On Thursday, April 19, 2012, a group of research teams met at the headquarters of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation in Kifissia for the presentation of the research projects undertaken in 2011 and exclusively funded by the Foundation. During the event, a video was shown presenting the 2011 projects. This was followed by a discussion, which developed into an open forum for the exchange of views on issues concerning research in Greece.

The ''Scientific Projects'' programme is already in its fifth year of implementation. In 2011, 988 proposals were submitted, a number indicative of the research community’s great interest and confidence in the programme. The proposals were submitted by teams that consisted of scientists of recognized stature along with young researchers from universities and technological educational institutes as well as research centres in Greece and other countries. Following an evaluation process conducted by the Foundation’s scientific committee, 19 scientific teams were selected for funding. The projects’ objectives covered a broad range of scientific fields.

On behalf of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, the head of the scientific committee, Professor Kostas Gavroglu, stated that:

''The progress of the programme over all these years reinforces our deep conviction that the scientific resources of our country are among the most dynamic in the global community and, therefore, the support of scientific research in Greece will continue to constitute a basic component of the programmes of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation”.

The ''Scientific Projects'' Programme will continue in 2012 with the implementation of 17 research projects, while a public call has already gone out for projects to be developed in 2013. Additionally, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, in the context of a multifaceted social solidarity and contribution programme to assist those of our fellow citizens who are affected by the ongoing crisis, will soon announce a new public call for the development of short-term projects aiming to record and analyze the issues of poverty and social exclusion at the local level and to document feasible proposals for confronting them.

Additional information regarding the ''Scientific Projects'' Programme is available here.