On 30 July 2020, HIT/CERTH was visited by the Deputy Regional Director for Energy, Infrastructure and Environment of the Region of Western Macedonia, Ms. K. Kiriakidou, together with her Scientific Associate, Mr. I. Ziogos, member of the Regional council for Research and Innovation of Western Macedonia and member of the Regional Committee for transition of Natural Resources, Mr. E. Karlopoulos, the General Director of Transport and Communications Of the Region, Mr. V. Hatziapostolou, as well as the General Director of Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure of the Region, Mr. P. Economidis.

The Director of HIT, Dr. E. Bekiaris, presented the mission and the achievements of the Institute, emphasizing the actions related to electrification in Greece, Road Safety, as well as introduced the recent research infrastructures developed at the Institute.

The Director of Research of HIT, Dr. G. Ayfadopoulou presented the actions of the Institute’s Transport Observatory and Data Management Portal, referring to the use of data for the production of knowledge and value for transport.
Prof. of the University of Thessaly, Dr. N. Iliou presented the main issues of Road Safety and Quality of Transport Infrastructure of the Region of Western Macedonia, proposing relevant solutions.
Ms. Kyriakidou stated that the priority of the region is to prepare a comprehensive action plan for upgrading road safety at regional level with emphasis on vulnerable populations and especially the disabled citizens.
She also expressed her confidence on the success of the possible cooperation with HIT, as she firmly believes together it will be possible to implement targeted improvements in urban and suburban transport infrastructure through. Thus, it will be possible to ensure the functionality and interoperability of Transport Networks by using intelligent systems in the context of sustainable mobility, which is the standing demand of the Region.
In the end of the visit, a tour of HIT’s research infrastructure was offered. The visitors had the opportunity to see the Full Scale Driving and Motorcycle Simulators, HIT Transport Observatory and Data Management Portal, as well as the Institute’s "Laboratory of Industrial Design and Construction".