Partners

Computer Technology Institute & Press "Diophantus" (CTI – Coordinator)

The Computer Technology Institute & Press "Diophantus" (CTI) is one of the major R&D institutes in Greece. Currently it employs more than 250 individuals: experienced and specialized scientists (including faculty members of the Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics at the University of Patras), engineers, PhD students, and supporting staff. In the last 5 years, CTI has successfully undertaken more than 125 R&D projects, 92 of which were funded by the EC, and in 15 of which acted as coordinator. It has exhibited substantial basic and applied research activity in areas such as algorithms, complexity and optimization, wired as well as wireless and sensor networks, computer and network security, ubiquitous and distributed computing, e-learning, complex information systems design and development, production systems, embedded systems, integration and sustainable development. CTI has developed close ties with both the public and private sector and serves as the official consultant of the Greek State. It offers excellent computing and office facilities. In addition, CTI (together with the Dept of Computer Engineering & Informatics at the University of Patras) hosts one of the seven grid nodes of the Greek grid network. The above demonstrate that CTI provides a stimulating and well equipped environment for conducting research and transfer of knowledge.

Centre for Research & Technology – Informatics & Telematics Institute (CERTH)

The Informatics and Telematics Institute (ITI) was founded in 1998 as a non-profit organisation under the auspices of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology of Greece, with its head office located in Thessaloniki, Greece. Since 2000 it is a founding member of the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) also supervised by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT). The Informatics and Telematics Institute of CERTH exhibits substantial research activity, both basic and industry- oriented, as well as technology transfer actions, in the area of multimodal interfaces, virtual, augmented and mixed realities where included modelling and simulation of complex virtual environments, haptic force feedback applied research, 3D modelling and compression, computer graphics, 3D semantics, deformable objects and cloth modelling, collaborative virtual environments, new sensor development for head/hands/body tracking, multimedia analysis/synthesis, gesture recognition, head motion modelling and tracking, advanced applications of virtual/augmented/mixed reality in education and training, e-health, assistive technologies, culture, industry and e-business. Over the last three years, the CERTH/ITI research team has authored over 100 publications in scientific journals and over 300 presentations to international conferences (for a complete list see: http://www.iti.gr/). CERTH/ITI is currently participating in 36 EC ICT projects and more than 50 National projects, and is the coordinator of seven EC ICT projects. Indicatively relevant European R&D efforts include the ACTIBIO (Coordinator, FP7, no.: 215372), ACCESSIBLE (Coordinator, FP7, no.:224145), AEGIS (FP7, no.:224348), OASIS (FP7, no.:215754), ASK-IT (FP6 no.:511298), IMAGINE-IT (FP6, no.:508008), SIMILAR (FP6, no.:507609), VICTORY (Coordinator, FP6, no.:044985), SENSATION (FP6, no.: 507231) (For a complete list of publications and R&D projects see: http://www.iti.gr/).

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology – Institute for Theoretical Computer Science (ETHZ)

The Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule Zuerich (ETHZ) is a federal university in Switzerland. Computer Science at ETH Zurich has a tradition going back to some of the first computers ever devised, pioneering work in numerical computing and logic, as well as the design of several programming languages and associated hardware, user interfaces and operating systems. Its Computer Science Department currently consists of roughly 300 individuals that are engaged in a broad variety of research efforts, covering the full range from practical to theoretical studies, with funding from the government as well as from local and global funding agencies (including European Union funds).

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology – Institute of Theoretical Informatics (KIT)

On October 01, 2009, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) was founded by a merger of Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe and Universität Karlsruhe. The basis was the KIT Merger Act that was adopted unanimously by the Baden-Württemberg state parliament in July 2009. KIT bundles the missions of both precursory institutions: A university of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg with teaching and research tasks and a large-scale research institution of the Helmholtz Association conducting program-oriented provident research on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany. Within these missions, KIT is operating along the three strategic fields of action of research, teaching, and innovation. With about 8000 employees and an annual budget of about EUR 700 million, one of the largest research and teaching institutions worldwide is established in Karlsruhe. It has the potential to assume a top position worldwide in selected fields of research. The objective: KIT will become an institution of top research and excellent scientific education as well as a prominent location of academic life, life-long learning, comprehensive advanced training, unrestricted exchange of know-how, and sustainable innovation culture. The faculty for Informatics of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology is the oldest research establishment devoted to computer science in Germany currently counting approximately 3.000 students and over 300 faculty members and researchers in various fields from theoretical computer science to robotics and electrical engineering. From the beginning, the faculty has a strong history of national and international success, which is reflected by the fact that it is constantly located within the very top positions of numerous well-known research and university rankings over the past years.

TomTom International B.V. (TomTom)

TomTom is a digital mapping and routing company that focuses on car navigation. Products include Portable Navigation Devices (PNDs), line fitted in-dash navigation solutions and software for use on PDAs and smartphones such as the iPhone. Through the Tele Atlas unit the company also supplies digital maps that enable route guidance. TomTom was founded in 1991. The company's shares were listed on Euronext Amterdam in May 2005. After years of rapid organic grow supported by small acquisitions a big step was taken in 2008 when Tele Atlas was acquired. TomTom's annual revenue grew from 8 million in 2002 to 1,5 billion in 2009. In 2008, TomTom navigation products are sold in over 30 countries (and over 20 languages). Tele Atlas provides maps including detailed street-level and interconnecting road networks for 90 countries. TomTom delivers Better Maps through a combination of a high quality map data base that is continuously kept up to date through input from an extensive fleet of surveying vehicles and from a large community of users. TomTom delivers Better Routing through the world’s largest historical speed profile data base and its unique real time traffic information service.

PTV Planung Transport Verkehr AG (PTV)

The PTV Group provides cutting-edge software technology and consulting to enable customers to meet their mobility needs. It helps people plan and manage traffic and transportation, provides them with the latest traffic reports and assists them in optimising their long-term resource allocation. Since 1979, our independent corporate group has been a leading provider of products and solutions for travel, traffic and transportation planning. Strong international demand has fuelled dynamic growth: We currently have over 700 employees worldwide crafting innovative solutions for our customers in the public and private sectors. Our Karlsruhe headquarters acts as a development and innovation centre with tight links to research and educational institutions. We additionally maintain shareholdings and subsidiaries in Germany, Europe and every continent in the world. In the Traffic Software, Traffic Consulting and Logistics Software business fields, PTV technology forms the foundation of a host of brand-name products and our own leading map&guide and PTV Vision product lines.