Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and National Observatory of Athens sign space research pact

On 24 June 2027, at the National Observatory of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the National Observatory of Athens signed a memorandum of cooperation. The agreement was signed by university rector Prof. Kyriakos Anastasidis and observatory director Dr. Spyridon Vasilakos, with Deputy Minister of Development Stavros Kalafatis in attendance.

The pact establishes a framework for joint research, education and the development of innovative applications in space technologies, astronomy, atmospheric physics, satellite remote sensing and climate‑change studies. It foresees joint research programmes, co‑authored publications, technology transfer, and the co‑organisation of conferences, seminars and workshops. The partners will promote student and researcher mobility, supervise collaborative undergraduate, master’s and doctoral theses, explore a dual‑degree graduate programme in English focused on space technologies and Earth observation, and seek support from the European Space Agency and funding from national, European and international sources.