Dr. Christos RIZIOTIS is a faculty Researcher at the Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute of the National Hellenic Research Foundation -NHRF, Athens, Greece where he is leading the activity "Applied Photonics-Materials and Devices". He holds a Ph.D. in Photonics from Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, UK (2001), an M.Sc. in Electronics and Telecommunications and a Degree in Physics both from National University of Athens. His research interests and work cover the areas of photonic materials, integrated optics, direct laser writing & micromachining, fibre sensors, optical communications, nanophotonics, plasmonics, with successfully demonstrated applications in defence industry, Structural Health Monitoring, industrial process monitoring,  chemical sensors and biomedical / healthcare applications. He has participated or developed a number of collaborations and R&D projects with industry (Pirelli Cavi, Southampton Photonics, Stratophase, MBDA Missile Systems, Kleemann Lifts S.A., Bayern Chemie Propellants GmbH etc) and has authored a wide thematic range of research publications, holding also three (3) international patents. He is reviewer in over 30 technical Journals, Member of Editorial Board in several Journals in sensors, materials and instrumentation, and organizer of four Journals' special issues in optical materials and sensing. He was the Chair of the 6th IC-MAST "International Conference on Materials and Applications for Sensors and Transducers" and serves as committee member in a number of international conferences. He serves also as Management Committee Member for a number of research academic networks like COST Actions in the areas of sensing, novel materials, manufacturing, and healthcare, while served also as expert in the IEC Standardization Committee for Fibre Optic Sensors.