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New call for interventions in Heraklion and Rethymno – Additional funding opportunity following the €6 million allocated to HMU in 2026
The Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports is moving forward with a new major initiative to strengthen safety and modernize the facilities of Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU), through a call with a total budget of €5.5 million, following a decision by the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki.
The funding initiative, implemented through the Sectoral Development Programme (SDP) 2026–2030, concerns targeted interventions at the University’s facilities in Heraklion and Rethymno, with priority given to structural safety, functional upgrading and the improvement of study and working conditions.
The new call builds on the cooperation between the Ministry’s political leadership and the administration of HMU. During the meeting between Sofia Zacharaki and the Rector of the University, Professor Nektarios Papadogiannis, on October 8, 2026, the need for extensive safety, maintenance and renovation interventions was discussed, along with the possibility of additional funding of up to €5.5 million for mature project proposals.
With the new decision, this funding opportunity is now placed within a specific financial framework, allowing the procedures for the submission, evaluation and inclusion of the proposed projects to move forward.
Interventions in Heraklion and Rethymno
The call includes three main areas of intervention:
- Safety inspections and infrastructure assessment: Preparation of studies and provision of specialized services to assess the condition and safety of HMU’s building facilities.
- Comprehensive renovation of Building K12 in Heraklion: Extensive renovation and functional upgrading works.
- Upgrading of facilities at Perivolia, Rethymno: Major maintenance and modernization works on the University’s building and electromechanical infrastructure.
Particular emphasis is placed on fire safety, seismic adequacy where required, energy efficiency and ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities.
These interventions aim both to address existing needs and to ensure the long-term protection of the University’s facilities, directly benefiting students, faculty members, researchers and administrative staff.
Continued support for HMU and public universities
The new initiative forms part of the Ministry of Education’s broader strategy to upgrade the infrastructure of public Higher Education Institutions, with particular emphasis on safety, students’ daily experience and support for regional universities.
In June 2026, the Ministry had already allocated €6 million to Hellenic Mediterranean University, as part of an overall €115.85 million programme for the maintenance, repair and functional upgrading of the infrastructure of public universities and the School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE) for the 2026–2030 period.
This followed funding of €1 million in July 2025, also by decision of Sofia Zacharaki, for technical maintenance, repairs and upgrading of HMU’s facilities and equipment.
The additional €5.5 million call concerns separate, larger-scale interventions and complements the broader planning for the systematic addressing of the University’s infrastructure needs.
In this way, support for public higher education is given continuity and tangible substance through projects that protect university infrastructure, strengthen academic activity and improve the daily experience of the university community.
Implementation process
The call is financed through the National Development Programme, via the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports’ Sectoral Development Programme 2026–2030.
Proposals are submitted electronically through the National Development Programme Information System, with a deadline of February 29, 2028, while expenditure remains eligible until December 31, 2030.
Funding for the individual projects will be finalized following the submission and evaluation of the relevant proposals and the issuance of the corresponding inclusion decisions.
Statement by the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki
“The quality of a public university is reflected not only in the level of its studies and research, but also in the conditions in which students study, faculty members teach and its people work. The safety, functionality and accessibility of facilities are essential prerequisites for a modern university.
In October, during my meeting with the Rector of Hellenic Mediterranean University, we discussed specific needs and mature project proposals. Today, with the new €5.5 million call, we are taking another important step toward addressing these needs, with interventions in Heraklion and Rethymno.
This initiative is added to the €6 million already allocated for the maintenance and upgrading of the University’s infrastructure for the 2026–2030 period.
We want Hellenic Mediterranean University to continue developing, to offer high-quality education and research, and to strengthen Crete’s position on the academic map. We remain firmly committed to supporting our public universities with specific resources, close cooperation with their administrations and priority given to the real needs of students and the academic community.”
