EMBRC Greece is the Greek node of EMBRC – a pan-European research infrastructure made up of a network of research organisations and marine stations across Europe that accelerates marine biology and ecology research through its knowledge, expertise, and services.

Greece joined EMBRC in 2013. It can offer researchers access to one marine site. EMBRC Greece can support researchers through ecosystem access, coastal research vessels, submersibles and scuba diving facilities, ecological assessments, biobanks and aquaria and tanks for aquaculture studies.

EMBRC Greece’s activities are led by the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), which comprises three institutes, one of which is part of EMBRC: Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC).

IMBBC has been recognised as a centre of excellence in marine biodiversity and conducts research at all levels of biological organisation, from genes to ecosystems. The institute has a significant record of national and international competitive projects and is currently participating in numerous major European R&D programmes, networks and initiatives.

EMBRC Greece provides access to a diverse range of coastal marine habitats of Crete through coastal research vessels, submersibles and scuba diving facilities. The node can also provide ecological assessments (biodiversity assessment, habitat identification and mapping, ecological status assessments and determining the presence of pressures and threats), habitat mapping and sampling. Its biobanks offer sample series from the Aegean and Ionian seas since 1989.

It also offers access to state-of-the-art experimental facilities for aquaculture experiments (aquaria and tanks), environmental studies (mesocosms), for commercial applications and the latest technologies for molecular biology and omics.