IOBE was founded as a non-profit association on November 27, 1974 under the name INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH and and first Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dimitrios P. Marinopoulos. As a result of the political situation, IOBE was founded immediately after the restoration of Democracy, when conditions now allowed for unfettered research, dialogue and freedom of expression. Its founders sought to create a research center independent of donors, governments and political parties and guaranteed this independence by statute. Along the way, the main axes of the actions were European integration, the modernization of structures in the public and private sectors, and the liberation of the private productive forces of the economy. Its founders sought to create a research center independent of sponsors, governments and political parties and guaranteed this independence in their constitution. Along the way, the main axes of the actions were European integration, the modernization of structures in the public and private sectors, and the liberation of the private productive forces of the economy.

IOBE was transformed into a Public Benefit Foundation under the name FOUNDATION OF ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH with the notarial deed no. 10795/05/09/1991. The establishment of the Public Benefit Foundation was approved by the Presidential Decree of 15.12.1991 (Government Gazette Issue 974/B). With the Presidential Decree of 29.11.1998 (Government Gazette Issue 1211/B) the amendment and supplementation of the statute was approved and with the Presidential Decree of 11.04.2002 (Government Gazette Issue 450) the amendment and supplementation of art. 4 (Administration) of the Foundation’s statute.

The Foundation currently has a public benefit character and full administrative and managerial autonomy, in accordance with the provisions of article 33 par. 6 of Law 1882/1990, article 36 of Law 2008/1992, which refer to the application of articles 1 par. 1 and 12 of Law 1610/1986. 1610/1986. It is under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Development only for the approval of the budget and report. Due to its legal form, IOBE is registered in the Public Benefit Property Registry of the Ministry of Finance with number EP00461.

Dimitrios P. Marinopoulos served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation from its establishment until 2001. He was succeeded by Minas Tanes in 2001, Michael Kortesis in 2006, Odysseas Kyriakopoulos in 2011, Panagiotis (Takis) Athanasopoulos in 2014 and Panagiotis Thomopoulos in 2020. Chairman of the Board of Directors of IOBE since October 2024 is Yiannis Retsos.

Since its transformation into a Public Benefit Foundation, Georgios Economou (1991-1993), Georgios Provopoulos (1993-1997), Tryfon Kollintzas (1997-1999), Georgios Psacharopoulos (1999-2000), Loukas Kyriakopoulos (2000-2001), Takis Politis (2001-2008) and Yannis Stournaras (2009-2012) have served as General Directors. Nikos Vettas, Professor at the Athens University of Economics, is the General Director of IOBE since 2013.

Since its establishment, IOBE has sought to be at the forefront, focusing not only on current issues but also on upcoming developments and the medium-term results of each economic policy. In this context, the Foundation’s dual goal was formed: the promotion of independent scientific research and the formulation of proposals useful in policy formulation.

More information about the historical past of IOBE can be found in Takis Politis’ (late former General Director) book “The Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research and the Greek Economy. 1974 – 2010: 35 years of coexistence“.