NBG Business Seeds - Partners

We support your outward-looking and innovative business with the right mechanisms and the right allies.

Our partnerships in the service of Greek business

In your effort to grow your business, we are by your side.

In this page:

Research Centers Organizations Universities Bodies Companies

Research Centers

Centre for Research and Technology Hellas

The Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) was founded in March 2000 and directly reports to the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT). CERTH has important scientific and technological achievements in many areas including: Energy, Environment, Industry, Mechatronics, Information & Communication, Transportation & Sustainable Mobility, Health, Agro-biotechnology, Smart farming, Safety & Security, as well as several cross-disciplinary scientific areas. Today CERTH includes the following five institutes with indicated major fields of research: •Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute (CPERI): Sustainable & Clean Energy, Environmental Technologies, Chemical & Biochemical Processes, Advanced Functional Materials; •Information Technologies Institute (ITI): Informatics, Telematics and Telecommunication Technologies; •Hellenic Institute of Transport (HIT): Land, Sea and Air Transportation as well as Sustainable Mobility services; •Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB): Agri-biotechnology, Health Translational Research, Informatics for big bio-data; and •Bio-economy and Agro-technology Institute (IBO): Agrotechnology, Mechatronics, Biomedicine and Kinesiology. More than 700 people work at CERTH with the majority being scientists. CERTH has received numerous awards and distinctions such as the European Descartes Prize, the European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant, Microsoft International Contest Prize, the Trading Agents Competition Award and many more and is listed among the Top-20 of the EU’s Research Centres with the highest participation in HORIZON 2020 competitive research grants. CERTH has participated successfully in more than 1.200 competitive research projects financed by the European Union (EU), leading industries from USA, Japan and Europe and the Greek Government via the General Secretariat of Research and Technology (GSRT). CERTH’s research results have significant scientific impact.

Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming"

BSRC Fleming is one of the most rapidly developing research centers in Greece. It was established in 1998 and today is actively involved in cutting edge research in biomedical sciences. The Center currently hosts 14 research groups in 4 Institutes covering the areas of immunology, molecular biology & genetics, molecular oncology, cellular and developmental biology. Fleming has gained extensive visibility in the European Research Area through state-of-the-art research programs in basic, as well as translational and applied science in biology, biomedicine and biotechnology. Fleming is a non-profit organisation and operates under the supervision of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT) of the Hellenic Ministry of Education.

Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas

The co-operation concerns the investigation of the specialized financial needs of FORTH, especially in areas such as capital movements and the renewal of research equipment, the exploration of the applicability of existing specialized financial instruments and/or the creation of new ones targeted at the exploitation of the research results of FORTH in order to their transfer to production and the possibility of creating and financially supporting a wider institution based on internationally recognized performance and linking the research result to production. It also aims at identifying and further promoting the results of cooperation, by communicating the possibilities offered to better link its research activity and other similar research institutions to the Greek economy. Emphasis is placed on FORTH's technology transfer technology in production, facilitating the creation of companies to exploit research results, and contributing to the identification of tax and other incentives to improve the institutional framework that governs collaborations between individuals and research centers.

National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos"

The National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos” (NCSR “Demokritos”) is the largest multidisciplinary research center in Greece, with critical mass in expertise and infrastructure in the fields of Nanotechnology, Energy & Environment, Biosciences, Particle and Nuclear Science, Informatics and Telecommunications.

Organizations

THE PEOPLE’S TRUST

Collaboration with privately funded non-profit organization The People's Trust, which provides microfinance and business development services to small enterprises in all sectors, includes financial support to teams participating in the NBG Business Seeds program for the development of their business plans. In addition, The People's Trust can propose the inclusion of two mature business teams/proposals that have distinguished themselves in its actions directly in the second phase of the Innovation & Technology Competition, as well as the inclusion in the NBG Business Seeds program of two mature start-ups that participated in its programs.

KiΝΝΟ

KINNO Consultants ltd is InnoEnergy’s HUB in Greece and in Cyprus.

Enterpreneurs’ Organisation

The aim of the partnership is to generate synergies between actions organized by the Organization, such as the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), and the corresponding actions of NBG, such as the Innovation & Technology competition; the joint organization of events and workshops, and the mutual participation in mentoring activities aiming at fostering innovation; the inclusion of teams supported by NBG Business Seeds in the Organization’s actions; targeted support for, and mentoring in, business issues that are of direct interest to the teams supported by the Organization; and the potential for the Organization to propose mature start-ups for inclusion in NBG Business Seeds and to explore financing opportunities.

ENDEAVOR GREECE

The collaboration between NBG and Endeavor Greece aims at supporting innovative and developing businesses. The input of NBG and its staff, in the framework of this partnership, includes: •mentoring for entrepreneurs on issues related to financial management and operations, and •financing of healthy companies that present a high level of extroversion, are in a growth phase, and are seeking the means to grow, create more jobs, and expand in Greece and abroad. The supported innovative activities include technology, the rural economy, green energy, and tourism with a focus on standardisation, accreditation, innovation in the production process and, thereafter sales in Greece and abroad. The collaboration between NBG and the Endeavor program involves: •the participation of the CEO of NBG on the Board of Endeavor Greece, •the participation of NBG officers in Endeavor Greece's network of mentors, and •the granting of loans (in line with the applicable credit policy) for the nominated companies participating in the Endeavor Greece network.

Innoenergy

The collaboration between the NBG Business Seeds program and InnoEnergy, an international body in the sustainable energy sector, pertains to the following: •Investigation for synergies between actions organized by InnoΕnergy in Greece and abroad, and similar actions carried out by NBG (e.g., Innovation & Technology Competition, NBG Business seeds program, etc.). More specifically, in relation to actions carried out by InnoΕnergy in Greece, synergies can be achieved through KINNO as well, since KINNO is InnoΕnergy ’s representative in Greece. •Regarding the InnoΕnergy Powerup! Country Final Greece competition, it is agreed that the Bank is authorized to recommend the participation of teams that had taken part in the Innovation & Technology Competition organized by the NBG Business Seeds program, given that the topics of the competitions are similar. •The employees of NBG will participate in evaluation committees, as well as in team mentoring actions regarding financial issues. • InnoEnergy can recommend the inclusion of companies that participated in the InnoΕnergy Powerup! Country Final Greece, in the context of the NBG Business Seeds financing and entering program of the Bank. NBG will examine the recommendations and will decide based on the criteria applied for the participation of companies in the NBG Business seeds program, pursuant to the needs and the prospects of the business. • NBG can recommend to InnoEnergy groups from the NBG Business Seeds program for networking, information, investment or co-investment purposes, as well as for their participation in incubators or other InnoΕnergy programs. • Communication between contracting parties regarding actions and initiatives aiming to encourage youth entrepreneurship, innovation and outward orientation in the energy sector.

Universities

Panteion University

Our collaboration with the Panteion University has resulted in the decision of the Rector, for faculty members of the University to participate in the evaluation of the proposals submitted in the framework of the Innovation & Technology Competition of the NBG Business Seeds program.

Athens University of Economics & Business

NBG, as part of its strategy to foster and promote youth entrepreneurship, has entered into agreement with the Athens University of Economics and Business to lend further support to the proposals nominated in the "Innovation & Technology" Competition by providing training in the areas of accounting, marketing and sales. More specifically, the actions carried out jointly with the AUEB include: •sponsorship for the awards given by the Ennovation student competition and for the participation of the winners directly in the 2nd Phase of the Innovation & Technology Competition, and •support for the successful proposals of the Competition by offering them the opportunity to take part in the following training programs: "Management and development of viable innovative start-ups" and "Entrepreneurship boot camp" of the AUEB.

University of Macedonia

By decision of the rectorate, members of the University research and teaching staff will participate in the evaluation of the proposals submitted to the Innovation & Technology Competition of the NBG Business Seeds program.

University of Thessaly

Agricultural University of Athens

The aim of this collaboration with the Agricultural University of Athens is to identify, promote and ultimately implement innovative ideas and projects that will help develop sustainable SMEs in the agricultural sector of Greece as well as individual producers of agricultural and livestock produce. In the frame of the collaboration, the Bank and the Agricultural University of Athens will jointly develop the following actions: networking, promotion of innovative ideas and projects, exchange of information, and promotion and support of business ventures to apply the research of teachers and researchers at the Agricultural University of Athens through training and mentoring, provision of networking infrastructures, and financing.

Bodies

AmCham GR American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce

NBG's cooperation with the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce aims at the development of a framework for collaboration with American incubators and accelerators so as to open the way for selected Hellenic startups participating in the NBG Business Seeds program to join the AmCham, besides through the usual selection and membership procedure. NBG executives participate in the evaluation committees of the Make Innovation Work (MIW) competition as well as in mentoring actions by teams working on financial matters. Selected companies that won distinctions will be considered for inclusion in the NBG Business Seeds financing and mentoring program. Similarly, companies participating in NBG Business Seeds will be considered for inclusion in the programs, events and roadshows of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce.

Israel Advanced Technology Industries (IATI)

Through cooperation with Israel Advanced Technology Industries (IATI), firms participating in the NBG Business Seeds program are being brought into contact with Israel’s globally recognized innovation ecosystem and are gaining access to research and development, support, and financial solutions and financing from venture capital funds of global reach and other investors. IATI stands out internationally as an organization with circa 600 members, entrepreneurs, start-ups, incubators, accelerators, R&D centers, multinational corporations, local and international venture capital funds, private investors, technology transfer companies and service providers, and fosters research, development, and implementation of best practices in high-tech industries and the life sciences.

Onassis Foundation

With a view to supporting Culture, National Bank of Greece collaborates with the Onassis Foundation focusing on 5 key areas: - Participation of the teams supported by the organization in the "Innovation & Technology" competition under the auspices of the NBG Business Seeds program. - Participation of the teams supported by the NBG Business Seeds program in the actions run by the organization, provided this meets the planning and priorities of the organization. - Joint organization of actions, events and workshops with a view to promoting innovation, with a special focus on education and culture. - Targeted support for and mentoring in business themes concerning the teams supported by the organization. - Ability of the organization to propose mature start-ups for inclusion in the NBG Business Seeds program and for seeking out relevant financing.

Junior Achievement Greece

Junior Achievement Greece (JA Greece), in the context of its collaboration with NBG, will be able to propose the direct inclusion, following relevant approval of the Bank, of the two groups shortlisted in the student competition "JA Greece/Digital Entrepreneurship, Innovation/JA Start Up", in the second phase of the Innovation & Technology Competition, provided that the proposals' subject areas fall within the Subject Areas of the Bank's Innovation & Technology - Competition.

Center of Volunteer Managers - Greece (KEMEL)

Collaboration with KEMEL (Center of Volunteer Managers – Greece) focuses on three key areas: • Participation of KEMEL personnel in Innovation & Technology – NBG Business Seeds workshops with business start-ups seeking guidance. • Organization of closed meetings with groups taking part in NBG Business Seeds for guidance on subjects related to business organization and financial management. • KEMEL’s capacity to propose start-up ventures that are ripe for inclusion in ΝΒG Business Seeds for seeking funding.

Companies

Grant Thornton

As part of its CSR actions, Grant Thornton offers free of charge for one year tax, accounting and consultant services to selected companies participating in NBG Business Seeds Program. Furthermore, Grant Thornton will take part in the workshops held twice a year in the framework of the “Innovation & Technology” Competition in order to provide information and advice on current issues that concern the participant companies.

Watson Farley & Williams

In the framework of its CSR actions, international law firm Watson Farley & Williams assists the Bank by providing advice on and detailing legal issues that may concern the companies that participate in the ΝΒG Business Seeds program. Watson Farley & Williams participates in workshops organized within the framework of the "Innovation & Technology” competition, with a view to providing information on relevant legal issues to the participating companies. Watson Farley & Williams is participating on a pilot basis in collaboration with the NBG Business Seeds program and Greek universities with a view to providing advice on legal issues related to the development of a framework for the commercial exploitation and implementation of research work carried out at universities.

McKinsey & Company

McKinsey, within the framework of its relationship with NBG, will provide advisory services to selected firms participating in NBG’s Business Seeds program, through meetings to be scheduled with each firm individually. Furthermore, McKinsey will participate in workshops organized in the context of the NBG’s Innovation & Technology competition, aimed at providing information and advice on issues that currently concern the participants. In addition, in the context of the Program’s actions, it will participate in the Bank’s initiatives to promote the business use of research projects carried out by Greek universities.

PWC

NBGs Business Seeds collaboration with PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PwC) focuses on specific areas, as described below: - Mentoring -- in closed sessions for each team individually -- for firms included in the program on management issues such as HR management and cost control. - Participation in 3day "Match & Develop" seminar on governance/business writing themes, in a 20 minute presentation. - Exploration of the potential for future online advisory meetings with research teams from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, which are seeking to establish their own spin-offs.

Accenture

Accenture, in the context of its corporate social responsibility initiatives in Greece, actively supports the “NBG Business Seeds” program by: • Providing consulting services to participating teams/companies with emphasis on organization, technology, innovation and enhancement of their business plans • Participating in workshops -held twice a year as part of the Innovation & Technology Competition, providing consulting support to program’s teams/companies • Participating in NBG’s initiatives to highlight and promote the business utilization of research projects of Greek state universities and research centers, as part of the NBG Business Seeds program. In addition, both parties will explore opportunities to support local start-up community and entrepreneurship initiatives, such as co-hosting events and participating in mentoring activities.

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