EREVNITIKO PANEPISTIMIAKO INSTITOUTO THEORITIKIS KAI YPOLOGISTIKIS FYSIKIS

Their core work

This is a theoretical and computational physics research institute based in Heraklion, Greece, affiliated with the University of Crete (physics.uoc.gr). Their work sits at the frontier of theoretical high-energy physics: they investigate the mathematical structure of quantum gravity, the relationship between gauge theories and gravity (the AdS/CFT correspondence), and extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics. In practice, this means developing formal frameworks — using tools from supergravity, string theory, and quantum field theory — to understand how gravity behaves at the quantum level and what new particles or forces might exist beyond current experimental knowledge. Their output is peer-reviewed theoretical research, not applied technology, making them a specialist partner for projects requiring deep mathematical physics expertise.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier project (SM-GRAV, 2016–2021), the institute's focus leaned toward phenomenological questions: how holography and gravity connect to observable physics, including axions and hypothetical new forces beyond the Standard Model. By their most recent project (RGxGRAV, 2021–2023), the work had shifted toward more formally mathematical territory — renormalization group flows, superconformal symmetry, and the internal structure of gauge/gravity duality — moving away from particle phenomenology toward the deep mathematical foundations of quantum field theory. The trajectory points from "what new physics might holography predict?" toward "how does holography itself work at a fundamental level?"

The institute is moving deeper into formal theoretical physics — specifically the mathematical structure of holographic RG flows — suggesting future collaborations will be strongest with groups working on quantum gravity, string theory, or condensed matter systems where holographic methods are applied.

How they like to work

Despite coordinating one project, this institute operates in very small, tightly focused arrangements — only one unique partner recorded across both projects, all within a single country. This is characteristic of theoretical physics, where collaboration is typically between two or three individual researchers rather than large industrial consortia. They are best approached as a specialist contributor for the theoretical physics component of a project, not as a consortium orchestrator capable of managing multi-partner logistics.

Their recorded H2020 network is minimal: one unique partner in one country, reflecting the nature of fundamental theory research where collaboration is intellectually deep but institutionally narrow. There is no evidence of broad European or international consortium experience within the H2020 data.

What sets them apart

This institute is one of very few Greek research groups with both an ERC Advanced Grant participation and an MSCA Individual Fellowship in theoretical high-energy physics, signalling recognition at the highest level of European fundamental research funding. Their specific combination of holography, supergravity, and Standard Model physics occupies a niche where formal string-theory methods meet questions about real particle physics — a rare intersection. For a consortium needing theoretical physics depth in quantum gravity or gauge theory, they offer specialist expertise that most applied-research institutes simply do not have.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SM-GRAV
  Largest project by funding (€508,375, ERC Advanced Grant) and the broadest in scope — connecting gravity, holography, and Standard Model phenomenology including axions and new forces.
• RGxGRAV
  The institute's only coordinator role, an MSCA Individual Fellowship (2021–2023) focused on non-relativistic renormalization group flows from supergravity — a highly specialized formal topic.