Dr Elias Hontzopoulos has a degree in Chemistry from the University of Athens (1979), and a PhD in Chemical Conversion of Solar Energy (1983). He is a Partner and Vice Chairman of Prime Laser Technology SA (producer of solar energy absorbers using laser technology), with responsibility for production and R&D, and a Partner and General Manager of Lamda Technology Ltd (optic networks, photon systems and laser applications).
He has worked as a visiting professor for five years (1986-1990) in the Physics Dept. of the University of Crete, and for 16 years (1986-2000) as a researcher in the Electronic Structure and Laser Institute of the Technology and Research Foundation, where he was Scientific Director-Coordinator on a large number of research projects funded by the European Union (BRITE/EURAM, BPITE, ESPRIT, GROWTH, IST, COMMET programmes) or other international funding organizations (NATO Science for Stability) financing demonstration projects.
He has worked as evaluator on proposals by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology and the European Union, in the context of European and national programmes, and also as a European Commission evaluator of the financial and technological impact from the use of research findings on companies participating in the projects BRITE-BRITE/EURAM – RAW MATERIAL (VALUE program).
From 1994 to 1996, he was National Representative on the Committee of Senior Officials of COST (European Co-operation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research), and in 2000-2001 he was a member of the EU’s High Level Panel for Research Infrastructures.
He is actively engaged in the transfer of technology in the field of photonics and laser technology, with personal experience and participation in the whole chain of academic research – applied research – demonstration of technology – spin-off – innovation – entrepreneurship – production and R&D in the corporate environment.
Since 2000, he has worked in the private sector in a range of management positions, involved both in company management and in the implementation of high-tech projects (AxonTech SA, Vivodi SA, Lamda Technology Ltd, Foco SA, VKT-Velux, Prime Laser Technology SA).
