History

The Exhibitions Research Institute is a non-profit organisation whose purpose is the scientific analysis of exhibition activities and the extraction of useful conclusions for the benefit of the state and the economy.

In particular, the Institute maintains a database relating to exhibition centres and exhibition events organised throughout Greece. It collects analytical data from all trade fairs. It carries out certification studies for exhibitions as referred by the organiser with a view to determining their degree of success and the potential of the sector they represent (exhibition auditing).

It sets and updates operational parameters for exhibition centres and events, according to international standards.

It evaluates the economic effects of exhibition events on the local and regional economy, calculating econometrically the exhibition multiplier, along with the effects of exhibitions on basic macroeconomic magnitudes such as the increase of income per capita, and the increase in the number of job vacancies.

It conducts studies for the State in respect of competitive sectors of the national economy and of the need for support of exhibition sectors that can become competitive within an international environment. It organises seminars and conferences on matters relating to exhibition activity.  

The founding members of the Exhibitions Research Institute are:

1. The Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF)
2. The University Research Institute (URI) of the University of Macedonia for Economic
3.         and Social Sciences
4. The Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI)
5. The Chamber of Small and Medium Sized Industries of Thessaloniki (VETH)
6. The Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UHCCI)

he reason for the participation of the above bodies as founding members is that they are all directly or indirectly involved in the exhibition market, which means that they can and must have a say in the work of the ERI for the promotion of the exhibition industry in our country.