Objectives
The Cultural and Educational Technology Institute was founded in 1998 in Xanthi (Greece)
as an independent
research institute under the auspices of the General Secretariat for
Research and Technology (Ministry of Development). In November 2003 it was
integrated into the Centre of Integrated Research for the Information
Society (I.R.I.S.), which in February 2006 was renamed to "Athena" - Research and Innovation Center in Information, Communication and Knowledge Technologies.
The Institute constitutes an integrated research environment with
continuous interaction with the academic community, in particular with
the Democritus University of Thrace, the national and European
educational and cultural technology industry, the international
scientific community and the public sector.
The aim of the Cultural and Education Technology Institute (C.E.T.I.)
is the strengthening of research and technological activities and the
application of new technologies to the sectors of humanitarian science
and culture and to education. More specifically, the Institute
concentrates its scientific activities a) to the application of
Information Technology to the study of texts, analyses, study and
registry of languages, works of art, monuments etc. b) to the study of
related material, particularly ceramics, paper and parchments and c) to
the application of information technology to the area of Education such
as Distance Learning and Education-on-Demand.
To achieve these
objectives the Institute:
1.
Conducts
research programs into the area of the application of new technologies to
culture and education.
2.
Provides
information technology support for scientific and developmental
activities of the region by creating databases, electronic storage
facilities, network connections etc.
3.
Provides
scientific and research networks and international joint ventures with
the emphasis on co-operating with academic foundations in the Balkans and
Black Sea countries and for exchanging information on subjects of mutual
interest.
4.
Collaborates
with research establishments and faculties of other Universities of
similar interest and particularly with all those, which are already
operating in the area.
5.
Collaborates
with technological and industrial establishments of the region and of the
country in general, with the aim of coordinating research and production
and the exploitation of research results.
6.
Provides
special training for calculation and with the funding of interested
organizations. It trains scientists especially in the above mentioned
sectors with the organization and funding of research programs both in
Greece and abroad, by conducting post graduate seminars and workshops and
through various publications and presentations.
7.
Supports
initiatives for the utilization of the position of Thrace as the meeting
point and the South-Eastern gate of the European Union to the Balkans and
the Black Sea.
8.
Undertakes
initiatives for keeping up-to-date the scientific manpower of Thrace.
9.
Can
take part in any enterprise by producing products or providing services
for sectors relevant to its aims.
10.
Collaborates
both within Greece and abroad with experts and organizations specializing
on topics relevant to its activities, with the purpose of the advancement
of its objectives, and if needed, subcontract them for research topics of
special interest.
To this end, it tries to create the necessary technical
infrastructure and to attract experienced scientists. The development of
its infrastructure is funded with an initial budget of 2,35 Million ECU
for the period 1999-2002. Its objective is to create high technology
laboratories (multimedia, distance learning, archaeometry e.t.c.).
In 1999-2000 the main emphasis was placed in the creation and
operation of the Multimedia Laboratory and the Archaeometry Laboratory.
