I.C.C.

This part of the project is the most important as a long standing goal of the Technical University of Crete and the local community in general, for establishing a site forinnovation in the management of natural resources and product promotion, providinglocal companies with the opportunity to develop in a suitable environment. The Innovation Centre of Crete will be established in Chania and it will be housed temporarily within the University campus (Polytechneioupolis). It is anticipated that in the future it will be housed in new buildings in the area already allocated for the creation of a Research Park within the campus.The Innovation Centre of Crete will be involved with issues related to sustainableagricultural development and combating of environmental problems created by currentagricultural practices and by the agro-industrial sector. In addition, the centre will beinvolved in the valorisation of agricultural by-products. Furthermore, the centre will operate as pole of demonstration and dissemination on innovative research findings by thecollaborating research organizations. The centre will also act as technology transferfacilitator.The benefits from the operation of the Innovation Centre of Crete are expected to be significant for the development of new companies in the region of Crete. Among others we would like to emphasize the following:

• Development of expertise in the area of innovation promotion and technology transfer on subjects related to sustainable agricultural development.
• Establishment of suitable structures for the promotion of innovative products orservices particular for SMEs.
• Support for the establishment of new companies.
• Continuing education on entrepreneurial and technological issues.
• Promotion of strategic business plan development and execution on behalf of thecompanies.
• Information services provider on available technologies and evaluation of theoffered technologies.
• Systematic approach to technology transfer from research organizations to companies.
• Reinforce and support companies’ innovative capabilities.
• Formulation of suitable environment for technology transfer.
• Possibility to network with companies abroad.
• Reinforce the link between research and production.
• Attracting new investment in the area
• Enhancing local potential for investments in innovative technologies.
• Potential for conducting analysis and evaluation of technological needs ofparticular sectors.

Actions

• ACTION 1.0 CREATION AND OPERATION OF THE INNOVATION CENTRE OF CRETE (ICC)
• ACTION 2.0 DEMONSTRATION OF INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES
• ACTION 3.0 DEMONSTRATION OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGICAL SERVICES
• ACTION 4.0 DEMONSTRATION OF INNOVATIONS IN PRODUCTION & PRODUCT PROMOTION
• ACTION 5.0 MANAGEMENT AND PUBLICITY OF THE PROJECT