Today, Tuesday 19 March 2019, the signing ceremony with regard to the Memorandum – cooperation framework between the Ministry of National Defence and the University of Crete was held at the Ministry of National Defence. The above Memorandum was signed on one hand by the Alternate Minister of National Defence, Panagiotis Rigas, on behalf of the Ministry of National Defence and on the other hand by the Rector, Evangelos Diamantopoulos, on behalf of the University of Crete.

The ceremony was attended by the military leadership, headed by the Chief HNDGS General Christos Christodoulou, the MoD Special Secretary Kalliopi Papaleonida, MPs – members of the Parliament’s Committees on National Defence – External Affairs and Educational Affairs, Senior Members of the MoD, as well as members of the Administration of the University of Crete.

The Alternate Minister of National Defence in his address stated amongst others the following:

“Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that we are gathered here today to formalize the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of National Defence and the University of Crete.

It is my conviction that we are inaugurating a new era of enhanced cooperation between one of the top educational and research institutions of our country and the Ministry of National Defence.

This Memorandum encapsulates the work and study jointly carried out by members of the Ministry of National Defence and the University of Crete, as well as the expertise that is crystallized in the cooperation between both parties so far, adding a dynamic that will begin to take form in multiple ways in the coming years.

This cooperation aims at meeting a number of existing needs, but also at expressing a reality that is constantly and dynamically evolving.

I would like to congratulate all parties that contributed to that effort in preparing the framework for the said cooperation with zeal, inspiration and enthusiasm.

The memorandum of cooperation with the University of Crete constitutes multiple recognition of:

• The scientific work and the prestige gained by the public Universities and the Polytechnic institutes of our country through this project;

• The scientific equivalence of the Armed Forces’ military schools; that is a necessary and appropriate condition for keeping substantially pace;

• The common need for extending the cooperation at all levels. The MoD and the University of Crete share the view that, being providers and partakers in knowledge and infrastructure, they should establish synergies for the purpose firstly to identify and then further their mutual interest.

Human resources represent our common denominator of this effort.

They constitute the factor, which seeks out, plans and implements the targets of the visionary framework, the promotion and protection of National Defence on behalf of our Ministry and the generation of scientific knowledge and expertise on behalf of the Polytechnic University.

The common ground of this cooperation is the Hellenic society and its needs, the progress in science through the broadening of its scope, with our Armed Forces committed to their military role, enriching it with scientific training and technological innovations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Nowadays, the rapid scientific progress, the specialization, but also the emergence of new scientific sectors and specialties, directly affect the Armed Forces, which -through joint co-operations- cope with their role, following what progress and scientific evolution dictate.

At the same time, meeting needs and dealing with problems in the actual field require the cooperation between a provider of power and knowledge, like the Armed Forces, and a provider of scientific knowledge and high-level applied research, like the University of Crete.

The three scopes and fields of cooperation exchange indicated in the Memorandum – namely Training, Research and Research Infrastructure, but also all other Actions and Services – demonstrate the width of such cooperation.

Meanwhile, the Memorandum Model selected for the better communication and the effective functioning of the cooperation, namely the Establishment of a Strategic Planning Committee and the Establishment of an Actions’ Monitoring and Coordination Committee, ensures an effective organizational structure of functioning and control.

This Memorandum that comes on top of joint approximation efforts by the Ministry of National Defence and the Polytechnic University of Crete will last four (4) years.

The possibility of an extension for another three (3) years, ensures the time frames required, so that this cooperation would yield fruit, leaving the prospect of the development of the cooperation open.

The Ministry of National Defence, given its multifunctional role, seeks the cooperation with the scientific personnel of the Polytechnic University of Crete, recognizing its contribution to the creation of our country’s Scientific Charter from its southern geographical side, through an exemplary decentralized contribution to technological progress.

Already, our cooperation has led to significant work so far in the domain of education, by means of the cooperation through inter-university postgraduate courses offered by the Higher Military Educational Institutes and the Polytechnic University of Crete.

The new opportunities for cooperation will have the following possible areas of concern:

• Synergies in new scientific proposals of common interest, co-financed both by community and national funds in the area of Defence and Security;

• Supporting the co-organisation of educational activities of Interdepartmental Postgraduate Courses with the Higher Military Educational Institutes;

• Using and carrying out studies – experiments in experimentation facilities of both parties;

• Providing the opportunity to members of the Armed Forces to attend educational activities in the areas of their concern, as well as for members of the Polytechnic University of Crete to participate in trainings carried out by MoD bodies, like the Higher Military Educational Institutes, cyber security, etc.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is clearly understood that the stated objective of both parties to cooperate and jointly create the basis for cutting-edge technology assists in the achievement of national strategic objectives and may be implemented through the use of available resources and their capabilities, filling us with optimism for the fruits of this cooperation.

Concluding, I would like to express the assurances of the Ministry of National Defence’s Political Leadership and me personally that we strongly support this effort.

My sincere congratulations once again to all parties involved, both from the Ministry of National Defence and from the Polytechnic University of Crete.

I wish you every success in the achievement of your objectives; We will assist you at every step of your way.

All the best!”