Since partnerships among the academic, public, business, and technology sectors are needed to co-develop and implement solutions for a green and sustainable economy, this Unit addresses the social and economic facets of the sustainability transition, ensuring fairness, inclusivity and equity, by mobilizing and connecting knowledge and innovation networks, start-ups and technology holders.
This Unit includes the large-scale deployment of sustainable and breakthrough technologies, particularly in key industrial sectors, and hosts the EIT Climate-KIC Hub in Greece. It fosters innovation through multi-sector partnerships that accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon, climate-resilient society. With the MENA Maritime Accelerator, the Unit advances maritime decarbonization by supporting high-impact start-ups with funding, training, and mentoring. Additionally, the Unit’s BRIGAID Connect Association, a cluster of companies that help increase Europe’s climate resilience through solutions by linking innovators with stakeholders to scale impactful solutions. Through initiatives like the Climate Innovation Window, it cultivates inclusive, equitable innovation ecosystems that drive environmental, economic, and social transformation.
BRIGAID Connect Association, , is a research driven incubator that turns innovation ideas into real climate adaptation solutions. BRIGAID Connect is a solution provider for the ambitious climate adaptation strategy. This Association is the outcome of an EU-funded project “BRIGAID: Bridging the gap for Innovations in Disaster Resilience” (2016-2020) and engages over 120 climate adaptation innovations in an advanced stage of development. The project evaluated 125 innovations from across Europe, selecting 40 of them to participate in a collaborative technical readiness assessment, and accompanying 26 more through its market readiness programme. Learn more here. Â
Founding member, Prof. Phoebe Koundouri
Facilitated by H2020 BRIDGE-BS and DOORS Black Sea projects, the Black Sea Accelerator supports the scaling up of sustainable businesses operating in the Blue Economy across the Black Sea by offering services to strengthen market analysis and develop successful business models, pitching capacity, and matchmaking opportunities with funding and investments.  A number of relevant blue economy sectors and technologies, either established or emerging need innovative solutions: Ocean observation and monitoring; Ports, Transport & Logistics; Fisheries & Aquaculture practices; Tourism and recreational activities; Blue-biotech and related products; Sustainable and renewable energy; Nature-based solutions and services (coastal/marine). Primarily targeting Black Sea (based) applicants, but also open to non-regional applicants interested in expanding their solutions in the Black Sea region. The Accelerator will accept solutions starting from TRL 4 and onwards.
The MENA Maritime Accelerator (previously Maritime ClimAccelerator), through its vast network of collaborators, will offer participating start-ups funding, training, peer-to-peer coaching, and theme-specific mentoring (both virtually and in-person). Up to 5 startups will be accepted per year and will be asked to provide innovative solutions for the transition to the sustainability of the maritime industry, both locally and globally, and will be allowed to present their ideas in front of investors, port authorities,s and shipping companies. The MENA Maritime Accelerator will thus provide start-ups with a unique opportunity to test, demonstrate, and validate their solution.
The Maritime ClimAccelerator is run by the Cyprus University of Technology, Sustainable Development Unit of ATHENA RC,  Cyprus Energy Agency, Chrysalis LEAP, and Cleantech Bulgaria together with our vast network of collaborators and supporters from around the world. Learn more here.
Founding Member, Prof. Alexandros Charalambides, Cyprus University of Technology
Founding member: Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, “Athena” Research and Innovation Center
Horizon EU | Pathways2Resilience: Co-developing Pathways Towards Climate Resilient Regions in Europe
PI, Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, Athens University of Economics and Business
Participation through the Brigaid Connect Association, Team Members: Prof. Phoebe Koundouri Dr. Konstantinos DellisÂ
ΜΑΙΑ+ Maximising impact and accessibility of European climate research
PI, Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, Athens University of Economics and Business
HORIZON EU | CARMINE: Climate-Resilient Development Pathways in Metropolitan Regions of Europe
PI, Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, “Athena” Research and Innovation Center
BL.EU. Climate: Climate Innovation in Southern European Waters
PI, Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, “Athena” Research and Innovation Center
UN Climate Change Global Innovation aims to promote transformative innovations for a low-emission and climate-resilient future. The Hub expands the global innovation space by facilitating solutions that support the climate-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and that address core human needs for food, shelter, mobility, and access via alternative value chains aligned with those SDGs. The Innovation Hub complements the current approach to innovation for climate solutions —an approach that has tended to be incremental, sector-based and problem-oriented—with a transformative, need-based and solution-oriented one.
Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET)
An independent advisory council to the United Nations Secretary-General