Agricultural University of Athens

What Agricultural University of Athens does

The Agricultural University of Athens (AUA / ΓΠΑ) is the third-oldest university in Greece, a state-funded public higher-education institution established in 1920 and operating under the Greek Ministry of Education and Law 4589/2019. It is organised into six Schools (Plant Sciences; Animal Sciences; Environment and Agricultural Engineering; Food Science and Human Nutrition; Applied Biology and Biotechnology; and Applied Economics and Social Sciences) and 14 Departments, with main campus at Iera Odos 75 in Athens and branch campuses in Amfissa and Thiva. The institution serves approximately 14,890 students (13,740 undergraduate, 673 postgraduate, 467 doctoral, 10 postdoctoral in 2024–2025) and offers degree programmes from undergraduate up to doctorate, plus 20 postgraduate programmes (including an Erasmus Mundus-labelled MSc in Marine Biotechnology) and the KEDIVIM lifelong-learning centre for professionals.

AUA's core 'technology stack' is research infrastructure rather than commercial software: 44 equipped laboratories, 13 greenhouses, 55 amphitheatres and teaching rooms across 28 building complexes, the Library and Information Centre, the D-Space 'Kalligeneia' institutional repository, the e-Class LMS, the e-Student portal, an in-house teleconferencing platform, and experimental farms and an ornamental-plant nursery. The university also operates the Agricultural Museum and the Center for Documentation of Greek Agricultural History. Research output for 2016–2018 was reported at 7,863 peer-reviewed publications, 150,004 citations, 76 patents and 4,585 funded research programmes with a €27.76M aggregate research budget.

AUA is not a commercial enterprise and earns no revenue in the traditional sense. Its operating budget comes from (i) state allocations under the Public Investment Programme for Higher Education (where AUA ranks 4th nationally in per-student funding), (ii) competitive research grants under EU and national programmes (HORIZON 2020 / Framework Programme 9, EIT Regional Innovation Scheme), (iii) government-regulated tuition for its 5-year integrated master programmes, and (iv) ancillary income from the plant nursery and agricultural extension services. Go-to-market is event-driven: open days, school outreach, EU-CONEXUS European University alliance participation (10+ partner universities), career-office placement, and digital channels (social, LMS). Distribution is direct via on-campus, regional campuses, international joint programmes, and self-serve digital platforms.

Name

Agricultural University of Athens

Legal name

Γεωπονικό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών (Agricultural University of Athens)

Website

https://www2.aua.gr

Company type

Public

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Agricultural University of Athens (ΓΠΑ) is Greece's third-oldest university and its premier public institution dedicated to agricultural sciences, food technology, nutrition, biotechnology and environmental studies, serving roughly 14,890 students across six Schools and 14 Departments in Athens, Amfissa and Thiva.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Agricultural Production & Farm Operations (EDAOAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crop, Soil & Agronomy Technician Training (EDAOAOAF), Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO), Agriculture & Food Production (EDABALAA), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL)

Keywords

• Agricultural higher education
• Food science research
• Environmental studies
• Agronomy programs
• Biotechnology education

Headquarters

HQ city

Athens

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Public university funded primarily through government allocations, including the new Public Investment Program for Higher Education Institutions, where AUA ranks 4th nationally in funding per student.
2. Research Grants and Programs: Externally funded research through national and European programs including HORIZON 2020, 9th Framework Programme, EIT Regional Innovation Scheme, and other competitive grants. Research budget of €27.76M from funded programs (2016-2018 indicators).
3. Tuition and Student Fees: Revenue from degree programs including 5-year integrated master programs that lead to postgraduate-level qualifications, and various postgraduate programs.
4. Agricultural Products and Services: Revenue from university farm operations, plant nursery sales (ornamental plants available at 30% discounts during OPEN DAYS), and agricultural extension services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Agricultural University of Athens (Γεωπονικό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών) is a public higher education institution that delivers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degree programs across 6 schools and 14 departments focused on agricultural sciences, food science and nutrition, biotechnology, environmental engineering, and applied economics. It also conducts funded research, offers continuing education through KEDIVIM, and participates in the EU-CONEXUS European University alliance for joint international programs.

Product overview

Agricultural University of Athens (AUA / ΓΠΑ) is a public higher education institution organized as a multi-school university system offering a portfolio of educational programs alongside research infrastructure and public-facing services. The core offering consists of undergraduate degree programs (across 6 schools and 14 departments), 20 postgraduate programs, and 8 doctoral programs spanning plant sciences, animal production, food science, biotechnology, environmental engineering, and applied economics. Supporting services include the KEDIVIM continuing education center, the EU-CONEXUS European University alliance (joint programs including an Erasmus Mundus Marine Biotechnology MSc), e-Student and e-Class digital platforms, a D-Space digital repository, a library and conference center, a career office, and 13 greenhouses with an ornamental plant nursery. AUA does not offer a commercial software product in the traditional sense; its 'products' are academic programs and institutional services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs (Προπτυχιακές Σπουδές) Undergraduate degree programs across 6 schools and 14 departments covering plant sciences, animal production, food science, biotechnology, environmental engineering, and applied economics, serving students seeking bachelor's-level qualifications.
• Postgraduate Programs (Προγράμματα Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών) 20 postgraduate programs including the MBA Food & Agribusiness, Integrated Processes of Circular Bio-Economy in Food Industry, Marine Biotechnology Erasmus Mundus, Landscape Architecture, Integrated Plant Protection Systems, and others, offered across the university's schools.
• Doctoral Programs (Προγράμματα Διδακτορικών Σπουδών) 8 doctoral programs across the university's departments, covering advanced research in agricultural, food, environmental, and biological sciences for PhD candidates.
• KEDIVIM - Continuing Education (Κέντρο Επιμόρφωσης και Διά Βίου Μάθησης) Lifelong learning and professional development programs for workers, unemployed individuals, young farmers, and other target groups, including environmental training centers.
• EU-CONEXUS Alliance Programs European University alliance for Smart Sustainable Urban Coastal Zone Management, involving partner universities across Europe, including joint international programs such as the Erasmus Mundus Marine Biotechnology MSc, student mobility, and research collaboration.
• Library & Information Center (Βιβλιοθήκη & Κέντρο Πληροφόρησης) University library and information center providing access to academic resources, study spaces, and reading rooms for students, faculty, and visiting researchers.
• Conference Center (Συνεδριακό Αμφιθέατρο) Conference and event venue with multimedia infrastructure for hosting academic conferences, seminars, and public events.
• Career Office (Γραφείο Σταδιοδρομίας/Διασύνδεσης) Career services including internships, job placement support, and employer connections for students and graduates.
• Greenhouses & Ornamental Plant Nursery (Θερμοκήπιο Καλλωπιστικών Φυτών) 13 greenhouses and an ornamental plant nursery offering educational and commercial plant production, with ornamental plants available to the public during scheduled OPEN DAYS events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 76 patents granted during 2016-2018
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary, core and minor.

• Hellenic Scientific Society of Plant Genetics and BreedingsecondaryOthers · 19 June 2026Co-organizer of scientific symposium on New Genomic Technologies in Agriculture and Food Production with the Plant Breeding and Agricultural Experimentation Laboratory of AUA.
• Municipality of AthenscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Collaboration on environmental sustainability initiatives. The university and municipality work together on climate action, circular economy projects, and urban environmental education. Mayor Haris Doukas highlighted partnership for sustainable development.
• Athens SchoolminorOthers · 5 June 2026Collaborated on World Environment Day 2026 events. Contributed forest management practices and participated in circular economy workshops.
• LMeco Recycling ServicesminorOthers · 5 June 2026Partner in World Environment Day 2026 circular economy activities. Presented innovative recycling solutions and packaging transformation.
• Piraeus MakerSpaceminorOthers · 5 June 2026Partner in World Environment Day 2026 activities. Presented circular economy laboratory of Piraeus municipality.
• IFIGEN BiomaterialsminorOthers · 5 June 2026Partner in World Environment Day 2026. Presented bio-materials from waste and circular design for resilient agrifood systems.
• Green Fund (Πράσινο Ταμείο)secondaryOthers · 5 June 2026Represented at World Environment Day 2026 events. Part of Physical Environment Planning and Management Department.
• ECOCITYminorOthers · 4 June 2026Partner in World Environment Day 2026 events. Contributes to climate-neutral cities initiatives focusing on urban biodiversity and green materials.
• Evagelismos HospitalminorOthers · 28 May 2026Collaboration for voluntary blood donation drives. Hospital staff conduct blood donation sessions at university premises for the university community.
• Waterford Institute of Technology (Ireland)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2021Joined EU-CONEXUS alliance. Provides Irish higher education perspective and participates in joint programs and student exchanges.
• University of Rostock (Germany)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2021Joined EU-CONEXUS alliance. Contributes German research excellence and engineering expertise to the consortium.
• Frederick University (Cyprus)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2021Joined EU-CONEXUS alliance. Provides Cyprus perspective and Mediterranean region expertise.
• La Rochelle Université (France)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019Founding member of EU-CONEXUS European University alliance. Coordinator of the alliance from the French side. Collaboration on smart and sustainable coastal zone management through joint programs, student mobility, and research.
• Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (Romania)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019Founding member of EU-CONEXUS European University alliance. Contributes expertise in civil engineering aspects of coastal zone management and urban development.
• Klaipeda University (Lithuania)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019Founding member of EU-CONEXUS European University alliance. Provides Baltic region perspective on maritime studies and coastal zone management.
• Catholic University of Valencia (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019Founding member of EU-CONEXUS European University alliance. Contributes to interdisciplinary programs in marine biotechnology and coastal sustainability.
• University of Zadar (Croatia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019Founding member of EU-CONEXUS European University alliance. Provides expertise in Adriatic Sea research and Mediterranean coastal zone management.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wageningen University & Research: The world's top-ranked agricultural university, focused exclusively on life sciences, food, and environment. Most directly comparable peer to AUA given its specialized agricultural, food-science and sustainability mission and research intensity.
• University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU): Austrian public university exclusively dedicated to agriculture, forestry, food sciences and environmental engineering. Closely parallel to AUA in scale, mission specialization, and applied-research orientation.
• Czech University of Life Sciences Prague: Public Czech university focused on agrobiology, forestry, food sciences and environmental studies. Directly comparable as a mid-sized continental European agricultural university with similar departmental structure and applied research mandate.
• Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW): Poland's largest agricultural university offering agriculture, horticulture, food science, veterinary, and environmental programs. Comparable scale and structure to AUA as a multi-faculty agricultural institution in Central Europe.
• University of Reading - School of Agriculture, Policy and Development: UK research university historically focused on food and agricultural sciences with a dedicated agriculture school. Comparable as a mid-sized European university with both agricultural teaching and applied research strengths.

Broad incumbents

• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki: Greece's largest research university with broad coverage including agriculture, engineering, and life sciences. Larger and broader than AUA but the most direct Greek domestic research peer, sharing the Greek public-university funding environment.
• National and Kapodistrian University of Athens: Athens' flagship public university and the institution with which AUA has historically been structurally linked through Law 4589/2019. Much broader scope but a natural reference point for scale, funding, and Greek higher-education positioning.
• ETH Zurich: A leading European technical university with strong agricultural, food and environmental science departments. Sets the upper benchmark for research intensity, citations, and grant capture among technical universities in agriculture-adjacent fields.
• Technical University of Munich (TUM): Major German technical university with a specialized School of Life Sciences and a campus in Weihenstephan focused on agriculture, horticulture, and brewing. Reflects a scaled peer in agricultural research within a broader technical portfolio.

Emerging players

• CIHEAM (International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies): Intergovernmental network running specialised postgraduate programmes in Mediterranean agriculture with campuses across Southern Europe. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but a relevant educational reference point for Mediterranean agronomy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCilRPTax6lrU8I5xY3Fie3g
• Facebookfacebook.com/AgriculturalUniversityofAthens
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agricultural-university-of-athens
• Instagraminstagram.com/agricultural_university_athens

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Agricultural University of Athens