On March 13, 2025, Athens LifeTech Park (ALTP) convened the inaugural meeting of its newly formed Advisory Board in New York. Comprising prominent Greek scientists from the diaspora, the Advisory Board is tasked with guiding ALTP’s strategic direction and advancing its vision of becoming an international hub for health and life sciences innovation, headquartered in Greece.
The Board is composed of four distinguished scientists - Dr. Dimitris Agrafiotis, Dr. Kosmas Giallourakis, Dr. Giorgos Kollias, and Dr. Dimitris Skokos - who each bring extensive experience and accomplishments across academia, biotech entrepreneurship, the pharmaceutical industry and the broader healthcare sector.
Commenting on his role in the Advisory Board, Dr. Agrafiotis stated “It is a great pleasure and honor for me to be part of the ALTP Advisory Board, a pioneering initiative that aspires to become an incubator for innovative biotechnology and life sciences companies. With state-of-the-art facilities and an outward-looking approach, it aims to harness and leverage Greece’s exceptional scientific talent - an effort that will have significant implications for our national economy, the country’s development and its position in global competition”.
Regarding the work ahead under progress by the Advisory Board of Athens LifeTech Park, Dr. Giallourakis commented, “I am thrilled to be part of the Athens LifeTech Park Advisory Board, contributing to the foundation of a strong biotechnology ecosystem in our country. The committee’s first official meeting has further reinforced my belief that the right ‘ingredients’ - human talent and infrastructure - can be combined in Greece to support the creation of a dynamic, internationally oriented biotechnology ecosystem”.
Reflecting on his participation in the Advisory Board of Athens LifeTech Park, Dr. Kollias emphasized, “I am delighted and optimistic to be part of the Athens LifeTech Park Advisory Board, an initiative that I believe will be a landmark in bridging academic knowledge with entrepreneurship, strengthening Greece’s position on the global map of biomedical research and innovation. Unfortunately, despite the ever-growing importance of research and innovation for society and national economiesin recent years, we have faced challenges in implementing key strategic initiatives or policies that genuinely support this ecosystem. I believe and hope that Athens LifeTech Park will serve as a catalyst for a new era of growth and investment in the Greek scientific community”.
Dr. Skokos , additionally expressed his enthusiasm joining the Advisory Board and stated, “It is an honor to be part of the distinguished advisory body of Athens LifeTech Park (ALTP). Our mission is to create Greece’s premier biotechnology accelerator, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and fostering strategic collaborations with leading academic and industry partners worldwide. Our key objective is to establish ALTP as a catalyst for biomedical innovation while contributing to Greece’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, ultimately aiming to enhance patient benefits on a global scale”.
Speaking on the formation of the Advisory Board, Ms. Eleni Pentafragka, Chair of the Board of Athens LifeTech Park, stated, “Athens LifeTech Park represents the culmination of ELPEN’s longstanding commitment to research and its unwavering belief in Greek scientists. The composition of the Advisory Board, with members from both the Greek and international research and business communities, serves as a valuable multiplier of Athens LifeTech Park’s impact. Through this network, we can bridge Greek scientific excellence with the global market, creating the conditions for sustainable innovation in the field of biotechnology”.