George VEKINIS was born in Athens, Greece and has a BSc (Hons) in Experimental and Theoretical Physics and a PhD in Physics, both from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa and an MBA (core) from the Open University, UK. His PhD Thesis was supervised by Prof FRN Nabarro, FRS and Prof S. Luyckx and dealt with WC-Co. He is fluent in English and Greek and a member of the UK Institute of Linguists and the Materials Research Society.

He has worked in Research and Development since 1980 in industry (Boart International Ltd, S. Africa 1980-1981, SEDES Ceramics Industry, Greece 1992-1994), Universities (Witwatersrand, S. Africa, 1981-1984, Cambridge, UK 1987-1990) and Research Centres (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), S. Africa, 1984-1987).

He has lectured Physics and Materials Engineering at Undergraduate and Post-graduate level at the U. Witwatersrand, S. Africa, U. Cambridge, UK, National Technical U. of Athens and the Aristotelian U. of Thessaloniki, Greece and has supervised over 20 students for their Diploma dissertation, 7 students for MPhil thesis and 4 students for PhD thesis at the above Universities as well as Coventry U. UK where he has been External Higher Degree Supervisor. He has also been a visiting Professor at Cambridge U. UK, Technion U. Israel and to the Aristotelian U. Thessaloniki, Greece.

His research interests have covered a number of areas and included composite and bio-ceramics, ceramics for micro-electronics, advanced structural ceramics, composites with ceramic polymer and metal matrices, failure and toughening mechanisms of hard materials, microwave heating, diamond synthesis, wear and erosion of hard materials,
micromechanics, engineered ceramic-metal interfaces, SiC/SiC for the Fusion reactor, heterogeneous catalysts, advanced oxide refractories, combustion synthesis (SHS), ultra-high pressure processing, hybrid materials for thermomechanical protection of spacecraft and others. He has filed six patents on microwave treatment of ceramics, treatment of wastes and space technologies. He has more than 50 refereed publications, about 100 conference presentations and has presented numerous talks, seminars and colloquia, many of them by invitation, throughout the world. His recent research interests and RD projects are:
•Combustion synthesis (SHS regime) of inorganic catalysts and refractories
•Composite SiC-based ceramics (fibrous, particulate) and their properties
•Thermomechanical protective systems for spacecraft (ESA/ESTEC 2008, EC/Space RastasSpear 2010-2013,
EC/Space HYDRA 2012-2015)
. New thermal spraying method CAFSY for hard intermetallic coatings NiAl (ELMHTEK< 2013)
. Ultra high temperature materials for rocket combustion chambers (EC/Space Pulcher 2013-2015)
. New recession sensor for thermal protection systems of spacecraft (ESA/ESTEC 2014)
. IRENA: "The International Re-Entry demoNstration Action" (H2020/Space, 2015-2016)
•Microwave processing of industrial materials and wastes

Since 1984 Dr George Vekinis has been a Technology Consultant in the advanced ceramics and cermets sectors in S. Africa, UK and Greece. During 1985-1987 he was a member of the Task Force for Technology Transfer at CSIR, S. Africa. Since 1998 he is a Senior Innovation Management Consultant for the European Commission, offering Technology Exploitation Strategy Workshops (EC projects PROFATIP, ESS and ESIC) as well as Impact Assessments and Project Risk Analyses. He was an Expert Evaluator of RD proposals under FP5 and FP6. Between 1999 and 2008 he was a Senior Evaluator and Impact Assessor of completed RD projects (EC projects EVIMP1 and EVIMP2) having evaluated nearly 100 completed RD projects in FP3, FP4 and FP5. He also prepared 6 Sectoral Technology Studies and part of the Evaluation Methodologies for EVIMP1 (FP3+4) and EVIMP2 (FP5, "The Vekinis Report" on "Weak exploitation of 568 completed FP5 projects"). His Innovation Management work (mentoring and coaching, TT seminars and worskhops) has involved numerous projects, SMEs and Institurions dealing with technologies for Health and Safety, nanotechnologies, new materials for microelectronics, land transport technologies, aerospace technologies, industrial manufacturing and with new materials and technologies for mobile telecommunications including microwave. He was also a Senior Evaluator for the EC project “SMEpact” dealing with Impact Assessment of FP5 and FP6 projects on SMEs and Senior expert for Technology transfer under H2020.

From 2003 to 2006 he was the Rapporteur and deputy Chairman of the “Materials and Technologies Working Group” within the Greek National project “Hellenic Technology Foresight - 2021”.

In 2005 he founded and is the President of the “Advanced Industrial Technologies SA” (A.I.T. SA) spin-off company designing industrial microwave processing systems.

In 2014 he authored the book "Technology Transfer in Practice: from Invention to Innovation". A second book "The Researcher Entrepreneur. Best practices for successful technological entrepreneurship" is to be published in Spring 2015.

In 2014 he was elected President of the Hellenic Society for Science and Technology of Condensed Matter (HSSTCM)

RECENT PUBLICATIONS
1. G. Xanthopoulou, A. Marinou, G. Vekinis, A. Lekatou and M. Vardavoulias, “NiAl and NiO-Al “Composite Coatings by Combustion-Assisted Flame Spraying”, Coatings 2014, 2014, 4(2), 231-252
2. G. Xanthopoulou ,S. Varitis, K. Karanasios, G. Vekinis, “SHS Ni-Co-Al-Mg-O catalysts for dry reforming of methane”, Int. J. of SHS, vol.23, no.2, 2014, pp.92-100
3. N. S. Müller., V. Kilikoglou, P. M. Day, George Vekinis, “The influence of temper shape on the mechanical properties of archaeological ceramics”, J. European Ceramic Society 30 (2010) 2457–2465
4. G. Vekinis and G. Xanthopoulou, “HybridTPS: A Novel Thermal Protection System for Atmospheric Entry Space Probes Based on SHS- Produced MgO-spinel refractories”, Int. Journal of Self-Propagating High Temperature Synthesis, no.4, v.19, 2010, p.258-275.
5. G. Xanthopoulou, G. Vekinis, ”Catalytic pyrolysis of naphtha on SHS catalysts”, Eurasian Chemico-Technological Journal , vol 12:1, 2010, pp17-21
6. N. Muller, V. Kilikoglou, P. Day and G. Vekinis, “Thermal shock resistance of ancient cooking vessels: myth and reality”, Proccedings EMAC ’09, from Craft to Science, 10th European Meeting on Ancient Ceramics, London, 10-12 September 2009.
7. G. Xanthopoulou and George Vekinis,” SHS Catalysts: Synthesis, Properties and Applications”, 11th International Ceramic Congress Advances in Science and Technology, Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Zurich, v.45, p.1058-1066, 2006.
8. G. Vekinis and G.Xanthopoulou, “Plasmatron Testing of Hybrid-TPS”, Proceedings of 6th International Planetary Probe Workshop, Atlanta, USA, 23-27 June 2008
9. G. Vekinis and G. Xanthopoulou, ”Environmental protection and remediation using SHS”, “Black sea Energy Policy International Conference”, Athens, Greece, 8-9 October 2008, p.35.
10. G. Vekinis and G. Xanthopoulou “Plasmatron Testing of Hybrid-TPS”, 6th Int. Planetary Probe Workshop, Atlanta, USA, 23-27 June 2008.
11. G. Xanthopoulou, G. Vekinis and G.I. Ksandopulo “Kazakhstan-Greece Cooperation in the field of SHS”, International Conference on Historical Aspects of SHS in Different Countries, Moscow, Russia, 22-27 October 2007, p.13 (plenary, invited talk)
12. G. Vekinis and G. Xanthopoulou,” Hybrid-TPS: Current Developments and Prospects”, Proceedings of 5rd International Planetary Probe Workshop, Boedeaux, France, June 25- 29, 2007, p.139.
13. G. Vekinis, “Sustainable Innovativeness”, 9th Int. Conference on Technology Policy and Innovation – Science, Society and Sustainability”, Santorini, Greece, June 2006.
14. G. Xanthopoulou and G. Vekinis,” Rapid Catalytic dehydrogeneration of petrol for controlled in-situ production of hydrogen”, Proc. of 4rd Int. Planetary Probe Workshop, Pasadena, California, USA, June 27- 30, 2006, p.138.
15. G. Xanthopoulou,” SHS Catalysts: Synthesis, Properties and Applications”, proc. of 11th Int. Ceramic Congress CIMTEC 2006, Acireale, Sicily, Italy, June 4-9, 2006, p.55.
16. G. Xanthopoulou and G. Vekinis,” SHS Catalysts: Synthesis, Properties and Applications”, Advances in Science and Technology, Trans. Tech. Publications Ltd, Zurich, v.45, p.1058-1066, 2006.
17. G. Vekinis and G. Xanthopoulou,” A new concept for a hybrid TPS for multiple atmospheric entry probes: a porous ceramic refractory containing an ablative polymer composite or other phase-transition material”, Proc. of 3rd Int. Planetary Probe Workshop, Anavyssos, Greece, June 27- July 1, 2005, ESA Publ. WPP-263, 2006.
18. G. Xanthopoulou and G. Vekinis, ”In-Situ bonding of SiC/SiC by controlled SHS Combustion,” Proc. of 23rd Symposium on Fusion Technology, Venice, Italy, 20-24 September, 2004, p.429.
19. S. Novak, N. Daneu, G. Drazic, K. Mejak, S. Kobe and G. Vekinis “Coating and Slip-Infiltration of SiC Fiber Preforms for the First Wall in a Fusion Reactor”, Int. Conf. on Nuclear Energy for New Europe, Prortoroz, Slovenia, Sept. 2004
20. S. Novak, G.n Draži?, K. Mejak and G. Vekinis, “A Gas-Impermeable Coating of SiCf/SiC for the First Wall of a Fusion Reactor”, Int. Conf. on Nuclear Energy for New Europe, Prortoroz, Slovenia, Sept. 2004
21. S. Novak, G Vekinis, G. Drazic and K. Mejak, “Processing of SiC/SiC composites by slip-infiltration of SiC fiber preforms”, Int. Symposium on New Frontiers of Advanced Silicon-Based Ceramics and Composites, Gyeongju, Korea, June 20-23th, 2004
22. S. Novak, G Vekinis, G. Drazic and N. Daneu, “Slip infiltration and densification of porous SiC/siC preforms using SiC nanopowders”, 23rd Symposium on Fusion Technology, Venice, Italy, 20-24 September, 2004.
23. G. Vekinis, K. Mergia and G. Xanthopoulou , “Mechanical and structural changes in neutron irradiated SiCf/SiC composites,” Int. Symposium on New Frontiers of Advanced Silicon-Based Ceramics and Composites, Gyeongju, Korea, June 20-23, 2004.
24. G. Xanthopoulou and G. Vekinis, “Environmental applications of controlled combustion synthesis”, in “Advanced Technologies based on Self-Propagating and Mechanochemical Reactions for Environmental Protection”, Editors: Giacomo Cao, Francesco Delogu and Roberto Orru., 2003, 1-16.
25. M.S. Tite, V. Kilikoglou. and G. Vekinis, Comments III: Technological choices and experimental archaeology B Reply. Archaeometry 45, 181-3, 2003
26. V. Kilikoglou and G. Vekinis, “Failure prediction and function determination of archaeological pottery by Finite Element Analysis” J. of Arch. Sci. 29, pp. 1317-1325, 2002.
27. C.A. Nannetti, B. Riccardi, A. Ortona, A. La Barbera, E. Scafè and G. Vekinis, “Development of 2D and 3D Hi-Nicalon fibres/SiC matrix composites manufactured by a combined CVI-PIP route”, J. Nuclear Materials 307-311 (2 Suppl., 2002), pp. 1196-1199
28. G. Xanthopoulou and G. Vekinis, “Environmental applications of self-propagating high temperature synthesis”, 2nd European workshop on Water, air and soil treatment by advanced oxidation technologies: Innovative and commercial applications”, Poitiers, France, February 2001, p.72.
29. G. Xanthopoulou and G. Vekinis, “Joining SiC-based materials by SHS”, VI International symposium on self-propagating high-temperature synthesis, Haifa, Israel, 14-18 October, 2001, p.29
30. G. Xanthopoulou and G. Vekinis, “In-situ concurrent generation of reducing atmospheres during SHS”, VI International symposium on self-propagating high-temperature synthesis, Haifa, Israel, 14-18 October, 2001, p.134
31. G Xanthopoulou and G Vekinis, “An overview of some Environmental Applications of Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis”, Advances in Environmental Sciences, vol 5:2 (2001)117-128.
32. G. Xanthopoulou and G.Vekinis, “MgO/MgAl2O4 refractories by SHS”, Int. J. of Self-Propagating High Temperature Synthesis , Vol 11(2001)1.
33. M. S. Tite, V. Kilikoglou, and G.Vekinis, Review article: “Strength, toughness and thermal shock resistance of ancient ceramics, and their influence on technological choice”, Archaeometry, 44 (2001), 301-324.
34. G. Vekinis, S. Messoloras, I. Stamatelatos and M. Antonopoulos-Domis, “Micromechanical aspects of fracture in SiCf/SiC after n-irradiation”, 4th IEA workshop on SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites for Fusion Structural Application, Frascati, Italy, 12-13 October, 2000, p.26.
35. G. Xanthopoulou and G. Vekinis,”In-situ combustion synthesis of SiC and prospects for joining SiC/SiC composites”, 4th IEA workshop on SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites for Fusion Structural Application, Frascati, Italy, 12-13 October, 2000, p.26.
36. G Xanthopoulou and G Vekinis, “Deep Oxidation of methane using catalysts and carriers produced by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis”, Applied Catalysis A: General, 199 (2000)227-238.