Development Foundation of the Metsovion Interdisciplinary Research Centre (MIRC) of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)

Establishment of the Development Foundation of the NTUA MIRC

The Public Benefit Foundation for the Development of the Metsovion Center for Interdisciplinary Research (MIRC) of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), for the protection and development of the mountain environment and local European cultures, is a Legal Entity of Private Law whose establishment and organization were approved by the Presidential Decree published in issue 559 of the Government Gazette vol. B’ of May 15, 2001. The Foundation is under the supervision and control of the Ministry of Finance. It is supervised by the Decentralized Administration of Epirus-West. Macedonia.

Founders

The establishment of the Public Benefit Foundation was made by: Dimitrios Rokos (Professor of the National Technical University of Athens and Scientific and Administrative Director of the NTUA MIRC), Themistocles Xanthopoulos (Professor and former Rector of the NTUA), Elias Zouvias (Lawyer and President of Metsovo’s Cultural Organization) and Apostolos Bissas (Medical Doctor and Member of the Board of Directors of Metsovo’s Cultural Organization). The headquarters of the Foundation are at the Technical University of Athens and its branch in Metsovo.

Purpose of the Foundation

The purpose of the Foundation is the continuous, systematic and comprehensive support of the operation and development of the Metsovion Interdisciplinary Research Center (MIRC) of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) in Metsovo, at a scientific, research, technical/technological, cultural, social and economic level and the creative cooperation with it, for the fulfillment of its purposes, i.e. the protection and development of the mountain environment and local European cultures.

In this context, some of the specific purposes of the Foundation are:

Financial support of the operation of NTUA MIRC and its scientific, educational and research initiatives in the direction of fulfilling its objectives.

Undertaking and carrying out interdisciplinary research and studies in the fields of development, environment and their multidimensional relationships, interdependencies and interactions.

Cooperation with the NTUA MIRC, the NTUA Interdepartmental – Interdisciplinary MSc Program “Environment and Development”, the University of Ioannina and the other Universities of the country on relevant issues.

Promotion and strengthening of MIRC’s initiatives and collaborations, with the NTUA, the University of Ioannina, the Region of Epirus, the Municipality of Metsovo and scientific, social and cultural organizations and relevant Institutions. The substantial contribution of these collaborations is to promote, both theoretically and practically, the Worthliving Integrated Development of mountainous regions, in dialectical harmony and with respect to their unique natural and cultural environment.

Participation in relevant national, European and international scientific networks.

Documentation, promotion and dissemination of the contribution of Epirus benefactors, scholars, philosophers, scientists, university professors, researchers, artists and professionals to the integrated (economic, social, political, environmental, technical/technological and cultural) development of Greece.

Cooperation with NTUA MIRC in organizing interdisciplinary conferences, symposia, seminars, workshops and lectures.

Contribution to MIRC’s publications etc.

Initial Board of Directors of the Foundation

President: Dimitrios Rokos, Professor, NTUA, Scientific and Administrative Responsible of NTUA MIRC
Vice President: Elias Zouvias, Lawyer, ex President of Metsovo’s Cultural Organization
Secretary General: Dionysios-Dimitrios Balodimos, Professor, NTUA
Treasurer: Efstratios Galanis, Professor, NTUA
Members: Themistokles Xanthopoulos, Professor, ex Rector of the NTUA
Eratosthenis Kapsomenos, Professor, University of Ioannina
Panagiotis Noutsos, Professor, University of Ioannina
Apostolos Bissas, Medical Doctor, President of Metsovo’s Cultural Organization
Alexandros Kachrimanis, Prefect of Ioannina, Electrical and Mechanical Engineer

Current Board of Directors of the Foundation

President: Apostolos Bissas, Doctor and President of Metsovo’s Cultural Organization
Vice President: Kalliopi Zouvia, Lawyer - Special Scientist at the Greek Ombudsman
Secretary: Dionysios-Dimitrios Balodimos, Professor Emeritus, NTUA, former Vice-Rector of the NTUA. and former member of the Scientific Committee of the N.T.U.A.
Treasurer: Angeliki Geronteli, Environmentalist, MSc "Environment and Development" NTUA, Technical Laboratory Staff of the NTUA - MIRC
Members: Alexandros Kachrimanis, Regional Governor of Epirus
Vaios Kotsios, Dr, Environmentalist, MSc "Environment and Development" NTUA, MSc "Environmental Education" University of the Aegean
Polychronis Kolokoussis, Dr. Eng. and Rural and Surveying Engineer, Laboratory Teaching Staff of the Remote Sensing Laboratory of the NTUA
Elya Michailidou, Agriculturalist, MSc "Environment and Development" NTUA, Technical Laboratory Staff of the NTUA - MIRC
Vangelis Rokos, Geologist, PhD, Technical Laboratory Staff, Laboratory of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, NTUA

Indicative activities

The Development Foundation, in cooperation with the NTUA MIRC designed, created and periodically updates the following databases:

  • Database on research, studies, publications, books, digital discs, photo albums, etc. for the protection of Epirus local cultures: The object of the database, was the creation of a bibliography archive on the local cultures of Epirus, which can be useful to students, researchers, scientists, institutions, local organizations, social and cultural institutions, and to any person who is interested and/or involved in Integrated Development and the protection of the natural and cultural environment of Epirus. The aim of the database is to be a bibliographic aid for those involved in the preservation of the local cultures of Epirus in relation to the environmental challenges, contributing to the Worthliving Integrated Development of the region.
  • Database on the local cultures of the mountainous areas of Epirus and their interaction and interdependence with the natural mountain environment: This Database is a bibliographic and online research effort to get acquainted with the natural and socio-economic reality, with the cultural characteristics, traditions, skills and techniques, the local environment and the biodiversity of each mountainous municipality of Epirus. The multidimensional dialectical relationships, interdependence and interaction, among human actions, the problems and needs of mountainous areas and the natural and cultural environment, are highlighted. The development of the Database, is part of the activities of the Foundation for the protection and preservation of mountain communities, based on the principles and values of Worthliving Integrated Development.

In the context of fulfilling its educational and cultural objectives, the Foundation announces and awards prizes, in the field of protection and integrated development of the mountain environment and local European cultures. Specifically, the following prizes have been awarded: Best PhD Thesis, Best Diploma Thesis, Best Research Paper, Βest NTUA student of Metsovo origin, Best Highschool Student Teamwork Project, Best Conference Poster and Best Documentary Film.

Since 2010, the Foundation’s activities include the organization of Documentary Film Competitions for the Environment and the Integrated Development of Mountainous Areas, with the aim of making a substantial contribution to the effort to revitalize the countryside and especially the mountainous areas, during the years of the multidimensional crisis.

Specifically, the 1st Documentary Film Competition for the Environment and Integrated Development of Mountainous Areas was completed on October 31, 2011. The films were evaluated by the Jury, which consisted of Michel Dimopoulos, film critic and former Director of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival as President and members Alexis Grivas, filmmaker, Stelios Charalambopoulos, director and Dimitris Rokos, Professor Emeritus of the National Technical University of Athens. The awards were accompanied by financial support to the director and the producer.

The Jury of the 1st Competition unanimously decided to award:

  • 1st prize, to Vassilios Panagiotakopoulos, for his film, “The little Palace of Aoria”,
  • 2nd prize, to Alexandros Karapetsis and Avrelios Karakostas for their film, “Behind the Mountain”,
  • 3rd prize, to Dimitris Karteris for his film, “Spontaneous Architecture of Shepherds”,
  • Praise to Eugenia Papageorgiou for her film, “Parnon: The Chronicle of a Disaster”.

The Jury also decided to praise without financial support:

  • Dimitrios Stamoulis for his film, “On the roof of Acheloos”
  • and Alexandros Drakatos and Angeliki Pittaki, for their film, “Aspropotamos”

The award-winning films were presented at special events held at the National Technical University of Athens (6/29/2012) and at the facilities of the N.T.U.A. in Metsovo (10/8/2012).

The NTUA and the NTUA MIRC have been organizing interdisciplinary conferences for the Integrated Development of Mountainous Areas every three years since 1995, within the framework of the institution of the National Technical University of Athens “The National Technical University of Athens for Metsovo”. Since 2001, the conferences have been held in collaboration with the Public Benefit Foundation for the Development of NTUA MIRC.

  • 11th Conference on “Views, Research and Actions for the Regeneration of Mountainous and Isolated Areas”, MIRC Facilities in Metsovo, September 2025
  • 10th Conference on “Research and Actions for the Regeneration of Mountainous and Isolated Areas”, MIRC Facilities in Metsovo, September 2022
  • 9th Conference on “Vision, Planning and Policies for the Integrated Development of Mountainous and Isolated Areas”, MIRC Facilities in Metsovo, September 2019
  • 8th Conference on “The Integrated Development of Mountainous and Geographically Isolated Areas”, MIRC Facilities in Metsovo, September 2016
  • 7th Conference on “Integrated Development in Greece in the Years of the Multidimensional Crisis. Causes, Responsibilities, Proposals, Measures, Actions and Prospects”, MIRC Facilities in Metsovo, September 2013
  • 6th Conference on “The Integrated Development of Mountainous Areas”, MIRC Facilities in Metsovo, September 2010
  • 5th Conference on “Education, Research, Technology. From Yesterday to Tomorrow”, MIRC Facilities in Metsovo, September 2007
  • 4th Conference on “The Integrated Development of Epirus”, MIRC Facilities in Metsovo, September 2004
  • 3rd Conference on “Integrated Development in Mountainous Areas. Theory and Practice”, Metsovo Conference Center, June 2001
  • 2nd Conference on “Technology, Culture and Decentralization”, Metsovo Conference Center, June 1998
  • 1st Conference on “The National Technical University of Athens for Metsovo. Returning a Part of the Debt”, Metsovo Conference Center, May 1995

–  Since 2006, the Foundation has been a member of the Greek Network of the Anna Lindh Foundation (https://www.alfhellas.gr/en), an international organization whose mission is to promote intercultural dialogue and cooperation across the Euro-Mediterranean region

–  Since 2018, the Foundation has been collaborating with the Society for Cretan Studies – Kapsomenos Foundation (https://www.eks-ik.eu/) announcing the “Award for writing an essay on the cultural values of mountainous Greek islands: A fundamental condition for their Integrated Development”.

–  In collaboration with the Department of Philosophy of the University of Ioannina, the following conferences were carried out:

  • International Scientific Symposium on “Literature and the Mountains”, March 9, 2009, at the facilities of the NTUA in Metsovo,
  • 7th Panhellenic Scientific Conference “Problems of Socialism” on “The Problem of Culture in the Modern World”, Municipal and Prefectural Administration of Chania, Chania, 20-21 August 2003.