
Prof. Yiannis Bakouros
Head of Materlab
A Chemical Engineer graduated from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 1981 and received his Ph. D. in Management and Administration in 1988, from the University of Bradford, in the UK. He worked as Production Manager, Technical Advisor, Sales Manager in Industrial and Distribution Enterprises and Consultant Companies. He has also been a member of the board of Directors and Technical Advisor of a Textile Company. He has been a Visitor Associate Professor of the Industrial Management Division at the Engineering School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and University of Thessaly in Greece. He was a Key member of the development team of Thessaloniki Technology Park and Director of its Vocational Training Center and one of the Founders of Thessaly Technology Park. He has also served as Chairman of Eureka National Project Coordinators during the Greek Eureka Presidency. He was a Coordinator of Regional Innovation Pole of Western Macedonia and a Former member of the board directors of Alexandria Innovation Zone of Thessaloniki.

Amalia Kouskoura
Amalia Kouskoura is a graduate of the Department of Political Science of the Faculty of Law in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2006). In 2010 she aquired her master’s degree in Political Analysis in the Department of Political Science. She was a fellow of the Foundation “Christos Vrakas” throughout her undergraduate studies. She worked as an external researcher in surveys and participated in the Scientific Group which performed the planning, the collection and the analysis of statistical data for the Prefecture of Thessaloniki. She has been working as a trainee at the Planning Bureau and European Projects of the municipality of Panorama in Thessaloniki. She is a PhD holder with the subject: “Evaluation of regional competitiveness policies in less developed regions: an approach with the multi-criteria method of the analytic hierarchy process”, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia (UoWM). She also is a postdoctoral fellow with the subject: “Modeling of asymmetric threats and cybersecurity as key factors for measuring regional competitiveness”, Department of Chemical Engineering. During the last years she has participated in a number of projects, seminars and workshops on Regional Development, Smart Cities, Smart Specialization Policies, Regional Innovation and Foresight, and Civil Protection.

Anastasios Andronikidis
Anastasios Andronikidis is a Ph.D. candidate in Innovation Man-
agement and Entrepreneurship at the Department of Mechanical
Engineering at the University of Western Macedonia. He acquired his bachelor’s and his master’s degree from the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department at the University of Thessaly. In his Acceleration Program he thoroughly studied about Management of Organizations, Strategic Marketing, Managerial Economics, and International Human Resources Management. He was honored with scholarships and awards from the Ministry of Education (Greece), D.A.A.D. German Academic Exchange Service (Germany), and the University of Thessaly (Greece). His quality educational foundation in Computer Science / Electrical Engineering from the University of Thessaly (Greece), and in Entrepreneurship field from i4G (Greece), as well as his hands-on research experience, make him a strong researcher. His aspiration is to work in teams in order to solve a problem, divide work efficiently and support each other in order to achieve the best results.
acanastasios@gmail.com

Prof. Katerina Sarri,
is a Professor at the university of Macedonia. She is a graduate of the Economics Department, Faculty of Law and Economics of Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece. She has a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Birmingham, UK, and PhD from the University of Macedonia, Department of Applied Informatics.
She has taught courses in Business Administration, Women’s Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Financial Management, Human Resources Management and Strategic Management, Train the Trainers, and Mentoring in Greek and foreign educational institutions (universities, technical colleges) at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and in legal entities in the private and public sector. She has also worked as a consultant, evaluator and coordinator of programs (Central Health Council of the National Welfare Organization, KEK KEPAK & CIS MAKINE, Omnia Co, ELESA Ltd, RIPE, EQUAL, etc.). She has published articles in leading Greek and foreign journals on her scientific interests (Entrepreneurship, Women Entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship
education, entrepreneurship and innovation, mentoring, business administration) and has presented her work at numerous international conferences. She is the author of a forthcoming book on Women’s Entrepreneurship in Greece and national coordinator of the program GUESSS (Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students’ Survey) for youth entrepreneurship. She is also associated editor for the South-Eastern Europe Journal of Economics (SEEJE) and a reviewer for the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management (IJEIM), published by Inderscience Publishers.
ksarri@uowm.gr

Chrysostomos D. Stylios
Assistant Professor Chrysostomos D. Stylios, at Dep. of Informatics and Telecommunications Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Epirus (since 2006), is a collaborative senior researcher at Management of Technology Research Lab, University of Western Macedonia and a senior researcher at Sector of Telematics and Applications for Regional Development, Computer Technology Institute & Press. He was an external consultant at Patras Science Park for over 7 years. He was a visitor assistant professor at Computer Science Dep., of University of Ioannina for 4 years. He received his Ph.D from the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering University of Patras in 1999. He received the diploma in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 1992. He has been Scientific Responsible and project manager of R&D project for over 4 MEuros. He has published over 100 journal and conference papers, book chapter and technical reports. His main research interests include: Fuzzy Cognitive Maps, Soft Computing techniques, Computational Intelligence Techniques, Evolutionary methods, Neural Networks, Support Vector Machines, Knowledge Hierarchical Systems and intelligent data fusion; Modeling and Decision Support Systems, Innovation, Smart Specialization and Regional Development.
stylios@teiep.gr

Evi Mattheopoulou,
MBA, BSc in English & American Language & Literature, She graduated from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and took her Master’s degree in Business Administration from University of Macedonia. She took her Doctoral Degree from University of Western Macedonia in Virtual Management. Experienced executive with sound knowledge of Project Management within the implementation framework of transnational EU Programmes, HR Management and Public Relations. Tutoring as an external expertise in Organisational Behaviour, Corporate Social responsibility and Corporate Communication at the Technical Educational Institute of Serres, Greece. Efficiently combining her progressive academic background with
her extensive business career in the private business sector, bearing a life long tutoring experience at international level. Qualified as a Career development Facilitator at an international level European Centre for Credentialing & Education; registered A10 Expert in Certifying Trainers for Complementary & Supportive Services (National Accreditation Centre for Vocational Training.
mattheopoulou@euroconsultants.com.gr

Eleni Kalliontzi
Eleni Kalliontzi obtained a Bachelor’s degree in “Computer Engineering and Telecommunications” from the Department of Computer Engineering and Telecommunications at the University of Western Macedonia. Continuing her academic journey, she successfully earned a Master’s degree in “Biomedical Engineering” from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the same university. Currently, she is a PhD candidate at the Department of Chemical Engineering, working on her doctoral dissertation titled “Measuring Vulnerability and Risk Assessment from Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters.” Her research focuses on the development of comprehensive methodologies for identifying and quantifying vulnerability and risk, aiming to support effective disaster prevention, management, and recovery strategies. She actively participates in research programs, contributing significantly to their planning and implementation. With a strong dedication to the advancement of science and technology, she consistently supports the development of innovative tools and models that promote resilience and sustainability in the face of natural and man-made hazards. Her work aligns with contemporary global priorities in risk management, environmental protection, and societal resilience.

Kleomenis Papadiakos
An Informatics and Telecommunications Engineer of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the University of Western Macedonia, specialized in IT Hardware and Web Development. Has interests and experience in a wide variety of fields including: IT Support and Network Management, MS Office(Visual Basic), Web developer (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, WordPress), PC/Mac and smartphone repair services and CCTV Installations. Has been involved as a technical Associate in the University of Western Macedonia for the developement of an investment proposal evaluation tool,within the framework of the EU Project “GREEN RURAL DEAL: Sustainable Smart Transition Strategies for Rural Municipalities”, for the European Climate Initiative-EUKI, 2021-2022.