The Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU) participated in the “Artemis Saitakis” Innovation Marathon – HACKATHON 2025, which took place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November 2025, as part of the three-day event “Innovation Days of the Region of Crete – InnoDays 2025” at the International Exhibition Centre of Crete. The proposal submitted by HMU ranked among the best, earning the 2nd Prize.
This year’s Innovation Marathon focused on: “Innovative ideas for the sustainable development and promotion of Cretan gastronomic culture”, implemented by the Hellenic Mediterranean University under the scientific supervision of Associate Professor Markos Kourgiantakis from the Department of Business Administration and Tourism.
The Innovation Marathon was dedicated to the memory of Artemis Saitakis (1954–2021), who served for many years as Director of the Science and Technology Park of Crete at the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), substantially contributing to the advancement of innovation and entrepreneurship in Crete.
During the award ceremony held on the afternoon of Sunday, 30 November 2025, at the conclusion of “Innovation Days – InnoDays 2025,” the award granted to Team 3 of the Hellenic Mediterranean University stood out, as the team secured 2nd Prize among 17 student/researcher teams from the academic and research institutions of Crete. The team consisted of:
Vasiliki Irini Chatzea, PhD candidate at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, HMU, and undergraduate student in the Department of Management Science and Technology, HMU.
Angeliki Nikiforidi is an undergraduate student in the Department of Business Administration and Tourism, HMU.
Sophia Matthaiaki, is an undergraduate student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, HMU.
Giorgos Nikiforidis, graduate of the Department of Agriculture, HMU, and member of the Social Cooperative Enterprise “ORAMATI-ZO.”
Their proposal, titled MinoEats, is a modern suite of digital educational games that incorporate interactive, experiential, and entertaining elements, aiming to teach the value of the Cretan diet and sustainable development. This distinction highlights the high quality of ideas and the work produced by HMU students, as well as the University’s active participation in innovation-oriented initiatives that promote culture and sustainability.
The award was presented by the President of the Regional Council of Crete, Mr. Evangelos Zacharis.
The 1st Prize was awarded to Team 6 from the Department of Chemistry of the University of Crete (Angeliki Giannouli, Danielita Danai, Christina Fiotaki). Their project, titled La(m)b Stories, concerns the creation of a natural, traditional broth cube that encapsulates the gastronomic identity of Crete in a practical and exportable form.
The 3rd Prize was awarded to Team 12 of students/researchers from the Department of Chemistry of the University of Crete (Rania Fotiadou, Eva Polenta, Fotini Batsolaki, Chara Rakopoulou). Their idea, titled Agro BioSolutions, focuses on developing innovative agri-biotechnological solutions through heterologous expression of proteins and enzymes, enhancing the potential for producing new local products and increasing the value of Crete’s primary sector.
The prizes were accompanied by monetary awards (€2500, €1500, and €500 for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes respectively), funded by the project “Actions of Academic Innovation within the operation of the Observatory of Innovative Entrepreneurship of the Region of Crete for 2025–2026,” as well as an honorary gift from AIC, which supported the communication networks of Innovation Days 2025.
