Overview

The Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications (IIT) is one of the six Research Institutes of the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” (NCSRD), Greece’s largest multidisciplinary research centre. With origins dating back to 1958, IIT has evolved from pioneering divisions in Electronics, Computing, and Digital Telecommunications into a dynamic research institute at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Communication Networks.

Formally established in 1987, IIT played a key role in shaping Greece’s digital research ecosystem. It set up the country’s first AI laboratories and was instrumental in the creation of the Hellenic Society for Artificial Intelligence (EETN) in 1988, later contributing to its integration into the European AI Society. It also led national initiatives such as the development and operation of the Ariadne Research and Academic Network (1985–1994), which laid the groundwork for modern Greek internet infrastructure.

Today, IIT’s activities are structured around two core, synergistic scientific divisions:

• The Intelligent Information Systems Division (IIS) focuses on both fundamental and applied research in AI. Its work spans machine learning, multimodal and social media content analysis, natural language processing, and big data analytics. The division is particularly active in semantics-aware AI and data-driven decision support systems, with applications across health, security, environment, and culture.
  Head of Division: Dr. Thodoris Giannakopoulos
• The Telecommunications & Networks Division (TN) conducts cutting-edge research in wireless and mobile communications, 5G/6G networks, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Key areas of expertise include antenna systems, MIMO technologies, Radio Access Networks, multi-RAT connectivity, network virtualisation, softwarisation, and energy-efficient, resilient networking architectures.
  Head of Division: Dr. Fotis Lazarakis

The integration of these two pillars within a public and multidisciplinary research environment allows IIT to address complex, real-world challenges and support cross-disciplinary innovation. This unique positioning gives IIT a competitive advantage in rapidly growing domains such as AI, Big Data, and next-generation networking technologies.

To fulfill its mission, IIT follows a strategic plan based on three interconnected pillars: Research, Innovation, and Education. These are supported by robust administrative structures, active science communication, and advanced research infrastructure. The current strategic plan (2023–2026) builds on previous achievements and integrates insights from recent evaluations to further enhance IIT’s role in national and international research.

Through its interdisciplinary collaborations and commitment to scientific excellence, IIT aims to be a vital link between academic research, technological advancement, and societal impact — acting as a catalyst for Greece’s transition to a knowledge-driven economy.

Institute | Deputy & Acting Director

Dr. Georgios Paliouras is Deputy and Acting Director of the Institute. He has been affiliated with the Institute since 1997, holding a range of research and leadership positions. His research focuses on Machine Learning and the extraction of knowledge from limited data, with applications across domains such as health and security, and includes over 300 publications with significant international impact. He has played a key role in developing the Institute’s AI activities, leading major research units and fostering collaboration and research excellence, while also driving flagship innovation initiatives such as the Document Intelligence Centre of Excellence (DICE) and supporting AI spin-offs. In parallel, he contributes to education and serves as voluntary Chairman of the Duchenne Data Foundation, supporting data-driven initiatives in the rare disease community.

Institute | Organisational Structure

The organisational structure of the Institute reflects its thematic prioritisation along with the need to effectively support all three strategic pillars, Research, Education, Innovation and their synergy.

At the highest level, IIT is governed by its Director with the support of the Deputy Director, and in close collaboration with the Institute’s Scientific Council. The governing entities are also responsible for the communication with the Institute’s Evaluation and Advisory Committee and the incorporation of the latter’s feedback and recommendations in the Institute’s operation.

Research is naturally organised under two divisions corresponding to the thematic pillars of IIT: The Division of Intelligent Information Systems and the Division of Telecommunications and Networks. The Heads of the divisions and their respective Labs are responsible for setting the research agendas and priorities under the broader strategy of the Institute, and in close collaboration with the governing bodies as well as with the Offices and Departments organising the Education and Innovation pillars.

The former is served by the Education Office that organises and monitors relevant activities in collaboration with the Labs in IIT, and through the NCSR-Demokritos Education Office with the other Institutes and the Central administration. The Innovation pillar is served by the ahedd Digital Innovation Hub, set up by IIT as a broader entity to homogenise and extend past bodies dedicated to Innovation (in the past, there was a separate division handling the provision of Services in Informatics and Telecommunications). An additional group is the NML & Mind Lab, which focuses on researching ways to incorporate ICT technologies in special education.

At the operational level, IIT is supported by its Administration Unit comprising the necessary secretariat, financial, legal and IT offices. Furthermore, the Institute manages and equips the Network Operations Centre, responsible for the operation, administration and maintenance of the NCSR-D campus network, its extensions in distributed locations outside of NCSR-D premises and its interconnection to GRNET, which is the Greek internet provider for all academic organisations. In the same vein, IIT manages NCSR-D’s eGovernance Office, responsible for maintaining network and computational infrastructure across the Centre, as well as for developing and maintaining software services and web assets. As part of its broader strategy to enhance internal organisation and work culture, IIT has also established a dedicated Human Resources Unit, responsible for implementing HR policies and supporting the Institute’s people-focused development strategy.

All aforementioned entities are accordingly supported by the Communications Office, the entity responsible for establishing the communication channels and organising events relevant to the Institute’s Research and Education activities.

Institute | History

The Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications (IIT) is one the five research Institutes of the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” (NCSR). Its roots can be traced as back as 1958, when the NCSR Division of Electronics was founded, rendering it as a pioneering electronics centre in Greece. Its initial activities ranged over various application fields, like the design and development of specialised electronic systems, nuclear electronics, industrial control devices, digital electronics and medical electronics. The next step was the foundation of the Computers Division in 1968, initially aiming to support the research and data-storage computational needs of the Centre.

At the same time, the Computer Centre was developed for specialised computing applications and support for various other research activities. A major achievement of the Division was Proteas, the first experimental 16-bit digital computer in Greece. Proteas was user-programmable, and its construction was completed in 1970.

Until 1975, NCSR was the only organisation in Greece where research in Electronics and Informatics was conducted. It should be noted that at that time and during the next decade, around 25 members of the Computer Division’s staff joined various departments of Informatics in Greek Universities.

In 1975, the Division extended its activities in Digital Telecommunications and particularly in the development of encrypted communication systems. The Electronics and Computers Divisions continued their activities independently till 1987, when after appropriate merges the Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications, the Institute of Microelectronics and the Computer Centre were established.

As a pioneer in the relevant fields in Greece, IIT has taken up multiple initiatives for the advancement of Computer Science in the country. NCSR hosted the infrastructure and managed the organisation that operated the National Research and Academic Network Ariadne (1985-1994). It was also one of the founding members of the nationwide ISP OTENET in 1995, capitalising the expertise and experience from Ariadne. IIT and its personnel was also the driving force for the foundation and establishment of the Hellenic Society for Artificial Intelligence (EETN) in 1988, and its inclusion in the European AI Society in 1992.