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Advancing Cyprus Women’s Trajectory In Deep Tech Innovation

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 11, 2026

Innovative Landscape Of Deep Tech

Cyprus has drawn attention in a recent EU-backed study examining the gender investment gap across Europe. The report highlights the growing importance of deep tech, a sector built on scientific research and advanced engineering, as a key driver of Europe’s long-term competitiveness, security, and economic resilience.

Understanding Deep Tech

Deep tech companies often emerge from universities and research laboratories. They focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, robotics, quantum computing, climate and energy systems, biotechnology, and advanced industrial technologies. Unlike consumer-oriented startups, these businesses usually require longer development timelines, highly specialized talent, and substantial upfront investment before they reach the market.

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Funding Disparities And European Competitiveness

The study notes that the funding gap is not only a question of equality but also a strategic economic concern. Access to early-stage and follow-on capital largely determines which technologies scale and which stall. This has direct implications for Europe’s green and digital transitions, industrial leadership, and its dependence on foreign technologies in critical sectors.

Empowering Through Data-Driven Insights

One of the key outcomes of the project is the “Gender Gap in Investments Dashboard,” developed using Dealroom data. The platform aggregates information on founding teams and venture funding across Europe, offering policymakers and investors a clearer view of current trends. According to the findings, startups with at least one female founder account for 14.4 percent of venture capital rounds and 12 percent of total funding. In deep tech, however, the imbalance is sharper, with nearly 90 percent of investments still going to all-male teams.

Cyprus: A Case of Contrasts

Cyprus presents a mixed picture. The country shows one of the highest shares of deep-tech firms founded exclusively by women at 17 percent, although this figure is based on a small number of companies. In the broader technology sector, where 152 firms were analyzed, female-led businesses represent only 14.5 percent. As an EU “widening country,” Cyprus is also eligible for targeted SME support programs, which could help narrow these gaps if used effectively.

Navigating Structural Barriers

Industry insiders, including Stavriana Kofteros, founder and partner at W11 Ventures, emphasize that the challenge lies not in the availability of talent but in translating research into market-ready companies, especially those led by women. Persistent structural barriers such as fragmented support ecosystems, credibility issues in fundraising, and limited diversity in investment decision-making further exacerbate the disparities.

Toward a Collaborative, Data-Driven Future

The report recommends creating a permanent European data hub focused on gender and investment trends, alongside shared reporting standards across EU and national funding programs. Strengthening links between early-stage support and growth financing is also seen as essential. Public investment tools, including mechanisms such as the European Innovation Council, are viewed as catalysts that can attract greater private capital into deep-tech ventures.

Conclusion

The study suggests that better data, coordinated policy, and stronger ecosystem cooperation are crucial for building a more inclusive deep-tech environment. Europe’s competitiveness, it argues, will increasingly depend on its ability to recognize, measure, and scale the contributions of women innovators alongside broader technological progress.

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Cyprus Composite Leading Economic Index Signals Steady Growth Amid Global Uncertainties

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 11, 2026

Robust Economic Trajectory In Cyprus

The Cyprus Composite Leading Economic Index (CCLEI) recorded a 2.9% year‐on‐year increase in January 2026, as per the revised data from the University of Cyprus‘s Economics Research Centre (CypERC). This performance, though slightly slower than the 3.1% and 3.2% gains recorded in December and November 2025 respectively, confirms resilient economic fundamentals over the period.

Sectoral Contributions And International Influences

Key components such as temperature-adjusted electricity production, property sales contracts, tourist arrivals, and retail trade activity all posted positive year-on-year growth. In contrast, external factors such as a marked reduction in Brent crude oil prices and diverging economic sentiment indicators between Cyprus and the euro area highlight a complex external environment. While the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) across the euro area improved in January, the domestic ESI in Cyprus declined, reflecting a weakening business climate in the services and industrial sectors.

Detailed Insights Into Business And Consumer Confidence

Additional surveys outlined a slight deterioration in economic sentiment within Cyprus. The overall decline in the Economic Sentiment Indicator, notably a 0.2-point drop from December 2025, was primarily driven by reduced confidence in the construction, retail trade, and industrial sectors. Despite improvements in the Services Confidence Indicator and stable consumer confidence levels, adjustments in stock levels and revised sales expectations contributed to a softer outlook among business leaders. Construction firms, facing seasonal constraints and labor shortages, adopted a more neutral stance, while industrial players tempered expectations due to less favorable assessments of stock levels and production.

Methodology And Future Outlook

The CCLEI, designed to provide early warning signals for turning points in business cycles, derives its insights from an array of domestic and international indicators. These include tracking trends such as the Brent crude oil price in euros, property sales contracts, tourist arrivals, and credit card transaction values. The centre’s ongoing assessment, including its recent summary of business and consumer surveys, suggests that despite external geopolitical and economic uncertainties, the Cypriot economy maintains a stable growth trajectory.