AUTH and the Region of Central Macedonia Sign MoU to Strengthen Open Science and Open Data Collaboration

A new Memorandum of Understanding builds on the collaboration developed through RAISE and RAISE Suite, strengthening the connection between research, public authorities and regional innovation.

On 10 September 2026, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) and the Region of Central Macedonia marked an important milestone in their cooperation with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Open Science and Open Data.

The signing took place during the event “Leveraging Open Science Results by Local and Regional Authorities: The Case of the Region of Central Macedonia”, co-organised by the Region of Central Macedonia, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation, the ISSEL Group and RAISE Suite.

More than 50 participants joined the event, including regional, local and national policymakers, researchers, industry stakeholders and representatives from universities and research organisations across Central Macedonia.

Ioannis Rekanos, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and Nikos Tzollas, Deputy Regional Governor for Digital Governance of the Region of Central Macedonia, during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

From RAISE to RAISE Suite: a collaboration moving forward

The MoU builds on the collaboration first established within the RAISE project and further developed through RAISE Suite, demonstrating how cooperation initiated through European research projects can evolve into longer-term relationships with public authorities.

The agreement was signed by Ioannis Rekanos, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation at AUTH, and Nikos Tzollas, Deputy Regional Governor for Digital Governance of the Region of Central Macedonia.

A central message throughout the event was that the MoU should not be viewed simply as an agreement between two organisations. Instead, it represents an open invitation to regional authorities, universities and research organisations to participate in future collaborative actions, strengthening the regional ecosystem around Open Science and Open Data.

The ambition is to create stronger links between research, public administration and innovation, enabling scientific knowledge and data to generate value beyond academia.

Representatives of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Region of Central Macedonia and the wider research and innovation ecosystem following the signing of the MoU.

Bringing Open Science closer to public authorities

A key focus of the event was how Open Science, FAIR data and digital research infrastructures can support regional and local authorities in making better use of research results and data.

This question is closely connected to the vision of RAISE Suite, which aims to make FAIR-by-design data management easier across the research data lifecycle and reduce barriers such as the time, effort and skills required to manage and share research data.

The event also offered an opportunity to showcase how the RAISE platform can support public authorities, demonstrating the potential for research infrastructures and Open Science solutions to respond to practical needs beyond the scientific community.

RAISE Suite at the event hosted at the Regional Council of Central Macedonia, where participants had the opportunity to learn more about the project and its approach to FAIR and Open Science.

EOSC and the future of Open Science in Europe

An important moment of the programme was the contribution of Pantelis Tziveloglou, Team Leader for the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) at the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) of the European Commission.

His presentation outlined the aim and scope of EOSC within the European research landscape and introduced the EOSC Federation as the next step in the evolution of the European Open Science Cloud.

Pantelis Tzeveloglou, Team Leader for the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), presenting the role of EOSC and the EOSC Federation in shaping the future of Open Science in Europe

The discussion highlighted the importance of connecting regional and institutional initiatives with the wider European Open Science ecosystem, helping research data and services become more accessible, interoperable and reusable across organisational and geographical boundaries.

From left to right: Prof. Panagiotis Bamidis (Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation, AUTH), Prof. Ioannis Rekanos, Vice-Rector of AUTH, Mr. Nikos Tzollas, Deputy Regional Governor for Digital Governance, and Asst. Prof. Evdokimos Konstantinidis (Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation, AUTH).

Connecting academia, policy and the regional innovation ecosystem

The event brought together stakeholders from across the research, policy, public administration and innovation communities of Central Macedonia, creating an opportunity for dialogue around the role of Open Data and Open Science in regional development.

Representatives from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Macedonia, the University of Western Macedonia, the International Hellenic University, CERTH and HEAL-Link participated alongside policymakers and representatives of the regional technology and business ecosystem.

Among the academic and research representatives attending or contributing to the programme were Panagiotis Sarigiannidis from the University of Western Macedonia, Evangelos Kalampokis and Alexandros Chatzigeorgiou from the University of Macedonia, Andreas Symeonidis from Cyclopt and the ISSEL Group, Babis Bratsas from the International Hellenic University, Pantelis Natsiavas from CERTH and Lia Ollandezou from HEAL-Link and member of RAISE Suite Advisory Board. The event was also attended by Ioannis Papageorgiou, Coordinator of the Prime Minister’s Office in Thessaloniki, highlighting the broader institutional interest in strengthening links between Open Science, public administration and regional innovation.

The participation of stakeholders from different sectors reinforced one of the event’s central messages: Open Science impact requires collaboration between researchers, policymakers, public authorities, research infrastructures and innovation actors.

Researchers, policymakers, university representatives, public authorities and innovation stakeholders came together in Thessaloniki to exchange perspectives and explore future opportunities for collaboration.

A community behind the collaboration

The event also provided an important networking opportunity, bringing together people working across research, digital governance, Open Science, data management and regional innovation.

The strong participation of the wider regional ecosystem highlighted the interest in building new connections between research institutions, public authorities and other organisations that can benefit from more open and reusable data.

More than 50 participants from public authorities, academia, research and industry joined the discussion on the role of Open Science and Open Data in regional development.

Highlights from the event

From European research to lasting regional impact

The signing of the MoU is a tangible example of how collaboration initiated through a European research project can develop beyond individual project activities and contribute to lasting institutional and regional partnerships.

What began through RAISE is now being carried forward through RAISE Suite, creating new opportunities to explore how Open Science, FAIR data and research infrastructures can support the needs of public authorities and regional innovation ecosystems.

For RAISE Suite, this milestone reflects a broader ambition: ensuring that advances in FAIR and Open Science do not remain only at the level of technological development, but lead to real adoption, stronger cooperation and meaningful impact for research, public authorities and society.