Management of Greek Research Centers: FORTH’s Case Study (Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas)Management of Greek Research Centers: FORTH’s Case Study (Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas) Μεταπτυχιακή Διατριβή Master Thesis 2025-10-212025enIn the context of the current dissertation, we analyzed the management of Greek research centers. We followed a case study of the Foundation for Research and Technology–Hellas (FORTH) and a benchmarking analysis against FORTH and Germany’s Max Planck Society. The main purpose of this dissertation is to identify which governance, funding, human-resources and innovation practices enable excellence. Even more, the purpose was to conclude to recommendations for Greek institutions. Methodologically, we combined a literature-based theoretical framework, that included professional bureaucracy, resource dependence, NPM, Triple Helix and organizational ambidexterity, with a primary qualitative research through semi- interviews, with a qualitative comparative benchmarking analysis. The main findings are threefold. More specifically, they include that (1) FORTH’s semi-decentralised model, strong leadership and grant support and innovation structures, including PRAXI and STEP-C, underpin high performance and international visibility; (2) systemic constraints exist, such as for example limited multi-annual core funding, administrative rigidity and non-competitive salaries, and through their existence they create vulnerability to project cycles and talent loss; (3) targeted reforms, including for instance performance-linked baseline funding, periodic international evaluations, professionalised TTOs and industry liaison, digitalised administration and mobility-centered human resources policies, are able to strengthen resilience and impact. Keywords: Greek Research Centers, Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas, Organizational Management, Benchmarking Analysis.Μεταπτυχιακή Διατριβή που υποβλήθηκε στη σχολή Μηχανικών Παραγωγής και Διοίκησης του Πολ. Κρήτης για την πλήρωση προϋποθέσεων λήψης του Μεταπτυχιακού Διπλώματος Ειδίκευσηςhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης::Σχολή Μηχανικών Παραγωγής και ΔιοίκησηςPalivakou_Nikoletta_MSc_2025.pdfChania [Greece]Library of TUC2025-10-20application/pdf797.1 kBfree Palivakou Nikoletta Παλιβακου Νικολεττα Moustakis Vasilis Μουστακης Βασιλης Tsafarakis Stelios Τσαφαρακης Στελιος Kontogiannis Thomas Κοντογιαννης Θωμας Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης Technical University of Crete Management MTIM Master in Technology & Innovation Management