On Thursday, October 2nd, 2025, an online meeting was held within the framework of the KATHES collaboration between the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The main topics of discussion were the successful completion of the HEPTA research program and the planning of further joint activities for 2026.
AUTH and KIT have maintained a long-standing collaboration, which was recently renewed in 2022 through the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding, aimed at strengthening joint research and teaching activities. The recently completed HEPTA program (Helmholtz European Partnership for Technology Advances in Climate, Energy and Environment: Research and Innovation) significantly enhanced the cooperation between the two institutions in critical scientific areas.
Participants from AUTH included Professors Georgios Savvaidis (School of Engineering), Leon Ntziachristos (School of Mechanical Engineering), Kleareti Tourpali (Department of Physics, School of Sciences), and Nikolaos Theodosiou (Department of Civil Engineering / EPICUR), as well as Dimitra Mendekidou, Head of the Department of International Relations, Nikos Liolios (Department of European Educational Programs), Professor Nikolaos Moussiopoulos, representing Thess INTEC and Mr. Nikos Katsiadakis from CERTH. Participants from KIT included Professors Dr. Jan Cermak (Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research), Dr. Jörg Sauer (Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology), and Dr. Volker Schulze (Institute of Production Science), along with Nadja Bandulet and Michael Zacherle from the Business Unit International Affairs.
During the meeting, there was also discussion on opportunities for European funding through the Erasmus program and KIT Excellence Grants. The participants emphasized the importance of continuing the partnership through new research and educational initiatives, and discussed plans to hold the next KATHES Workshop in September 2026.
