State Scholarships Foundation (IKY) was founded in 1951 aiming to offer young scientists grants for post-graduate studies, abroad and within Greece, in order to broaden their horizons, utilize their skills and offer better services to the society.

Eminent intellectuals, like G. Ventiris, A. Delmouzos, X. Zolotas, G. Pesmatzoglou, A. Aggelou and K.Th. Dimaras, have played an important role in the organization and function of the Foundation.

IKY has a long history in contributing to the promotion of education, science, language and civilization, as well as in their emergence in contemporary society within international requirements.

In the framework of its activities, as a State Scholarships Agency, it designs, promotes and implements every year an amplitude of scholarship programmes, both in Greece and abroad. Through these programmes Greek citizens, foreigners of greek origin, people of different nationalities, pupils, students, scientists, researchers and artists receive grants in order to acquire higher diplomas in Greece or abroad and to stand out scientifically and professionally.

Since 1987, IKY bears the responsibility of administration, co-ordination, implementation and dissemination of European Union Programmes for Education (1987 Erasmus, 1990 Lingua, 1995-1999 Socrates I, 2000-2006 Socrates II-Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013).

Continuing this tradition, in 2014 IKY was appointed as National Agency for the new European Union Erasmus+ Programme.

Since 1996, IKY implements scholarship programmes funded by the Operational Programme for Education and Initial Vocational Training (ΕΠΕΑΕΚ) as well as the European Social Fund (ΕΚΤ). These programmes focus on the encouragement of the Greek scientific community to deal with cardinal fields of science and technology.

The Foundation also collaborates with European Associations (Academic Cooperation Association – ACA, Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst-DAAD, European Space Agency-ESA) for the common development of programmes enhancing research mobility as well as policies in the field of international co-operation.

IKY is located in Leoforos Ethnikis Antistaseos 42, Nea Ionia.