Dr Costas Dounas has been working as Research Director at the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC) of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR). Member of the National Council of Research and Development and the National Committee of Technology Transfer and Innovation (1999-2004).
Main fields of interest: marine biodiversity, benthic ecology, coastal zone management, MPAs, marine environmental technology, artificial reefs development, Environmental Impact Assessment, marine pollution, fishing gear effects. Co-ordination of more than 60 EU/National/regional funded research and development projects. Author of more than 100 publications in Scientific Journals as well as inventor of 6 National/International Patents (Distinction award in the 1st National Patent Contest).
Ioannis Bras studied in the United Kingdom with a postgraduate specialization in Project Management and experience in Risk Management in the closure of nuclear reactors.
He has worked in the development of real estate, shopping malls and new investment projects, as well as in the provision of specialized Project Management Consulting Services. For six years he was the head of the Heraklion Port Authority SA as President and CEO and also the Vice President of the Hellenic Ports Association. He has significant experience in the field of Cruise Development and has won 21 awards to date.
He is also an external advisor to the Ministry of Tourism for Cruise development and has assisted in the development of the Greek cruise health protocols and is actively assisting ports around the world with their ReStart processes.
He is the founder of Five Senses Consulting and also specializes in Digital Destination Marketing Projects. He is also a founding member of the Cruise Professional Advisors Alliance (CPAA).
The HCMR is a National Research Agency (NRA) that operates under the supervision of the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GGEK) of the Ministry of Development and Investments. The objectives of the Research Center include:
The Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture (IMBBC) is one of the three Institutes of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) with headquarters in Gournes, Heraklion, Crete, and additional research facilities in Anavysso, Attica, and Souda, Chania. With a staff of 120 people and 27 full-time researchers, it is active in the research areas of Marine Biodiversity, Protection and Management of Marine Ecosystems, Genetics, Genomics and Aquaculture.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management
Collection, collation and diffusion of marine biodiversity data, ,dissemination of innovative technological achievements and development of innovative products and services for the protection and sustainable management of marine biodiversity and ecosystems.
Genetics and Μolecular Βiotechnology
Genomics and transcriptomics; gene expression; microbial diversity and environmental genomics, genotype-phenotype associations and gene mapping in target species.
Study of fish physiology, nutrition, behavior, health and welfare of marine fishes with potential for aquaculture production.
