In the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), the Special Account for Research (SARG), which is directed by the Research and Management Committee, is responsible for managing the research grants of the projects acquired by faculty members of the University. The main sources of funding at NKUA managed by SARG are European, international and national funds, like for example, the Partnership Agreement (PA) for the Development Framework, 2014-2020 (European Structural and Investment FundESIF), Horizon 2020, as well as partnerships with public and private sector bodies, the provision of services to legal entities and individuals, grants and donations. For the period 2014-2018 the total annual revenues of SARG by source of funding are presented in diagram 1.
For the accomplishment of the projects managed by SARG, about 5,000 to 8,000 researchers work full time or part time per year. Among these researchers, except from faculty and the University’s permanent staff, there are young researchers such as Ph.D students, researchers, technicians and other supporting staff. The funding of these projects is essential for the research policy of the University, the reduction of young scientists’ unemployment and the decrease of the brain drain of our researchers. The breakdown of non-permanent staff employed in projects per year for the period 2014-2018 is shown in diagram 2.
Currently, the SARG manages more than 3,200 active projects. The number of the newly approved SARG programs per year for the last five-year period is presented in Diagram 3.
