The University of Thessaly Honored Teams Distinguished for Their Social and Technological Impact with 3 Innovation Awards
Three new Greek teams were honored in the Innovation Marathon in Technology and Health, organized by the Innovation-Technology Transfer Unit and Entrepreneurship Center “One Planet Thessaly” of the University of Thessaly, within the framework of the annual Southeast European Innovators Challenge (SEEIC) 2025, which was hosted this year at the JOIST Innovation Park in Larissa.
The competition was held as part of the project “Strategy of Excellence of the University of Thessaly – Development of an Innovation / Entrepreneurship Center” (SUB2: “Universities of Excellence” – TA 5180665) and aimed to showcase and support innovative ideas, applications, and technological solutions that address contemporary social, environmental, and scientific challenges.
The Innovation Awards of the University of Thessaly
Ten original proposals were submitted to the competition, focusing on applying research to solutions that improve daily life, enhance sustainability, and promote technological evolution.
The judging committee awarded the three Innovation Prizes to the following teams:
1st Prize — “Home Sweet Grow”: The team of Dr. Evmorfia Bataka, with Anastasia Mourantian and Maria Venetidou, presented an innovative business initiative that reshapes the way food is produced and distributed in urban areas. Home Sweet Grow promotes sustainable development through a flexible indoor farming system, utilizing open-source hardware & software technologies.
2nd Prize — “Heal Simulations”: The student team of Ioannis Siokos developed a digital education application for Anatomy, in collaboration with the Anatomy Laboratory of the University of Thessaly, under the supervision of Professor Aristides Zimpis. The application utilizes simulation and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies, offering an interactive learning environment for students of medical and biomedical sciences.
3rd Prize — “Cricketos”: Anastasia Fountouli, a commissioned lecturer at the University of Thessaly, presented a pioneering insect farming operation, which substantially contributes to reducing the environmental footprint in the agri-food sector and promotes sustainable protein production.
The judging committee consisted of the following members:
Chrysi Laspidou, Vice Rector of Innovation, Internationalization, Collaborations and Digital Governance, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Thessaly.
Dr. Ioanna Kastelli, Assistant Professor, Department of Business Administration, University of Thessaly.
In her statement, the Vice Rector and Head of One Planet Thessaly, Chrysi Laspidou, said: “The competition highlighted the creativity and dynamic of young researchers and teams who utilize technology to provide solutions to real social and environmental challenges. ‘One Planet Thessaly’ is dedicated to strengthening the research capability of the University of Thessaly, connecting academic knowledge with industry, and fostering an entrepreneurial culture within the academic community. We warmly congratulate all participating teams who presented excellent ideas with significant social and technological impact.”
Signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)
On the sidelines of the conference, Vice Rector Ms. Laspidou signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the University of Thessaly and three Turkish technology parks: Ostim Technopark (Ankara), Bursateknopark (Bursa), and Antalya OSB Technopark (Antalya).
The Memoranda set the framework for joint actions concerning:
Collaboration on innovation and entrepreneurship projects.
The provision of practical training (internships) for UTH students.
The co-organization of educational seminars and workshops.
The promotion of industrial doctorates and the development of university courses with an emphasis on new technologies.
These agreements strengthen the international presence of the University of Thessaly, promote the interconnection of research with the market, and confirm the role of Thessaly as a regional innovation hub in Southeast Europe.
