Visit of the Nicolaus Copernicus Academy Delegation to Universities in Greece and Bulgaria

On October 5-8, 2026, a delegation from the Nicolaus Copernicus Academy visited five renowned universities in Greece and Bulgaria.

Among the numerous academic authorities of the host institutions who warmly welcomed our delegation, the meetings were attended by:

• University of Thessaly: Prof. Dimitrios Bogdanos (Vice-Rector for Financial Planning, Internationalization, and Cooperation)
• University of Western Macedonia:Prof. Theodoros Theodoulidis (Rector), Prof. Eleni Griva (Vice-Rector for International Relations, Global Cooperation, and Student Affairs), Prof. Malamati Louta (Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Development), Prof. Georgios Christoforidis (Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation), Prof. Ioannis Antoniadis (Vice-Rector for Administrative and Financial Affairs), and Prof. Georgios Skodras (Dean of the Faculty of Engineering)
• University of Macedonia: Prof. Iordanis Eleftheriadis (Vice-Rector for Financial Planning and Infrastructure)
• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki: (Prof. Alexandra Ioannidou (Head of the School of Physics) and Prof. Manolis Plionis (Department of Physics)
• Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski: Prof. Georgi Rainovski (Dean of the Faculty of Physics) and Assoc. Prof. Todor Veltchev, PhD (Head of the Department of Astronomy, Faculty of Physics)

The discussions served to establish new academic contacts and outline future areas of cooperation. The rectors and key representatives of all five universities were presented with a reprint of the first edition of Nicolaus Copernicus’s De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, as well as a White Paper on the origins and activities of the Copernican Academy. Each visited institution also received the exhibition “Nicolaus Copernicus: Pilgrimage to the Stars”, which remains at their disposal for educational and popular science initiatives.

The rich itinerary began with a visit to the University of Thessaly in Volos, a public university conducting research and teaching across various fields, including hard sciences, engineering, and medicine. During the meeting, the exhibition was presented alongside a letter of intent opening the door to further discussions on cooperation.

The next stop was the University of Western Macedonia, n Kozani, which focuses its research on engineering, computer science, and energy technology, among other fields. In a meeting with university leadership, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed, laying the foundation for joint initiatives. The university’s expertise in technological innovation and energy technology provides a strong starting point for future projects.

On the third day, the delegation visited the University of Macedoniaand theAristotle University of Thessaloniki.

The University of Macedonia specializes primarily in economics, management, and social sciences. The institution received the exhibition and a letter of intent regarding future cooperation.

The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the largest university in Greece, conducting research across a wide spectrum of disciplines. While the Nicolaus Copernicus Academy already collaborates with its Faculty of Economics, discussions during this visit focused on expanding partnerships to the School of Physics, which was also presented with the exhibition.

The delegation concluded its trip with a meeting with representatives of the Faculty of Physics at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, the oldest university in Bulgaria. Both parties signed letters of intent regarding cooperation, establishing a framework for further agreement talks. The English-language exhibition was set up in Building A of the Faculty of Physics and is open to students and visitors alike.