About us
Information
Funding Support Office
The Funding Support Office began its operation in 2020, at the initiative of the President of EADPPA, Professor Nikolaos Thomaidis. Its mission is to support the academic community in the search for funding opportunities, submission of proposals and implementation of projects.
FSO staff members provide information, guidance and advice on current funding sources, enhancing the participation of the University’s research groups in national and European competitive programmes and collaborative projects.
FSO, as an affiliated entity of the University of Athens, also acts as an implementing partner in many European projects.
Our Team
Our team is experienced and specialized, with deep understanding of financial mechanisms and knowledge of project management. Our goal is to provide a high-level support at every stage of the process, contributing to the successful project implementation, thus producing impactful results and outcomes.
The members of the FSO are enriched by a wide array of perspectives and experiences, with higher emphasis given to the value of diverse skills that enhance organizational capability. In a working environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and fully integrated into the organizational culture, all members acknowledge and leverage their unique contributions and foster a sense of belonging.

Prof. Nikolaos Thomaidis
President and Inspirator of the Funding Support Office
- Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Deputy President of the Board of Directors of the University of Athens (2023-)
- Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company for the Development and Management of the Assets of the University of Athens (EADPPA) (2018 – 2022, 2023-)
- Coordinator of Horizontal Research Laboratories (Core Facilities) of the University of Athens

Dr Sofia Xesfingi
Head of the Funding Support Office
Sofia Xesfingi completed her postdoctoral research specializing in the field of health economics and is a collaborating researcher at the Department of Economics of the University of Piraeus. She holds a PhD from the University of Piraeus in Economics with a specialization in health, a Master's Degree in Health Economics and Administration and a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Her research work has been published in prestigious international scientific journals and she has received funding grants and scholarships from the European Union and/or national resources. She has teaching experience at undergraduate level as a University Scholar under NSRF 2014-2020 and at postgraduate level at the Hellenic Open University. She was appointed National Contact Point for Horizon Europe (Cluster Health and Mission on Cancer) from 2022 to 2025. She has experience in all stages of management and implementation of national, co-funded and European projects, both in corporate environments and international or national bodies/organizations.

Andriana Papakonstantinou
Manager of the Funding Support Office
Andriana Papakonstantinou is an Economist, a graduate of the Athens University of Economics and Business and a holder of a Master's Degree in Supply Chain Management from the University of Piraeus and the National Technical University of Athens. She has more than 10 years of professional experience in the management of national and European programs, in collaboration with university institutions, public and private bodies. She supports the Funding Support Office of the National University of Athens since May 2022, contributing to the design and formulation of strategic initiatives to facilitate the academic community's access to national and European funding tools.
She is actively involved in the field of innovation and digital transformation, participating as a speaker at conferences, writing articles in industry media and contributing to the design of thematic content for important professional and scientific events. She is a member of the Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, an evaluator of co-financed programs, as well as an active member of international professional networks and associations related to innovation and project management.

Sofia Gkova
Project Manager of the Funding Support Office
Sofia Gova is a graduate of the Department of Industrial Management and Technology of the University of Piraeus and continued her studies in the postgraduate program of the same department with a specialization in Project Management. She has participated in studies and applied projects related to risk management, quality assurance, as well as the investigation of blockchain technology applications in highly specialized sectors, such as health and finance.
Since 2023, she has supported the Funding Attracting Office of the National University of Athens, where she assists in the management and support of research projects. She has experience in the design and implementation of communication and dissemination strategies. At the same time, she implements actions and experiential workshops that aim to cultivate creativity, entrepreneurial thinking and problem solving, addressed to different age and social groups, strengthening the connection of innovation with social dynamics.

Dr. Athanasia Megremi
Μember of the Funding Support Office
Dr Athanasia Megremi holds a Bachelor’s degree and a PhD in the Humanities, specializing in the History and Philosophy of Science. She has worked for the past 8 years on national and European programs focused on strengthening the research community and academic research. Until June 2025, she served as the National Contact Point for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. She has collaborated with National public and European institutions as well as civil society organizations in the implementation of initiatives related to research, education, policy-making, and culture. She has extensive volunteer experience in initiatives focused on education and the empowerment of children, adolescents, and young professionals.
She currently works at the EADPPA as Publications Support and Management Officer of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and is a member of the Funding Support Office.
Our Partners
FSO participates in national and international projects under the Horizon Europe scheme and collaborates with many initiatives and partners. You can find them below.
Particular emphasis is placed on the international scientific presence of the University, through support for participation in scientific conferences, brokerage events and collaboration platforms.
Indicatively, the Office has entered into strategic synergies, such as the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Representation of the Church of Greece in Brussels and the collaboration with the Talos Center in Crete.
At the same time, synergies are cultivated with National Contact Points (NCPs), offering specialized support to research teams. We collaborate with experts such as the ERC Ambassador for Greece, Dr. Themis Alissafi, and Dr. Athanasia Megremi, appointed as a MCSA NCP for more than three years.
Research Activity
The FSO actively participates in a number of national and European research projects, offering specialized support in areas such as project management, data management, monitoring, as well as communication and dissemination.
At the same time, special emphasis is placed on strengthening citizen engagement through actions that promote transparency, inclusion and active interaction of society with research. Through these initiatives, the social impact of scientific projects is strengthened and the value of research as a tool for the benefit of all is highlighted.
You can learn more about our research activity here.
Services
The FSO provides comprehensive support to the academic community of the University of Athens in order to increase participation in funding programmes. The guidance provided is based on the level of experience of the academic staff member and customized according to the specific needs of each programme.
FSO also organizes info days, events and specialized workshops, and facilitates networking with the national and internation innovation ecosystem, through participation in brokerage events, conferences and collaboration platforms, as well as by supporting members of the University in the formation of partnerships for the submission of European proposals.
Finally, apart from being a valuable partner in any horizontal activity, we can assist any project with useful guidance and advice on procedures and deliverables.
Living Labs
Living Labs are dynamic, open innovation ecosystems that strengthen the University’s connection with society and the active participation of citizens through experimental approaches in a real-life environment. The programs are designed by academic staff of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and act as a bridge between university and society, strengthening the dissemination of science and innovation in practice.
Within the framework of outreach activities and the connection between academic knowledge and society, the Funding Support Office designs and implements Living Labs for schools and other interested organizations seeking direct, hands-on engagement with science in practice.
Our aim though the Living Labs activities is to enable participants to become familiar with the methodology followed in scientific research, gain hands-on experience with experimental measurements of physical quantities and develop relevant skills, cultivate teamwork and collaboration, and overall develop a deeper understanding of a real-life environment.
Success Stories
The FSO is participating in highly competitive funding programmes and is currently awaiting the evaluation results of the latest submissions. This page presents the point of view of academic staff members that were assisted during the application, the implementation or the reporting phase.
Have a look at them by clicking here
If you are also part of an exciting project and would like to share your story with us, please contact us.