The Applied Philosophy Research Laboratory of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens traces its origins to 1999, when it was established as an autonomous academic unit of the Department of Philosophy under the title Philosophical and Technological Laboratory for Applied and Ecological Philosophy, with its founder, Professor Konstantinos Boudouris, as the first Director. Conceived as a centre for research, teaching support, and scholarly exchange, the Laboratory was founded to advance the study of Applied Philosophy and to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on ethical, social, political, scientific, and technological issues of contemporary significance. From its earliest years, the Laboratory combined academic research with educational and public engagement. It supported undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, organized scientific meetings and lectures, and developed collaborations with universities, research institutes, and academic organizations in Greece and abroad. These activities laid the foundations for a sustained programme of international cooperation and scholarly excellence that has continued to expand over the following decades.
In 2015, the Greek Unit of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics (Haifa) - now the International Chair in Bioethics (WMA Cooperating Center) - was established within the Applied Philosophy Research Laboratory pursuant to a mutual agreement between the then UNESCO Chair in Bioethics (Haifa), Professor Amnon Carmi, and the then Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Athanasios-Meletios Dimopoulos, following an initiative by Professor Evangelos D. Protopapadakis, Director of the Laboratory. This milestone proved instrumental in enhancing the Laboratory's international visibility, strengthening its academic reputation, and fostering the development of global research collaborations and academic networks.
An other significant milestone in the Laboratory's development was the establishment of Conatus – Journal of Philosophy in 2016. Published in English as a peer-reviewed, diamond open-access journal, Conatus was created to provide an international forum for original philosophical research across all fields of philosophy. Since its inception, the journal has attracted contributions from distinguished scholars worldwide and has achieved international recognition through its inclusion in major bibliographic and citation indexes, substantially strengthening the Laboratory's global academic presence.
In 2017, under the Directorship of Professor Evangelos D. Protopapadakis, the Laboratory took its current title, NKUA Applied Philosophy Research Laboratory, which more accurately expresses its mission as a comprehensive centre for philosophical research while preserving its longstanding commitment to applied philosophical inquiry.
The Laboratory further expanded its publishing mission with the establishment of the NKUA Applied Philosophy Research Lab Press in 2018. Dedicated to publishing scholarly monographs, edited volumes, conference proceedings, translations, and academic series, the Press has become an important vehicle for disseminating philosophical scholarship. Together with Conatus, it reflects the Laboratory's enduring commitment to academic excellence, editorial quality, and the principles of open-access publishing.
As its research activities, educational initiatives, and international collaborations broadened, the Laboratory gradually extended its scope beyond the traditional boundaries of Applied Philosophy. This evolution was formally reflected in the adoption of its present title, Applied Philosophy Research Laboratory
Today, the Laboratory serves as an internationally oriented centre of research, publication, and academic exchange. Through its research programmes, conferences, scholarly publications, educational initiatives, and collaborations with institutions across the world, it promotes philosophical inquiry as a vital means of addressing the ethical, political, scientific, technological, environmental, and cultural challenges of the twenty-first century. Building upon more than a quarter of a century of continuous activity, the Laboratory remains committed to advancing philosophical scholarship, cultivating international cooperation, and contributing meaningfully to both the academic community and society at large.