The Athens Incubator for Start-up Enterprises (THEA) of the University of Athens has entered into a new highly significant collaboration with one of the most important players in the global innovation ecosystem. Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry . Specifically, ThEA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Plug & Play Tech Center to support Greek startups.

The MoU was signed by the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sofia Kounenaki Efraimoglou and Natalia Olson-Urteko, Director of Government Partnerships of Plug & Play.

What is Plug & Play

Silicon Valley-based Plug & Play operates one of the world's leading innovation platforms. It operates in several locations around the globe. It specializes in identifying start-up SMEs around the world. It then connects them with some of the largest companies through innovative programs and partnerships. Its network consists of:

• 50,000 start-ups
• 500+ leading global companies
• including hundreds of leading venture capital firms
• universities and government agencies in many sectors

The main objective of the MoU with the THEA is networking with the global innovation ecosystem on issues related to the transfer of know-how and the exploitation of innovative ideas. The aim is to make innovation open to anyone and anywhere. The expected outcomes of this collaboration will include:

• the creation of new products and production processes
• the improvement of production
• the inculcation of the concept of entrepreneurship among scientific research professionals
• as well as the creation of new jobs

THEA a springboard for new partnerships

Mrs. Efraimoglou stressed that the signing of the Memorandum is a springboard for a series of international partnerships and synergies of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to support innovative start-up entrepreneurship and its interconnection with the global innovation ecosystem. At the same time, he said that the networking and collaborations of the incubator will continue and expand with other innovation bodies in Greece. The aim is to make innovation a catalyst and driving force for the creation of better paid jobs, for the development of exportable and competitive products and services that ultimately aim to improve the quality of life of citizens.

For her part, Mrs Olsson-Urteko said:

"This is a great opportunity for Plug and Play to strengthen our global presence and connect with the best startups in Greece. At Plug and Play, we are focused on offering high quality innovation services to our partners and this new partnership can make a significant contribution to this."