As Cyprus advances its national AI strategy, the government has brought together a multidisciplinary National AI Taskforce to guide its development. Among its members is Professor Nicos Savva, a Cyprus-born academic and Professor of Management Science and Operations at London Business School. His work focuses on applying AI and data science to improve healthcare, operations, and public services.
In this exclusive interview for The Future Media, Professor Savva shares how AI can transform government services, improve citizen experience, and boost productivity across sectors. He also reflects on why connecting global expertise with local priorities will be key to Cyprus’s AI future.
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What perspectives or expertise do you bring to shape Cyprus’s AI future?
As a Professor of Management Science and Operations at London Business School, I bring the perspective of a researcher who applies rigorous, evidence-based analysis to real-world challenges. My expertise lies in AI and data science, particularly in developing and applying data-driven methods to improve decision-making in complex systems. I have a proven track record of producing high-impact research in areas such as healthcare and business operations, and I strive to bring this analytical, results-oriented mindset to national strategy and policy discussions.
I also bring the perspective of an educator. I work closely with current and future business leaders to help them understand, evaluate, and implement AI and data science in their organizations.
This role has given me valuable insight into the practical challenges of AI adoption and the importance of aligning technological innovation with strategic and organizational change.
Additionally, as a co-director of a research initiative on Data Science and AI at London Business School, I actively foster interdisciplinary collaboration and stay at the forefront of emerging trends and best practices in AI research.
What qualities made you a strong candidate for this role?
I bring a combination of deep academic expertise in AI and data analytics, leadership in interdisciplinary projects, and experience bridging global innovation trends with local contexts. Although I have lived abroad for over 25 years, I have maintained strong personal and professional ties to Cyprus.
This dual perspective allows me to connect international best practices with the realities on the ground in Cyprus, making me well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to the Taskforce’s goals. My strategic approach to AI, coupled with my understanding of Cyprus’s unique opportunities and challenges, aligns well with this transformational moment.
What AI opportunities could most transform Cyprus’s key sectors and society?
I see AI making a significant impact on Cyprus through innovative applications, particularly by modernizing and streamlining the public sector. AI can help redesign government services to be faster, more efficient, and more accessible, making it easier for citizens, businesses, and foreign investors to interact with the state.
Beyond the public sector, AI holds transformative potential in tourism through personalized experiences, in energy through smart grid optimization, and in healthcare through better diagnostics, resource planning, and remote care. These applications can boost productivity, improve services, and enhance the quality of life across society.
How can Cyprus align AI development with global trends despite its small market size?
Cyprus can leverage its agility by becoming a testing ground for innovative AI solutions, focusing on niche areas like tourism tech, fintech, and energy management. Aligning closely with EU regulations, such as the AI Act, can position Cyprus as a trusted gateway to larger markets.
How can Cyprus attract and retain top AI talent?
We must build a robust local talent pipeline through modern education, attract diaspora professionals through incentives, offer a high-quality lifestyle, and ensure ongoing career opportunities through a vibrant tech ecosystem and clear pathways for professional growth.
Additionally, establishing international partnerships and research collaborations between leading Cyprus-based research institutions (e.g., the University of Cyprus) and internationally renowned research entities will further enhance our ability to attract and develop top global talent and skills to Cyprus.
What are the main risks with AI integration, and how can we proactively address them?
Key risks include workforce displacement and increasing inequality, ethical issues, infrastructure readiness, public acceptance, and regulatory compliance. Addressing these proactively through targeted education programs, appropriately designed tax schemes, transparent ethical guidelines, infrastructure investments, public engagement campaigns, and supportive compliance frameworks will mitigate these risks.
What is one key achievement you hope for during your term?
My ambition would be to launch and implement a practical National AI Strategy with tangible, transformative initiatives in public sector efficiency, setting Cyprus on a sustainable path of innovation and continuous improvement.
Specifically, I would like to achieve measurable outcomes such as significantly reduced processing times for key public services and an increase in the number of AI-driven startups and innovative ventures in Cyprus.
How will the Taskforce ensure Cyprus’s AI strategy adapts to international changes?
Good question. AI is moving fast and we have to take a dynamic approach, with continuous global monitoring, regulatory alignment, regular strategic reviews, use of regulatory sandboxes, and fostering diverse, collaborative partnerships to remain agile and resilient to global AI developments.
If you could implement one groundbreaking AI initiative today, what would it be?
I would establish a nationwide AI-driven “Smart Government Assistant”—a user-friendly platform transforming how citizens, businesses, and international investors interact with public services, drastically cutting bureaucracy and significantly improving efficiency.
Which AI advancements will most impact global industries in the next five years?
The most impactful advancements will be widespread generative AI applications, enhanced automation in manufacturing and logistics, personalized healthcare solutions, sector-specific AI developments (finance, agriculture, energy), and improved AI hardware enabling edge computing.
How will the EU’s AI Act influence AI development in Cyprus?
The EU’s AI Act will play a foundational role in shaping how AI is developed and deployed across Europe, including in Cyprus. It establishes important guardrails to ensure AI is trustworthy, ethical, and aligned with European values.
However, we must acknowledge that there is still considerable regulatory uncertainty. Many key aspects of implementation will require follow-up legislation, detailed technical standards, and likely, clarification through legal challenges and judicial interpretation.
Regulatory authorities across Europe—including in Cyprus—are still in the process of interpreting the law and figuring out how best to operationalize it.
For businesses and developers, this creates a complex but necessary compliance landscape. Our role on the Taskforce is to help anticipate these developments and guide stakeholders through them, ensuring that Cyprus can adapt early, reduce compliance burdens where possible, and position itself as a safe, forward-thinking environment for AI innovation.
What does AI success for Cyprus look like by 2030?
By 2030, AI success for Cyprus will be measured by the extensive digitization and AI enablement of public services, reflected in significantly faster processing times, higher citizen satisfaction, and efficiency improvements. We will see robust growth in an AI-driven economy, demonstrated by an increased number of startups, higher foreign investments specifically targeted towards AI, and measurable contributions of AI-related activities to GDP. Cyprus will also have developed a substantial talent base, with increased numbers of AI-trained professionals working and innovating locally. Public trust and ethical deployment of AI will be regularly assessed through surveys and international recognition.
Ultimately, AI success will translate into tangible improvements in quality of life, such as enhanced healthcare outcomes, energy efficiency gains, and greater overall accessibility and personalization of essential services.
Achieving these ambitious goals requires sustained commitment from the government, including serious dedication to policy reforms, allocation of adequate resources, and effective coordination across all administrative levels. Although I do see challenges that we would need to overcome, I remain hopeful!
