In its over 26 years of operation FORTH/ ICE-HT has developed into a world-leading centre for the advancement of high quality scientific knowledge in the fields of material science and in the computer aided design and simulation of new materials and processes. It comprises of approximately 150 personnel and has a running yearly budget of 5 M€. Prof. Galiotis is also a member of the Board of Directors of FORTH (since July 2007). FORTH has been ranked as the first Research Centre in the field domain in Greece in 3 successive evaluations.
Prof. Galiotis had an auspicious term of office as Director of the Institute in the years 2009-2014. Being also the coordinator of the Hellenic participation and national representative of “Graphene” he contributed in establishing the Graphene Center by joining the research forces of three FORTH institutes, ICE-HT, IESL and ICAM. Despite the Country's intense economic situation he expanded the Institute by literally setting the foundations to the Institute's new modern building that will house research laboratories.
The official evaluation of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT) assessed the Institute performance during this period, scored even higher than previous years, and was received as a world class Center of Excellence by a range of standards.
He is the Founder and Director of the Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials Laboratory at the Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Patras. He is also the Founder and Director of the Composites NanoMaterials Laboratory established at the Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT) of the Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH).The group of Prof. Galiotis at the Department of Chemical Engineering and also at FORTH/ ICE-HT conducts research in the field of graphene and 2D materials, ranging from fundamental aspects to applications. At a fundamental level, the group studies the mechanical behaviour of 2D materials by monitoring the Raman phonon shifts under mechanical deformation. Novel experimental techniques are also employed for in situ nano-mechanical testing under Raman or Atomic Force Microscopes. Atomistic simulations are also performed to verify and throw light into the experiments. The excellent mechanical properties of graphene and other 2D materials measured at the nano-scale limits are exploited as reinforcing fillers for the development of novel composite materials. More recently the group is actively involved in the use of graphene and other 2D materials for the protection of art works.
The group has been well-funded over the last 10 years for its work on graphene from national and European sources. Among the competitive grants attracted in Patras are an ERC-Advanced grant , an ERC-PoC grant, a number of Horizon 2020 grants, a FET Open etc. The group is also a founding member of the Graphene Flagship and is leading a large Work Package in the area of graphene composites.