ITEMA for Research and Technology

• Integration of precision farming in agriculture. Already CERETETH coordinates a major EU – FP7 project called “Future Farm”.

• Rational management of water resources in agriculture. Development of innovative integrated system of management of water resources in agriculture. Already the CERETETH centre participates in EU – FP7 project (SIRRIMED)
• Coordination of human network for research and technology in the field of biomass and biofules
• Development of traceability systems for agricultural products using RFID sensors
• Air quality assessment (Interior and exterior) in livestock buildings.
• Construction of robotic vehicle for agricultural applications (‘Zeys’, participation and in  the  Athens Digital Weeky – Robots)
• Specialized certification protocols for greenhouse products
• Study new greenhouse covering materials for energy saving and environmental protection
• Construction of screenhouse for the study of climate change and the shortage of available water resources in agriculture
• Performance Assessment  and adaptability of various types of energy crops
• Participation in National Food Technology Platform
• Coordinator in the 1st National Research and Technology Network for production-marketing and use of biofuels in Greece.
• In cooperation with the Department of Wood and Furniture Design and Technology created the Greek cluster of Wood and Furniture. The ITEMA participated in the organisation of all activities related to this initiative, organized a workshop (briefing, arrangement of a meeting etc.) and promoted the collaboration of industries nationally with institutions participating in the cluster.
• ITEMA initiated the promotion of wood use and wood products in Greece through the campaign “GO WOOD”, in cooperation with editorial institutions and service providers which are active in the wood and furniture field in our country, Greece.
• ITEMA set off to act as co-organizer of the Action ”Building with wood seminar” in which the National Technical University of Athens, the University of Graz, University of Austria, the Technical University of Munich and many others are involved.

Within the framework of harmonization of the Greek Wood and Furniture businesses with current European legislation, the ITEMA, took the initiative with the cooperation and supervision of  the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT) to form a Committee for the Furniture field aiming to practice product quality control and provide further guidance to businesses, about the quality of produced products with respect to the consumer, with regard to hygiene and safety in accordance with the provisions of European  legislation.

ITEMA for local development and transfer of knowledge

Thessaly is a rural region with the primary agricultural sector still accounting for an important percentage of the total workforce of country. The agricultural products is the most important share of total GNP of the Region.

Although agricultural employment decreased in recent years, it remains the 35% of the total employment rate which indicates that the sector continues to provide jobs to a significant number of people, in a region where unemployment continues to be one of the main problems. CERETETH through the the Institute of Technology and Management of Agricultural Ecosystems (I.TE.M.A.) aims to increase the competitiveness of rural enterprises, mainly through the introduction of innovation in the production process.

• Already CERETETH have done significant o wark for the development and expansion of under cover cultivations in the region of Thessaly in view of climate change and water shortage.
• ITEMA introduce the concept of precision agriculture to the growers of Thessaly. The FP7 project “Future Farm” which was coordinated by ITEMA serves as a demonstration tool for this purpose.
• Examines new systems and crops for integrated and organic crop production. ITMEA. In the region of Thessaly there is a big market for organic products but the growers need a lot of help in different aspects of their production chain
• Promotes energy efficiency and integrating renewable energy in the agricultural sector.
• Promotes the traceability of products from farm to fork with innovative RFID sensors
• Examines the viability and competitiveness of new crops ( biofuels, Stevia plant)
• Explores the desing of functional food together with local food industries
•  Reinforces the livestock sector by means of specific actions such as creating the “Green Livestock Farm» but also through the establishment of the Laboratory of Drugs Development for animals
• ITMEA has established  considerable cooperation with SMEs in the sector of wood and furniture, through the provision of counselling and other services within the development of new innovative products of wood and furniture (wood pellets, novel furniture, etc.), investment proposals (development law, ESPA for 2007-2013,Cohesion Funds,. etc.), promoting  innovation (coupons of innovation services, -one-stop-shop), technology (product quality control , formaldehyde emission , credentials ISO 9001/2000, CE etc.) and, more generally, to enhance the competitiveness of enterprises in the sector through the diffusion of innovation and technology to companies of the wood and furniture sector

ITEMA for the Region of Thessaly

• In collaboration with the Department of Rural Development of Prefecture of Magnesia, a study has undergone for crop diversification in Pelion Mountain, in Thessaly periphery.
• In collaboration with the Prefecture of Trikala carried out a study for the substitution of sweeteners with the Stevia plant.
• Holistic proposal in the Region of Thessaly for creating an Environmental Observatory of Thessaly.
• In cooperation with the Technical Chamber   of Central Greece organize Energy Audit training seminars. Already more than 200 Engineers have been trained in order to be qualified as energy auditors.
• In cooperation with the municipality of Trikala   conduct energy audits of building facilities within the framework of the project “Exoikonomo”
• In cooperation with the Region of Thessaly, pilot energy audit.
• Holistic proposal to the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce of Trikala for the creation of a “Green Greenhouse”
• Creation of a webpage through which the users can be informed of the values of climatic parameters and derive information for crop irrigation and prevailing thermal comfort levels
• Creation of pilot Intraregional cluster of Wood and Furniture (“ΔΕΞΙΠΠΟΣ”)
• Collaboration with the Centre of Environmental Education of Makrynitsa to raise awareness and inform the citizens of Thessaly on  environmental issues
• Free wireless Internet service provider, in collaboration with the municipality of Karditsa, with free access for all, in the context of encouraging people to use digital technology and internet services. 

Also, the ITEMA –department of Karditsa, has occasionally offered its infrastructure and facilities for holding various events centred on the Region and beyond, such as regional development conferences conducting workshops, educational seminars and so on. Through these initiatives, the CERETETH managed to use constructively existing installations which remained unused for many years and offer them in the local communities with multiple benefits.