Cyprus and Japan sign Memorandum of Cooperation on science and technology

Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nicodemos Damianou, and  Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Toshiko Abe, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at strengthening relations between Cyprus and Japan in the fields of science and technology, both at the transnational and the European level, during an official visit Damianou paid to Kyoto.

According to a press release issued by the Deputy Ministry, the expansion of Cyprus-Japan relations in the fields of science and technology was the focus of Damianos' official visit to Kyoto.

In the framework of bilateral contacts with the Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed with the aim of strengthening relations between Cyprus and Japan in the fields of science and technology, both at the transnational and the European level, it is stated.

Specifically, the press relese added, the memorandum promotes, among other things, the joint implementation of research and innovation (R&I) projects on issues of common interest, the mobility of scientists and the exchange of know-how and expertise between the academic and research communities of the two countries.

In his remarks, the Deputy Minister, after congratulating the Japanese Minister on her recent appointment, referred to the importance of the Memorandum as a tool for transferring know-how from a mature ecosystem - such as that of Japan - to the emerging - but highly dynamic - ecosystem of Cyprus.

He also touched on the cooperation prospects within the European Framework Programme Horizon Europe, with Japan being already at an advanced stage of consultations with the European Union (EU) for joining the programme as an associate member.

The Deputy Minister, the statement added, also participated in a ministerial roundtable on Transformative science, technology and innovation policy to strengthen innovation ecosystems, which was attended by Ministers and senior officials from various countries around the world, including Japan, Canada, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Norway, Finland, Germany, Finland, Lithuania and the United Kingdom, with the participation of an EU representative.

As stated, the Summit was held in the context of the 21st Annual Meeting of the STS Forum, which brings together prominent political, business and academic figures to exchange views on strengthening the science and technology sectors and their impact on the global economy and society.

In his intervention, the Deputy Minister referred to Cyprus' ascending performance in European and international R&D indicators, which puts the country for the third consecutive year in the top 10 strong innovators in Europe and 27th globally in terms of innovation (Global Innovation Index 2024), it is added.

Subsequently, the Deputy Minister stressed the need to create a favourable environment that encourages and facilitates innovation, underlining the importance of access to financial tools and skilled human resources, as well as providing incentives for investment in R&D.

At the same time, bilateral contacts were held with counterparts from other countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bulgaria and Canada, during which ways of further developing transnational and intensifying international cooperation in the fields of science, technology and innovation were discussed.

It is added that in the margins of the visit, the Cypriot delegation had separate meetings with senior officials and advisors to the new Prime Minister of Japan, Ishiba Shigeru, the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, the Japan Science and Technology Agency, as well as with representatives of Osaka University and the RIKEN research center, to promote mutually beneficial synergies between the two countries' ecosystem actors.

The Cypriot delegation also met with the Director of the Japan External Trade Organization, with whom they discussed the strengthening economic and business relations and investment between Cyprus and Japan.

Damianou was accompanied by the Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology, Dimitris Skourides, the Director General of the Research and Innovation Foundation, Theodoros Loukaidis, and the Ambassador of Cyprus to Japan, Yiannis Michaelides, the press release concluded.

(Source: CNA)