5 minutesLeading Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development and Energy by HELLENiQ ENERGY and Alba Graduate Business School
HELLENiQ ENERGY and Alba Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece, are jointly establishing, for the first time in Greece, a flagship Center of Excellence aiming to serve as a reference point in Greece and the wider Southeast European region. This initiative bridges entrepreneurship and academic expertise, to address the contemporary challenges in the energy sector and drive Sustainable Development.
The official announcement of the establishment of the HELLENiQ ENERGY Center for Sustainability and Energy @Alba Graduate Business School took place on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at a special event held at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC). The event was attended by representatives from the Government, academia, the educational community, Greek banking sector, business leaders, energy organizations, and regulatory authorities’ officials.
This is the first partnership of its kind in Greece, bringing together a leading corporation and an academic institution to establish a Center of Excellence dedicated on Energy and Sustainability. The development of the Centre is overseen by a five-member Steering Committee, which includes the Academic Director of the Center, the Dean of Alba, and three distinguished independent members from both the academic and business communities.
More specifically, the Steering Committee is composed of:
- Prof. Kostas Andriosopoulos, Director at the HELLENiQ ENERGY Center for Sustainability and Energy,
- Prof. Kostas Axarloglou, Dean at Alba Graduate Business School,
- Kyriaki Kosmidou, Professor in Banking Finance at the School of Economics, Aristotle University,
- Theodora Antonakaki, Director of Bank of Greece's Climate Change and Sustainability Centre (CCSC)
- John Kostopoulos, Economist and former CEO of HELLENIC PETROLEUM
The HELLENiQ ENERGY Center for Sustainability and Energy @Alba Graduate Business School aims to engage all stakeholders in the energy sector—Government, Academia, Business, Civil Society and Public Administration—in a structured dialogue and collaborative exploration of the sector's challenges, with a particular focus on sustainability.
The Center’s activities include Learning conferences, Research projects, Academic papers, Customized case studies, and Publications. Leading experts and executives from companies that are at the forefront of the energy sector will contribute to the Center’s initiatives. Among them, HELLENiQ ENERGY executives will participate as speakers in the Center’s activities. The HELLENiQ ENERGY Center for Sustainability and Energy @Alba Graduate Business School will support the training of business executives through Alba’s Programs, contributing to the development of emerging talent wishing to specialize in the energy sector, further enhancing their career prospects. The Center is expected to become a hub for researchers and academics as well. Additionally, through the Center’s "Incubator Synergy Hub," energy sector startups will have the opportunity to present their ideas and businesses to attract investment and funding.
The Centre of Excellence will facilitate the specialization of business executives in the energy sector through their participation in Alba's "MSc in Energy Management" and "Executive Program in Energy Management (mini-MBA)" programs.
Presenting the initiative on behalf of HELLENiQ ENERGY, the company’s CEO, Mr. Andreas Shiamishis, stated: “The collaboration with ALBA Graduate Business School is a strategic decision for HELLENiQ ENERGY, as it is one of the most prestigious educational institutions, with strong ties to the labor market and active support from SEV. This partnership is part of a series of initiatives and collaborations with academic institutions both in Greece and abroad. The energy sector plays a pivotal role in green and Sustainable Development. The establishment of this Center of Excellence will enhance dialogue among stakeholders, support the formulation of effective policies, and aid in training a new generation of executives. It also highlights the need to operate with more balanced criteria. On our part, we are committed to contributing by sharing expertise from our executives, strengthening our connections with the State and the industry, and supporting academic research to foster innovation through the cutting-edge research programs we are already implementing as a leading energy company that is rapidly transforming and leading industry advancements”.
In his address during the inaugural event of the Center, the President of the American College of Greece, Dr. David G. Horner, stated: "Since the period of the economic crisis, the American College of Greece has initiated programs aimed at strengthening the Greek economy. We express our gratitude for this visionary collaboration between the Alba Association, Alba Graduate Business School, and HELLENIQ ENERGY in establishing the HELLENIQ Energy Center for Sustainability and Energy@ Alba Graduate Business School. We believe this partnership holds significant potential to contribute to the dynamic growth of the Greek economy".
The Dean of the Alba Association and Professor, Mr. Kostas Axarloglou, stated: "The rapid growth of the energy ecosystem in the broader Mediterranean region makes energy a critical element for the economy. HELLENiQ ENERGY and Alba Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece, are joining forces to establish the “HELLENiQ ENERGY Center for Sustainability and Energy @ Alba Graduate Business School,” with a shared vision to make the Center a hub and reference point for the energy ecosystem in the wider region. Our commitment is for the Center to take a holistic and objective approach to energy issues, actively supporting the energy ecosystem, society, and the transformation of our country into an energy hub".
The Director of the “HELLENiQ ENERGY Center for Sustainability and Energy @Alba Graduate Business School,” Professor Kostas Andriosopoulos, highlighted: “The goal of the Center is to transform the energy dialogue by approaching the energy transition holistically, promoting collaboration between academia, industry, and political leadership. Our mission is to highlight the importance of applied research, foster sustainable innovation, and train the future leaders of the sector. Through targeted academic programs, research projects, and collaborations with both industry and the international academic community, the Center aims to act as a catalyst for advancing knowledge and excellence in the field”.
A brief address at the opening event of the Centre was delivered by the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, Mrs. Alexandra Sdoukou, and the Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, Mr. Ioannis Tsakiris. This was followed by a discussion on "Energy Transition Challenges: A Stakeholder Discussion," featuring participation from Mr. Nikos Chafos, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on energy issues; Dr. Tatiana Mitrova, Researcher at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University; Dr. Derek Bunn, Professor of Decision Sciences / Management Science and Operations and Chief Examiner at the London Business School; and Mr. Yannis Kontopoulos, CEO of the Athens Stock Exchange Group (ATHEXGROUP).