The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly affected, in addition to everyday life, the priorities of the entire world, with our country being no exception. The need to respond quickly to the new reality, with the aim of stopping repercussions, has been a major concern of decision-making centres, focusing at the same time on the use of scientific research and finding innovative solutions. To that extent, the provision of additional financial opportunities and the redistribution of resources in this direction were deemed necessary, aiming, ultimately to mobilize stakeholders of the domestic research and innovation ecosystem and facilitate their contribution to the national effort under way.

In this context, the Board of Directors of the Research and Innovation Foundation has taken immediate steps to implement targeted measures, which we believe will provide across-the-board support to the research and innovation sector. Specifically, the Foundation proceeded, among other things, to announce three financial programs in relation to dealing with the pandemic and its implications. The first project, "Proof of Concept", with an increased overall budget of over €500,000, aims to explore in advance the potential industrial applications that a technology / know-how may have in relation to COVID-19. At the same time, new categories were announced in the framework of the existing SEED and INNOVATE programs for the Development of International Competitive Innovative Products and Services by start-ups and existing companies, with a total budget of €2 million. Moreover, the announcement of six new invitations is planned shortly, in the framework of the RESTART 2016-2020 Programs, with a budget of more than €13 million.

In order to save extra resources and channel them into actions that strengthen the local ecosystem, we proceeded with a series of reforms in relation to current invitations. In addition, we have proceeded with the modification of procedures aimed at facilitating active business and research programs. It was also decided to give to all Project Coordinators already funded by the Research and Innovation Foundation, the flexibility to adapt their research work towards tackling the pandemic and its implications, under certain conditions. The measures also include easier terms, inter alia, for expenses resulting from the cancellation of travel or other activities and the extension of deadlines for specific programs.

The Foundation has at the same time, in cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, announced a special invitation for expression of interest, calling on the stakeholder of the local ecosystem to make suggestions for developing innovative approaches, solutions and products. related to the challenges posed by the effects of the pandemic. The invitation includes more than 25 categories, which refer to, among other things, the exploitation of artificial intelligence technologies for collecting and managing epidemiological information, the production and creation of equipment to support front-line workers, the development of new diagnostic methods, support for training and health (physical and mental) and business needs management. 

Counting on the high level of the domestic research and science-related community of our country as well as the expertise of the business world, we look forward to the significant contribution of the domestic ecosystem to the national strategy to respond effectively to the increased challenges facing us. Looking forward to the next day, we are optimistic that research proposals and innovative solutions, by means of joint efforts, will significantly contribute not only to containing the effects of the pandemic but also to an overall improvement in the quality of life, thus contributing to a dynamic return in the direction of development.