Honoring Theodore Papazoglou: SNF and HFRI Rename Program for Greek Scientific Research

SNF is grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Papazoglou in his capacity as Head of Unit for Support to the Scientific Council at the European Research Council (ERC). His wisdom and devotion to the essential vision of the ERC made him a particularly special partner.

Our hope is that the program will contribute to advancing this vision. Through a joint effort between SNF and the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation, Greek researchers whose proposals have been evaluated as excellent by the ERC are invited to submit those same proposals to apply for up to €250,000 in funding.

Dr. Heini Murer, SNF board member, stated “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Theodore Papazoglou, whose dedication to the cause of international scientific research made him a pole star in the European Research Council community. Dr. Papazoglou’s legacy will live on permanently in all the ways we better understand our world thanks to the invaluable research he helped make possible.”

Dr. Papazoglou was born in Athens in 1963. He studied physics at the University of Crete, where he graduated with honors, before moving on to earn his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California. His career before joining the ERC included independent research in Greece, tenure at the University of Crete, and various posts with the European Commission. In 2006-2007, he helped lay the groundwork for the ERC’s creation, and his colleagues write that he had an unrivaled knowledge of the underpinnings and history of the organization, calling him “one of the rocks upon which the ERC was built.”

We share our deep condolences with Dr. Papazoglou’ family and colleagues.