The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has opened applications for its free business accelerator to help students turn ideas into commercial enterprises.
The Archimedes Technology Transfer and Innovation Unit announced that submissions for the eleventh acceleration cycle are now open and will close on November 30, 2026, ahead of training sessions starting in February 2027.
The initiative targets members of the university community who want to explore whether a commercial concept can become a viable enterprise. Early stage startup companies that have recently begun operations are also eligible to participate.
Applicant eligibility rules
Applications are open to undergraduate students, postgraduate students, academic researchers, and university staff across all faculty and technical categories, including DEP, EEP, EDIP, and ETEP personnel. Former students who completed their degrees at the university within the past three years may also apply.
Submissions are accepted from individual applicants, established teams, or existing startup companies. Business teams must include at least one member from the university community. Startup enterprises must have completed fewer than three full financial accounting years, and at least one founder or shareholder must hold an active connection to the institution.
Selection officials confirmed that evaluation panels will give priority to teams over individual candidates when reviewing applications.
Workspace and venture support
Participation in the acceleration programme is entirely free of charge. Successful applicants receive access to dedicated workspace in the centre of the Greek capital, located at 1 Ioannou Paparrigopoulou Street on Klafthmonos Square.
The facility provides teams with consulting support, educational workshops, and administrative infrastructure. Specialised modules focus on building sustainable business models, identifying target markets, developing a minimum viable product, securing investment capital, and preparing formal investor presentations.
Participants will also receive guidance from experienced mentors drawn from the Greek academic and commercial sectors. The unit provides structured networking opportunities with established corporations, innovation agencies, and alumni teams from earlier cycles of the accelerator.
Workshop timetable and curriculum
The initial phase of instruction is scheduled to begin on February 9, 2027, and will conclude on April 13, 2027. Training during this period will cover the Lean Startup methodology, business model design, digital tools, competitive analysis, marketing strategy, and pitch presentation skills.
The Lean Startup approach emphasizes rapid prototyping, hypothesis testing, and validated customer feedback before committing heavy resources to product manufacturing. Teams that successfully advance to the second stage of the programme will attend further advanced workshops covering startup incorporation and legal structure, commercial sales expansion, key performance indicators, and contract negotiations.
Selection criteria and submission details
Candidate selection will take place across two evaluation rounds. Assessors will first conduct a formal screening to verify whether each applicant meets basic eligibility requirements. Teams that pass this initial stage will then be invited to present their commercial proposals directly to an evaluation panel.
The selection board will judge candidates on five primary criteria: the degree of innovation, the completeness and skill balance of the team, the practical feasibility of implementation, the applicants' knowledge of their target market, and the overall quality of the presentation.
Prospective applicants must submit their forms electronically before the November 30 deadline through the official university portal at https://archimedes.uoa.gr/accelerator-invitation/. Questions and requests for further information can be sent by email to [email protected].
University innovation in Athens
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, founded in 1837, is the oldest higher education institution in modern Greece and among the largest universities in southeastern Europe. The Archimedes Unit was established to help faculty and students translate academic research and laboratory discoveries into market ready commercial applications.
Organisers said the acceleration programme aims to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical commercial activity, giving nascent Greek ideas the structured backing needed to test their viability and establish a lasting presence in the broader market.
