The Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser of the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (IESL-FORTH) in Crete is a primarily Physics & Materials research institute of global standing, with specialist research directions in Laser Science & Photonics, as well as Materials & Devices Science & Technology; Its expertise, research programmes and scientific practices male it part of established European research infrastructures, such as Laserlab Europe, Cultural Heritage and more.

On June 6-8, IESL was visited by a delegation of Chinese experts from the Forbidden City’s Palace Museum, for an exchange of know-how in the field of cultural heritage preservation by means of laser science. For the last 14 years, the Greek Ministry of Culture has been using laser science to clean surfaces of antique marbles, especially of the Parthenon but also of other exhibits in the Acropolis Museum, with the Caryatids being the most typical example of successful cleaning and preservation. 

In 2012 in fact, the Acropolis Museum was presented with the Keck Award from the International Institute of Conservation (IIC), for its technique. The Greek Institute based in Crete is part of the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas. The Chinese delegation was also given a tour around the Knossos Palace and the Archaelogical Museum of Herakleion, housing masterpieces from the Minoan civilization.