KIOS Centre of Excellence plays key role in shaping Cyprus as a research hub, says Deputy Minister

The KIOS Centre of Excellence stands as proof of what can be achieved when vision, innovation, and collaboration come together, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy, Dr. Nicodemos Damianou, has stated.

Speaking at the University of Cyprus on 27 March, he commended KIOS for its accomplishments and its impact, noting that the Centre plays a key role in shaping Cyprus into a hub for research, innovation, and technology.

Noting that research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology are interconnected pillars that drive progress and sustainable growth, he said that by fostering these areas, Cyprus can enhance its global presence and deliver tangible benefits to its citizens. "As a Government, we firmly believe in this vision," said Damianou. He emphasised the government's commitment to creating a diversified and resilient economy, prioritising productive investments and a strong knowledge-based economy.

In his speech, Damianou said Cyprus has already established a strong scientific and entrepreneurial base, with 12 universities, over 20 research organizations, and seven Centres of Excellence. The country has been ranked as a Strong Innovator in the European Innovation Scoreboard 2024 for the third consecutive year, making it the only Southeastern European country to achieve this status. Since 2017, Cyprus has demonstrated remarkable progress, with innovation performance increasing by 39%—the highest growth among EU member states. Globally, Cyprus ranked 27th in the 2024 Global Innovation Index and among the Top 50 Startup Ecosystems worldwide. Additionally, McKinsey positioned Cyprus 6th in Europe in terms of enabling startups to scale up.

With a strong performance in Horizon 2020 and a growing engagement in Horizon Europe, Cyprus continues to strengthen its position as a regional research and innovation hub. Damianou highlighted ongoing government efforts to support the innovation and startup ecosystem, including the newly operational Cyprus Equity Fund, a revised Startup Visa scheme, a strong intellectual property regime, and tax incentives for investment in innovative companies.

Recognising existing challenges in research, he said the government is working closely with the academic community to enhance policy interventions. For 2025, a key priority, led by the President, is to reverse brain drain by attracting talent back to Cyprus. Funding programs by the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) also aim to support research infrastructures, startups, SMEs, and international collaborations, he added.

According to Damianou, since its inception, KIOS has led pioneering research and technological innovation, attracting top-tier researchers and securing prestigious ERC grants, adding that it participates in over 35 research projects and has significantly contributed to government strategic objectives.

He reminded that during the pandemic, KIOS had a critical impact by developing innovative tools for the real-time monitoring of COVID-19 cases. These tools, the Deputy Minister said, were instrumental in enabling authorities to respond swiftly and make informed decisions to manage the crisis effectively. At the same time, KIOS continues to support the government in various key areas, such as the protection of critical infrastructure and the resilience of essential services which include energy, water and telecommunications, smart water management systems to detect leaks and ensure quality – a top priority of the government with the issues due to water shortage-, intelligent transport management systems to improve traffic flow and road safety, as well as cybersecurity solutions.

KIOS has also fostered entrepreneurship, with its alumni establishing successful startups, said Damianou and underscored the importance of sustaining and expanding the Centres of Excellence, securing competitive funding, and strengthening industry partnerships. Concluding, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting KIOS in its ongoing mission to drive research and innovation forward.

(Source: CNA)