Institute of Communication and Computer Systems

Institute of Communication and Computer Systems
Name	Institute of Communication and Computer Systems
Established	1989
Type	Research institute
Location	Athens, Greece
Parent	National Technical University of Athens

Institute of Communication and Computer Systems is a research institute affiliated with the National Technical University of Athens located in Athens, Greece. It conducts applied research in fields that intersect electrical engineering, computer science, and telecommunications, and engages in technology transfer with European and international partners such as European Commission, European Space Agency, and NATO. The institute supports postgraduate education tied to institutions like National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and participates in consortia involving universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, and Politecnico di Milano.

History

The institute was founded in 1989 within the framework of the National Technical University of Athens expansion, emerging during a period marked by developments linked to the Single European Act and the creation of research networks funded by the European Framework Programme. Early activities connected the institute to projects funded by the Hellenic Republic ministries and collaborations with laboratories at institutions such as University of Cambridge, ETH Zurich, and Delft University of Technology. Over time the institute broadened its scope to include partnerships with agencies like European Space Agency and industry actors such as Siemens, Thales Group, and Ericsson. Milestones include participation in major EU research initiatives like the FP6, FP7, and Horizon 2020 programmes, and contributions to international events including conferences organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the International Telecommunication Union.

Organization and Governance

Governance is structured through a Board of Directors appointed under statutes consistent with the bylaws of the National Technical University of Athens and Greek law, with oversight interactions involving the Hellenic Ministry of Development and Investment and auditing relationships with bodies such as the Court of Auditors (Greece). The institute coordinates internal divisions reflecting ties to schools and departments at National Technical University of Athens, with leadership often drawn from faculty affiliated with departments like Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (NTUA) and laboratories connected to figures who have participated in advisory roles for organizations including European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and European Defence Agency. Administrative operations liaise with partners such as European Investment Bank and national agencies including the General Secretariat for Research and Technology.

Research Areas and Laboratories

Research spans multiple laboratories and centers addressing topics historically aligned with institutes at universities like Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Oxford. Principal themes include telecommunications and networking linked to standards activities at the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, signal processing related to groups such as the IEEE Signal Processing Society, power systems and smart grids associated with collaborations resembling those with ENTSO-E, control systems reflecting work paralleled at INRIA, and space systems contributing to missions involving the European Space Agency and industry partners like Airbus. Laboratories cover specialized areas: wireless communications comparable to labs at University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory, energy systems laboratories with modeling practices seen at Imperial College London, image processing labs echoing methods from Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, and cybersecurity teams participating in exercises alongside NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. Research outputs often feed into standards bodies including the Internet Engineering Task Force and academic publishers like IEEE Transactions.

Education and Training Programs

The institute provides teaching and supervision for postgraduate programmes connected to doctoral curricula at the National Technical University of Athens and joint programmes with entities such as Athens University of Economics and Business and Harokopio University of Athens. Training activities include professional development courses modeled after offerings by institutions like CEDEFOP and collaborative workshops co-organized with organizations such as European School of Management and Technology and European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Students and researchers benefit from exchange schemes that mirror initiatives like the Erasmus Programme and doctoral fellowships similar in structure to those offered by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

Selected Projects and Collaborations

Notable projects include participation in EU-funded consortia under programmes analogous to Horizon 2020 projects, bilateral collaborations with industry partners such as Siemens, Thales Group, and Ericsson, and space technology projects involving European Space Agency missions and companies like Airbus Defence and Space. The institute has contributed to smart grid pilots in collaboration with grid operators similar to Independent Power Transmission Operator and distributed energy initiatives in partnership with entities like Enel. Research collaborations extend to universities including University College London, Politecnico di Torino, and Technical University of Munich, and to international research networks such as those coordinated by the European Research Council and the Global Challenges Research Fund.

Awards and Impact

Researchers associated with the institute have received recognitions and prizes from organizations comparable to the IEEE, European Research Council, and national awards administered by the Hellenic Republic. The institute’s impact is reflected in contributions to standards development at bodies like the Internet Engineering Task Force and influence on national policy through expert advice submitted to agencies such as the Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the General Secretariat for Research and Technology. Alumni and staff have joined companies and institutions including Google, Facebook (Meta Platforms, Inc.), Siemens, European Space Agency, and academic appointments at universities like University of Oxford and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Category:Research institutes in Greece