About EXELIXIS

Senior expertise for ambitious European research and innovation.

Who we are

Research expertise.
Management discipline.
European perspective.

EXELIXIS Research Management & Communication is an Athens-based consultancy supporting universities, research centres, hospitals, SMEs and international consortia in the development and delivery of European research and innovation projects.

We work where scientific ambition meets the demands of competitive funding and complex implementation. Our role is to bring structure, strategic clarity and dependable management to every stage—from identifying the right opportunity and developing a coherent proposal to coordinating delivery, communication, exploitation and impact.

EXELIXIS is deliberately hands-on. Clients work directly with experienced professionals who understand both the scientific environment and the operational realities of collaborative European projects.

Experience that travels with the project

From opportunity
to lasting impact.

Our experience spans successive European Framework Programmes, multidisciplinary consortia and projects across health, advanced materials, digital technologies and researcher training.

20+Years of experience in R&I300+Projects managed by our team€50M+EU-funded project value400+Partner collaborations across European proposals
Meet the core team
Dimitris RaptisManaging Director

Dimitris brings more than two decades of experience in research and grants management. Before establishing EXELIXIS, he held positions of responsibility in academia, overseeing an extensive portfolio of projects funded by the EU, national authorities, international foundations and charities. He combines strategic planning and business development with extensive practical knowledge of proposal preparation, project coordination, reporting, financial oversight and audits across successive European Framework Programmes.

Kalliopi ThanopoulouChief Executive Officer

Dr Kalliopi Thanopoulou combines senior research-management experience with a strong scientific background. She holds a PhD in biomedical research, an MSc in Applied Genetics and a BSc in Biochemistry with Medical Biosciences, followed by postdoctoral research in neurobiology, immunology and cardiovascular disease. At EXELIXIS, she leads the delivery of EU-funded research projects and contributes to proposal development, translating scientific complexity into clear plans, coordinated implementation and credible results.

Sofia TagkareliHead of Proposal Development

Dr Sofia Tagkareli brings more than a decade of professional experience across biomedical research and research proposal development. At EXELIXIS, she leads proposal development, from identifying and assessing funding opportunities to shaping research concepts and coordinating the preparation of high-quality proposals. She works closely with researchers and partners to align scientific ambition with funding priorities and develop impactful project concepts.

Athina ThanopoulouLead Project Manager & HR Manager

Athina holds a BA in History and an MA in European History, bringing a strong background in research, analysis and European affairs to research and grant management. She oversees the implementation and day-to-day management of EU-funded projects and works closely with project coordinators and international consortia to support contractual and administrative compliance, reporting, project coordination, dissemination and communication activities. As HR Manager, she oversees the company’s human resources activities and supports team development and internal processes.

Christoforos RaptisCreative & Web Development Lead

Christoforos is a creative design professional with 20 years of experience in graphic design, print production and visual communication, including many years in senior/managerial roles at advertising and printing companies. At EXELIXIS, he leads the visual identity, website management and graphic design of European research and innovation projects, combining strong design craftsmanship with hands-on web development skills.