PANEPISTIMIO IOANNINON (UNIVERSITY OF IOANNINA)

PANEPISTIMIO IOANNINON (UNIVERSITY OF IOANNINA)

Our pledge
UoI’s motivation to join the Pledge is deeply rooted in our belief in the transformative power of Deep Tech to address the most pressing societal and environmental challenges. At the University of Ioannina (UoI), we are witnessing an era of unprecedented technological advancements, and we are committed to assisting the aspiration of Europe to be positioned as a leader in this domain. By joining the Pledge, we aim to harness our academic and research capabilities to contribute significantly to this global movement.

Over the years, UoI has been at the forefront of pioneering initiatives, such as the EIT HEI initiative, having been proudly awarded the SMART-2M and DeepTech-2M projects. These projects have underscored the critical role that innovation and entrepreneurship capacity building and deeptech knowledge transfer plays in advancing (applied) research and solutions in complex societal issues. Our involvement in these initiatives has equipped us with the experience and insights needed to drive impactful Deep Tech innovations nested under the DTTI.

Deep Tech, by its very nature, represents a leap forward in technological innovation, characterized by significant advancements and the potential to revolutionize markets. At UoI, we see Deep Tech as a catalyst for change, enabling us to address challenges in areas such as advanced materials engineering, AI and machine learning, biotechnology, sustainable energy, and more. With our extensive innovation and entrepreneurship capacity building experience we further aspire to become accelerators in the deeptech revolution, cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset of the deeptech innovators. Our goal is to ensure that the high-level academic research conducted in our laboratories and the high-impact education provided in our classrooms translates into practical solutions that benefit society and the economy.

Joining the Pledge is a testament to our commitment to this mission. We are dedicated to mobilizing our resources and expertise to contribute to training 1 million talents in Deep Tech specializations. This involves collaborating with key stakeholders to identify training needs, updating our curricula, and developing specialized training programs. Our efforts are aligned with the New European Innovation Agenda and the initiatives of the EIT and the European Commission.

We believe that this mission also requires a cultural shift within our institution, encompassing enhancements to our educational offering, specialized training and mentoring for students and staff, and robust processes for knowledge transfer and collaboration. By fostering an environment of innovation and continuous learning, we aim to accelerate the development and implementation of Deep Tech across our Institution.

The University of Ioannina pledges to lead by example, leveraging our established processes and collaborations to make a lasting impact on society. Our commitment to high-quality interdisciplinary research and education positions us as a key player in Europe’s innovation landscape. We are excited to contribute to this transformative journey, driving forward the development of cutting-edge technologies and nurturing the next generation of Deep Tech talent.

Having the above in mind and capitalizing on EIT HEI Initiative projects (2 awarded) training experience, case studies and best practices we will be uploading the relevant course/ training action content on the DTTI website, upon its development in alignment with a new EIT DTTI Call for Training proposal we are pursuing to get approved in the upcoming months.

About
The University of Ioannina (UoI) has 473 academic staff and 135 technical staff, supported by 280 administrative employees. It offers Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral programs with more than 21,000 students. UoI comprises of 24 departments in 11 faculties, and over 50 research centers. Since 1964, it has developed robust research output across various scientific fields and participates in numerous national and international projects. The UoI Research Committee manages funds for diverse research and development activities, ensuring compliance with financial and quality standards.