Connecting Innovation to Global Opportunity: The Launch of Lab to Market in Greece

Implemented by the Columbia Global Center Athens and overseen by Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and NTUA, the initiative is supported as well by Columbia Business School, Endeavor Greece, and the Hellenic Institute of Advanced Studies (HIAS), with generous funding from the Blavatnik Family Foundation.

“The Lab to Market program in Greece embodies Columbia Global’s mission to spark innovation through meaningful partnership,” said Wafaa El-Sadr, Executive Vice President for Columbia Global, which helps Columbia faculty, students, and researchers engage with the world and helps their counterparts in the world to engage with Columbia. “By bringing together local talent, industry expertise, and Columbia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, this initiative empowers researchers and innovators to transform ideas into ventures that can drive lasting impact in Greece and beyond,” El-Sadr added.

As noted by Shih-Fu Chang, Dean of Columbia’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, “The new program fully leverages Columbia’s deep expertise and extensive experience in translating research into tangible benefits for society and is fully aligned with our vision of Engineering for Humanity.”

Initiative Details

The initiative includes the New York immersion experience, thanks to the support of the Blavatnik Family Foundation at no cost to the students and researchers. As Len Blavatnik, Founder of the Foundation and Columbia alumnus, stated, “We are delighted to support this initiative and to help young people in Greece fully realize their immense potential.”

With a five-year horizon, the Lab to Market Initiative launches its first cycle focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Energy and Sustainability, and Health Technologies, positioning Greece’s next generation of researchers and innovators at the forefront of global impact.

The initiative is built around four core pillars:

• Education – Specialized seminars delivered by Columbia and NTUA faculty covering entrepreneurship fundamentals, from business planning and market identification to product design and development.
   
• Mentorship and Networking – Structured mentorship and access to the Greek and international innovation ecosystems through Endeavor Greece and HIAS.
   
• New York Immersion – Participation in NY Tech Week, offering teams direct exposure to Columbia University and New York City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
   
• Competition and Funding – A business plan competition awarding up to €10,000 in seed funding to the most mature and innovative proposals.
   

Launch Event

The launch event was honored by the presence of Mrs. Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis, Founder of Endeavor Greece and Member of the Senior Council of Columbia Global Center Athens; Minister of Labour and Social Security Niki Kerameus; and Deputy Minister of Development for Research and Innovation Stavros Kalafatis, highlighting the initiative’s strategic importance for Greece’s innovation ecosystem.

“Lab to Market exemplifies a model of strategic international collaboration, links education with employment, and invests in our most valuable asset—human capital,” stated Niki Kerameus, emphasizing the importance of openness and innovation within Greek higher education.

“This initiative is a bold step toward connecting scientific excellence with entrepreneurial innovation,” added Stavros Kalafatis, noting the government’s commitment to transforming research into solutions.

The program’s inaugural cohort includes 90 students and early-career researchers, selected through a competitive process. “The number of applications exceeded all expectations,” noted Stefanos Gandolfo, Managing Director of Columbia Global Center Athens, “as we received more than 105 applications from teams including over 400 students and researchers.”

Participant demographics reflect the program’s national reach and disciplinary diversity:

• Gender: 60% men, 40% women
   
• Geographic representation: Participants from 18 cities and towns across Greece, including Drama, Xanthi, Trikala, Ioannina, Heraklion, Aigio, Preveza, Athens, and Thessaloniki
   
• Academic background: Students and researchers from eight Greek universities, primarily in Computer Science (33%), Electrical Engineering (24%), Civil Engineering (8%), and Medicine and Life Sciences (8%)
   

Highlighting the importance of mentorship, Konstantza Spokou-Konstantakopoulou, President of Endeavor Greece, stated: “Greek academic research is one of our country’s most important strategic advantages. Lab to Market launches with a clear objective: to bridge the gap between knowledge and the market, transforming research into sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives.”

Petros Koumoutsakos, Professor of Computational Science at Harvard University and President of HIAS, emphasized HIAS’s role in strengthening international collaboration through academic exchange, expert mentorship, and connections to global entrepreneurship-focused programs.

For more information about the Lab to Market Initiative in Greece, including future sessions and cohorts, visit the Columbia Global Center Athens webpage.