Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Attica Regional Governor and the Rector of the AUA

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Monday, May 25th 2020, at the Head Office of the Attica Region, between the Attica Regional Governor, Mr. George Patoulis and the Rector of the Agricultural University of Athens, Prof. Spyridon Kintzios, regarding the creation of a Business Sustainable Rural Development System of a Structured Approach, in the East region of Attica. Indeed, all the sectors of the productive and financial activities expanding in the rural scenery, fall within the scope of  the specific Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

           The cooperation in question, shall acquire a particular form and structure, is to be delimited spatially, across the administrative districts for each Municipality, aiming at the formation of the agricultural development, inside the zoning area of Eastern Attica, by means of inquiring into pertinent issues, as well as conducting any proper research, if required, besides the dissemination of the results produced amongst people, interested in such a scientific field.
     Being included in the aforementioned outline, the Attica Region and the Agricultural University of Athens will be collaborating upon the investigation of specific matters, related to the evolution of the Agri-Food Discipline and the prominence of the landscape, all over the Region of Eastern Attica, even more, categorizing them into two keystones, as follows:
      The first one, certainly, pertains to the partnership associated with the exploration, designing and implementation of all the necessary and best projects, conducing to the installation and smooth operation of competent Educational Units and Institutions, across the Region of Eastern Attica, namely:
1. The European University "EU-CONNEXUS", which has already been established by the Agricultural University of Athens, in collaboration with six (6) Universities, that originate from Member States of the European Union, dealing with the intelligent and environmentally-friendly management of the Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability,
2. The University Research Center of AUA and the Centers of Excellence/Innovation,  as well, with the wishful prospect of their evolution into a much promising Technological Park, around  the AUA premises,
3.The measures envisaged for the foundation of the Veterinary School under the supervision of AUA.
          As far as the second keystone is concerned, it notably refers to the elaboration of a Strategic Plan for the Development of the Agri-Food Domain, fostering Sustained Resources, along the Region of Eastern Attica. Such a Strategic Plan will focus on areas of particular interest to the Region, such as viticulture and animal husbandry. On top of that, the drawing up and improvement of business plans, for the establishment and functioning of the actions, as described below, have great appeal, among other things:
1. An Oenological Institute, in order to provide advisory support to wine producers, in addition to holding useful seminars for the public and organising any kind of oenotourism activities.
2. An Agricultural Park, extending to 1,000 acres of land, in the surrounding region of Eastern Attica.
       All in all, through the specialisation of the above pillars in seperate actions, the proposed Memorandum of Understanding - Agreement is to be an essential step towards strengthening the bond of AUA with the Attica Region, while offering specialised expertise, which can in turn, contribute to a much more fruitful planning and performance of the deployment programmes of the whole region under discussion.