government-linked, institute-based fundamental research foundation.
• ETH Zurich: Swiss federal institute of technology conducting multidisciplinary research in sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Comparable to FORTH in its mix of fundamental research, ERC-funded projects, and joint labs/centers with national partners.
• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's leading applied research organization with 76 institutes conducting contract research for industry and government. Comparable to FORTH in institute-based structure and EU funding participation, but with a stronger applied/commercial orientation.
• Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres: Germany's largest scientific organization with 18 research centers focused on grand scientific challenges. Comparable to FORTH in operating large-scale research infrastructure and competing for major EU and national funding programs.
• Italian National Research Council (CNR): Italy's primary public research organization with institutes spanning life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and humanities. Closely comparable to FORTH in structure (institute-based), Mediterranean regional context, and government funding model.
• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique): France's largest public scientific research organization with 10 institutes covering similar multidisciplinary domains (physics, biology, computer science, humanities). Directly comparable in mandate, structure, and grant-funding model.
• CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas): Spain's largest public research institution operating across physical sciences, biology, humanities, and social sciences. Closely comparable to FORTH as a Southern European multidisciplinary research foundation with government funding.

Broad incumbents

• European Space Agency (ESA): Intergovernmental space research organization with which FORTH collaborates (notably on SPACE-Crete space excellence program). Comparable as a major European publicly funded research ecosystem player, though much larger in scale and dedicated to space.
• CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research): Large-scale European intergovernmental physics laboratory and a partner of FORTH in joint research initiatives. Operates as a broader incumbent in European scientific infrastructure with multi-country governance, comparable to FORTH's role in international research consortia.

Regional players

• RIKEN: Japan's flagship multidisciplinary research organization with institutes spanning physics, chemistry, biology, and computational science. Comparable to FORTH in institute-based structure and government funding model, though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FORTH_Hellas
• YouTubeyoutube.com/forth-ite
• Facebookfacebook.com/ITE.HELLAS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foundation-for-research-&-technology-hellas-forth-
• Instagraminstagram.com/forth_ite

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments3 records

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Frequently asked questions about Foundation for Research and Technology