The series of Panhellenic Conferences on Solid State Physics (PCSSP) already counts a long history of more than 30 years. The first PCSSP Conference was organized in 1982 by the Physicists' Association for Research and Applications in Thessaloniki. After a three-year break, the second PCCSP Conference was held at Ioannina in 1986. Ever since that time, the PCSSP conferences have taken place every year at different places in Greece and Cyprus, organized by local Departments or Institues of Universities, Polytechnic Schools and National Research Centers.

Starting in 2003, the conference has broaden its scope by including topics from the wide field of Materials Science, something that has since been reflected in its title. Recent Panhellenic Conferences on Solid State Physics and Materials Science were held at Ioannina (XVI-PCSSP), Lemesos (Cyprus) (XVII-PCSSP), and Patras (XVIII-PCSSP). For the year 2013 the PCSSP (XXIX-PCSSP) took place from September 22 to September 25 at the National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos" (Athens, Greece).

The PCSSP traditionally offers one of the best opportunities for young researchers and advanced students from academic and research institutes of Greece and other countries to meet, interact, and possibly collaborate with people that have experience working in the fields of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science. For this purpose, the organizers put together a scientific program that combines excellent talks by established researchers and by people in the beginning of their careers. To facilitate the interactions among the participants, all presentations and activities during the conference are held in English.