Restructuring Higher Education in Greece

Greece’s higher education system stands at a critical juncture. Despite a strong tradition of academic excellence and a globally competitive diaspora, structural constraints continue to limit its full potential: underfunded research environments, rigid governance frameworks, weak links between academia and the productive economy, and limited incentives for performance and innovation. These challenges are not abstract—they are reflected in persistent outflows of talent, low levels of research commercialization, and a system that struggles to compete internationally for both faculty and funding.

Higher education is a core sector for Deon Policy Institute. From its inception, Deon has worked to identify and advance targeted, implementable reforms that strengthen institutions, align incentives, and unlock the productive capacity of Greece’s academic system. Our approach is grounded in evidence, comparative analysis, and continuous engagement with stakeholders across academia, government, and industry.

As part of this effort, Deon conducted the first-ever survey of the Greek academic diaspora, gathering 501 responses from professors and researchers abroad. The findings provide a uniquely granular understanding of both the structural barriers to repatriation and the conditions under which return becomes viable. Beyond mobility, the survey captures the diaspora’s assessment of systemic weaknesses—ranging from governance and funding to research autonomy and institutional culture—offering a direct, evidence-based foundation for reform.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on the establishment of a new Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, Deon Policy Institute presents a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at repositioning higher education as a central pillar of Greece’s long-term productive model:

1. Meritocracy

Introduce transparent, performance-based recruitment and promotion systems, addressing one of the most consistently cited barriers in our diaspora survey: lack of trust in evaluation processes.

2. Strengthening Technology Transfer

Build a functional national technology transfer framework—standardized agreements, professionalized TTOs, and clear incentives—responding to both low commercialization outputs and diaspora demand for applied research pathways.

3. Research Funding & Salaries

Establish competitive and predictable funding mechanisms, including start-up packages and improved compensation, to close the gap with international peers and enable immediate research productivity upon appointment.

4. Ecosystem Support

Strengthen the enabling environment within universities by improving support infrastructure for professors and researchers and simplifying procurement procedures for technical equipment and consumables.

5. Diaspora Repatriation & Collaboration

Implement targeted policies for talent attraction and engagement, including cross-border academic partnerships and the creation of a dedicated diaspora platform to support sustained collaboration with Greek academics abroad.

6. Governance and Strategy

Establish a national research strategy, ensure a coherent approach across research centers, public and non-public universities, and design the new ministry structure to enable public-private collaboration and support stronger integration with the labor market.