INSTITOUTO GEOLOGIKON KAI METALLEFTIKON EREVNON

Their core work

IGME is the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration of Greece — the country's national geological survey. They provide applied geoscience services covering mineral resources, groundwater assessment, geo-energy, and geological hazard monitoring. In the H2020 context, they contributed geological expertise to pan-European research infrastructure networks, volcanology observatories, Earth observation initiatives, and raw materials policy projects. Their work bridges field geology and data infrastructure, making geological knowledge accessible and usable for environmental planning and resource management.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

IGME's early H2020 work (2015–2017) centred on establishing foundational geological services — applied geoscience, geo-energy assessment, groundwater mapping, and building a European geological information platform through GeoERA. From 2018 onward, their focus broadened toward volcanology monitoring networks (EUROVOLC), Earth observation applications (e-shape), and raw materials training and education (intermin). The shift suggests a move from core geological survey work toward more interdisciplinary environmental monitoring, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.

IGME is expanding from traditional geological survey work into Earth observation applications and cross-border capacity building, positioning itself as a knowledge hub rather than purely a data provider.

How they like to work

IGME never coordinated an H2020 project — they consistently join as a participant or third party, contributing specialist geological knowledge to large consortia. With 212 unique partners across 44 countries, they are embedded in very broad European networks, typical of national geological surveys that plug into pan-European infrastructure initiatives. Their frequent third-party role (3 of 7 projects) suggests they are often brought in for specific Greek geological data or regional expertise rather than driving project design.

IGME has collaborated with 212 unique partners across 44 countries, reflecting the large-scale infrastructure and coordination projects they join. Their network spans well beyond Europe into North Africa and the Mediterranean, particularly through GEO-CRADLE and e-shape.

What sets them apart

As Greece's national geological survey, IGME brings authoritative ground-truth data on Greek geology, mineral deposits, groundwater, and volcanic activity — data that no other organization can provide. For any consortium needing geological coverage of the Eastern Mediterranean, Aegean volcanic arc, or Greek mineral resources, IGME is the natural and often the only credible partner. Their dual presence in both geological survey networks and Earth observation initiatives makes them a useful bridge between subsurface data and satellite-derived environmental monitoring.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GeoERA
  Flagship project establishing the European Geological Surveys Research Area — directly aligned with IGME's core mission and connecting all national geological surveys across Europe.
• EUROVOLC
  Greece hosts several active volcanic systems (Santorini, Nisyros); IGME's participation in this European volcano observatory network reflects unique regional geohazard expertise.
• e-shape
  Large-scale EuroGEO initiative connecting Earth observation to real-world applications — shows IGME's evolution toward applied environmental data services beyond traditional geology.