News
Dynamic Presence of FORTH/ICE-HT at the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair
The Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH/ICE-HT) is dynamically participating in the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair, taking place from September 5 to 13. FORTH is hosted in Pavilion 7 at the booth 5 of the Ministry of Development, specifically within the stand of the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSRI), presenting cutting-edge innovative technologies that bridge scientific research with industrial applications to both the general public and specialized audiences.
During the opening day of the Fair, the FORTH/ICE-HT booth was visited by the Minister of Development, Mr. Takis Theodorikakos; the Deputy Minister of Development, Mr. Stavros Kalafatis; the General Secretary for Research and Innovation, Mr. Dimitris Terzis; the Governor of the Region of Crete, Mr. Stavros Arnaoutakis; as well as representatives of other organizations, who were guided through the exhibits and informed about the Institute’s research activities.
At the FORTH/ICE-HT booth, visitors have the opportunity to discover two pioneering research exhibits. The first involves the development of weight-optimized technical textiles for personal protective armor. In the defense sector, maximizing protection without the burden of extra weight remains a critical challenge. The developed technology relies on modifying flexible panels, such as Kevlar, and non-flexible panels, such as Tensylon, using environmentally friendly processes and non-toxic materials. The result is enhanced resistance to ballistic impacts and stab attacks while maintaining a low weight. Furthermore, through the “REDESIGN” proposal, a new perspective emerges as fiber (nano)modifications and hierarchical multiscale modeling are applied for optimal interlaminar reinforcement. The Scientific Coordinator of the project is Dr. Georgios Voyiatzis, Research Director at the Applied Spectroscopy Laboratory of FORTH/ICE-HT.
The second exhibit focuses on generating electricity from body movement using smart textiles and flexible electronics under the European project GRAPHERGIA. The project introduces sustainable laser processing technologies for materials, converting low-cost raw materials into functional graphene-based materials and integrating them directly into flexible electronic devices (Roll-to-Roll). Applications ranges from energy-harvesting and storage e-textiles to wearable self-powered systems, lithium-ion battery anodes (Graphite/Si), and IoT sensors. Key advantages include green, digitally controlled production without chemical waste, bridging the gap between the laboratory and industry. The Coordinator of GRAPHERGIA is Professor Spyros Yannopoulos, from the Nanotechnology & Advanced Energy Systems Laboratory of FORTH/ICE-HT and the University of Patras.
The representation of ICE-HT was supported by Research Director Dr. Maria Klapa, Associate Scientist Dr. Vassilis Drakopoulos and Public Relations Officer Ms. Angeliki Kosmatou.
