At the joint session of the Hellenic Parliament’s Special Permanent Committee on Research and Technology and the Standing Committee on Social Affairs on “Clinical Trials in Greece” (21 March 2025), HACRO President Evangelia (Lia) Koraki underlined the dual value of clinical research: improving patients’ access to innovative treatments while strengthening Greece’s position as an attractive destination for international investment.
According to a PwC study comparing Greece with European countries of similar population size, the country has the potential to attract up to €500 million annually in clinical trial investment.
This outlook is reinforced by a recent IQVIA analysis, which shows that, despite an overall decline in clinical research activity across Europe, Greece is among the few countries demonstrating sustained growth.
While important legislative steps have already been taken to implement the European Clinical Trials Regulation, further progress is needed to complete the reform agenda developed by the Ministry of Health’s Clinical Research Working Group, in which HACRO actively participates. Delivering these reforms will be essential to unlocking Greece’s full clinical research potential.
HACRO highlighted two key priorities:
- Enhancing investment incentives. A stable, predictable and competitive environment is essential to attract clinical research investment. The existing clawback offset mechanism for clinical trial expenditure should be revised to ensure it is as effective as the corresponding scheme for productive investments.
- Supporting international sponsors. Pharmaceutical companies without a legal presence in Greece cannot benefit from the current clawback offset mechanism. Introducing alternative incentive schemes will be crucial to maintaining Greece’s attractiveness for international clinical research sponsors.
HACRO remains committed to working closely with policymakers, regulators and all stakeholders to ensure that Greece keeps pace with international developments and strengthens its position as a competitive hub for clinical research.
The opportunity is clear. Greece has both the potential and the responsibility to secure the place it deserves within the global clinical research landscape.