KENTRO EREVNON NOTIOANATOLIKIS EVROPIS ASTIKI MI KERDOSKOPIKI ETAIREIA

Their core work

SEERC (South-East European Research Centre) is a Thessaloniki-based research centre specializing in responsible research and innovation (RRI), open science policy, and the transition to circular economy models. They bridge academic research with societal impact by developing governance frameworks, training tools, and institutional change strategies for research organizations and public bodies. Their work spans RRI implementation across European and Western Balkan regions, circular economy transitions in supply chains, and inclusive innovation ecosystems connecting research, industry, government, and civil society.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), SEERC combined ICT-oriented work — cloud security (PaaSword), ICT entrepreneurship training (STARTIFY7) — with the beginnings of their open science and institutional change agenda (FIT4RRI). From 2019 onward, they shifted decisively toward societal challenges: responsible innovation governance, circular economy transitions, migration research, inclusive green policies, and connecting innovation with social impact and the UN SDGs. The technical ICT work disappeared entirely, replaced by a consistent focus on policy frameworks, quadruple helix engagement, and just transitions.

SEERC is moving toward the intersection of responsible innovation, social justice, and green transition — positioning them well for Horizon Europe missions on climate adaptation and inclusive societies.

How they like to work

SEERC operates exclusively as a consortium partner, never as coordinator, across all 14 projects. They work in large, diverse consortia — 143 unique partners across 37 countries — indicating they are a sought-after contributor rather than a project driver. Their broad partner network and repeated engagement across RRI-themed projects suggest they bring specialized policy and social science expertise that complements technical and scientific leads.

With 143 unique consortium partners across 37 countries, SEERC has an exceptionally wide European network for a Greek research centre of its size. Their geographic reach extends strongly into the Western Balkans (via WBC-RRI.NET and MIGREC), giving them a distinctive Southeast European connectivity.

What sets them apart

SEERC occupies a rare niche at the intersection of responsible innovation policy and practical implementation — they don't just study RRI, they build the governance frameworks and training tools for institutions to adopt it. Their Southeast European location and strong Western Balkan network make them an ideal bridge partner for consortia needing to connect EU-15 research with widening countries. Few organizations combine this depth in RRI with hands-on circular economy and social impact work.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ReTraCE
  Largest funded project (EUR 486K) and an MSCA-ITN, training the next generation of researchers on circular economy transitions — signals deep commitment to this field.
• ACCTING
  Most recent project (2022–2025) on inclusive Green Deal behaviour change — represents their strategic direction toward just and inclusive sustainability transitions.
• PaaSword
  Their only deeply technical project (EUR 325K on cloud data privacy/security), revealing an earlier ICT capability that distinguishes them from pure policy research centres.