A joint announcement by the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation and the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) marked the recent official opening of Cisco’s new office in Crete. The event, held at FORTH’s headquarters in Heraklion, celebrates a deepening collaboration between Greece’s leading research institution and the global leader in networking technologies. It also highlights Crete’s growing role as a hub for technology and innovation.
The opening ceremony was attended by several local officials and academic representatives, including the Regional Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis; Nikos Kontarakis, Special Advisor to the Municipality of Heraklion for University and Research Affairs; Professor Panagiotis Tsakalidis, Deputy Director of FORTH’s Institute of Computer Science; and Professor Maria Vamvakaki, Vice Rector of the University of Crete.
Speakers from Cisco included Sergio Freitas (Director of Engineering), Andreas Enotiadis (Global Provider Mobility Sales), and Nikolaos Lamprogiannos (Client Executive), who outlined the rationale behind selecting FORTH and the Science and Technology Park of Crete as the location for this strategic expansion. They emphasized the company's focus on innovation and talent—qualities they view as inherent to Greece’s academic institutions, particularly FORTH and the University of Crete. During the event, the members of Cisco ThousandEyes' local team were also introduced.
Cisco's growing interest in Crete’s research and academic ecosystem was further demonstrated by its acquisition of FORTH’s spin-off company, Code BGP, in August 2023. This acquisition—the company’s first investment in a Greek spin-off—serves as tangible recognition of the high-level research being conducted by Greek scientists. It is also expected to significantly contribute to the local economy and community by creating competitive job opportunities, internships, and training programs; attracting talent back to Greece (helping reverse the brain drain); and connecting the region with Cisco’s global infrastructure network, bringing the benefits of digital transformation directly to local society.
Code BGP was founded by Professor Xenofontas Dimitropoulos, Vasilios Kotronis, and Lefteris Manassakis, with the mission of developing a method for real-time detection and mitigation of BGP prefix hijacking attacks. The idea was born during a hackathon and was soon developed into a successful business through the formation of the Code BGP spin-off. Today, just a few years later, the company plays a key role in protecting the global Internet, underscoring the critical importance of bridging research and industry.
The announcement concludes:
"Cisco’s decision to establish operations at FORTH’s Science and Technology Park in Crete is clear proof of the exceptional scientific talent nurtured at the University of Crete and FORTH. Beyond their academic contributions, these institutions are generating a dynamic force that is actively supporting regional and national economic development."
