National Coordinators

1.Panayiotis Philimis - Short Biography: I was born in Nicosia in 1970, the capital of Cyprus, still the only divided European city since 1974. I finished high school in 1987 and completed an HND degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1990. I joined the army (compulsory) and served for 26 months as a lieutenant in the technical corps. In 1992 I went to the University UMIST in Manchester UK where I completed a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering and PhD degree in CAD/CAM software programming for tool path optimization using intelligent computational geometry methods. After that I joined a research team in the development of patented processes and machines in friction welding and extrusion for plastic pipes where I gained substantial experience in using the academic and theoretical knowledge to build realistic prototypes to meet the actual needs of the market. At the same time I was working with a colleague working at the same research team (also from Cyprus) for setting up a shot pellet laboratory in a large Company in Cyprus. Through this project we discovered an innovative method for the recognition of shotgun pellets. I developed a new image analysis software for the automatic recognition of pellets physical location and developed a new model for analysis of pellet geometrical distribution. In 1999 I returned in Cyprus and setup the first private center of laboratories for Testing and Calibration. The company holds and sustains the highest primary calibration standards in the Country. In 2003 our laboratories became the first in the country to become accredited to ISO 17025 and certified to ISO 9001. The company grew and expanded also into Research at the beginning of 2004. As the Head of R&D Department I have managed to get funding for the first two research projects and seems to be just the beginning of achieving my Vision: “To enlarge the Institution with researchers from various fields academia/industry for the development of new ideas in solving engineering and other existing problems”.  My Interest in NewPOL Network: In July 2004 Prof. Vivian conducted me through email for participating into the NewPOL Consortium Network. Although I have an engineering background, my interest, reaction and belief in the philosophy and programmes of the network as described in EOI was and is tremendous. My belief is that is the time (and we have the means) that a common new "code" of knowledge shall exist to speed up the advancement of human being in all the aspects of his life. This can be enhanced with a “Universal” language/communication tool, that logic tells me that not only will bring human beings from different cultures closer but also with unlimited social/political/scientific/other advantages. My Hobbies: Painting, TV, Internet, exploring new ideas, research, challenges.