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Press Release

1st Info Day – C Nest Accelerator

Heraklion, September 8, 2025

With great success, the first information day for the C Nest Accelerator was took place on Thursday, September 4, 2025, hosted at the premises of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH). The event highlighted the targeted contribution of C Nest in strengthening Crete’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, by combining physical and digital infrastructures and offering services at all stages of maturity to both new and existing start-ups.

At the event, organizers presented the Incubator’s design, key initiatives and services, underscoring its vital role in strengthening business support throughout the Region of Crete. In particular, Dr. Konstantinos Vavekis (PRAXI Network) analyzed the benefits for companies joining the Incubator, followed by the presentation of goals, structure and actions by Ms. Maria Konstantakaki (PRAXI Network) and the presentation of the application and selection process by Ms. Eleni Koutsouraki (Green Projects S.A.). The thematic section “Best Practices & Business Examples” brought forward real stories of start-ups, showcasing how access to scientific know-how and research infrastructures accelerates the path from lab to market.

The event was welcomed by Mr. Georgios Matalliotakis, Deputy Regional Governor for Liaison with Academic and Research Institutions of the Region of Crete, Prof. Vassilis Charmandaris, President of FORTH, Assistant Prof. Nikolaos Eleftheriadis (Department of Chemistry), Prof. Athanasios Malamos, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation of Hellenic Mediterranean University, Ms. Amalia Niniraki, 2nd Vice-President of the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Dimitrios Angelidakis, Secretary General of the Economic Chamber of Greece – Department of Eastern Crete. We sincerely thank them for their presence and support of this new initiative, which aims to strengthen Crete’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

At the same time, it was announced that the first of a total of six calls for beneficiary businesses is already in progress: companies, teams and organizations are invited to submit their application by Friday, September 12, 2025, at 17:00, via the website cnest.gr. Within the framework of the project, up to 180 businesses operating within the Region of Crete can be supported.

The project is funded by the European Union (Just Transition Fund) and national resources through the Public Investment Program, with the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation as the beneficiary, and implemented by the PRAXI Network / FORTH and Green Projects S.A.