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Cyprus Research And Innovation Foundation Launches Funding Programs For Businesses

The Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) has announced two pivotal funding initiatives designed to integrate advanced research with Cyprus’ vibrant business sector. These programmes, under the Proof of Concept and Research in Enterprises umbrellas, are set to transform research outputs into commercially viable products and services.

Transforming Research Into Market-Ready Solutions

The Proof of Concept programme is tailored to support the early-stage evaluation of technology applications emerging from research activities. With a dedicated budget of €1 million and individual projects eligible for up to €40,000 in funding, this initiative invites proposals until June 26, 2026, accelerating the translation of research ideas into practical industrial applications.

Empowering Enterprise Innovation

The Research in Enterprises programme focuses on equipping Cypriot businesses to create or significantly enhance products, services, and production methods. Boasting a total budget of €2.4 million, with grants of up to €150,000 per project, this initiative is a strategic move to bolster the nation’s competitive edge by driving innovation within established enterprises. Submission deadlines for proposals under this scheme conclude on June 30, 2026.

Bridging The Gap Between Research And Business

Recognizing the critical need for collaboration, RIF has also introduced the MatchMe tool, a state-of-the-art platform that streamlines partner searches and facilitates joint project development between researchers and industry players. This tool enhances connections and fosters strategic collaborations, ensuring that research developments effectively address real-world business challenges.

A Strategic Vision For National Competitiveness

Director General Theodoros Loukaidis underscores the significance of these initiatives: “The connection of research with the country’s businesses, transforming knowledge into innovative products and services, is a key strategic objective that elevates national competitiveness.” This vision is further empowered by the MatchMe tool, which promises to close the longstanding gap between academic research and commercial application.

Next Steps For Innovators

Prospective applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals via the IRIS portal, the official submission platform for RIF programmes. With these robust initiatives, RIF is not only driving innovation but also reinforcing Cyprus’ position as a burgeoning hub for research-driven economic growth.

Meta’s Muse Is Outpacing ChatGPT In Early Mobile Adoption, New Data Suggests

Meta’s new AI app, Muse, may be emerging as one of the company’s strongest consumer launches to date. Fresh estimates from market intelligence firm Apptopia suggest the app has outperformed ChatGPT in early mobile traction, at least in the U.S. and Canada.

According to Apptopia, Muse recorded more downloads in its first 12 days on the market than ChatGPT did during the comparable period after its mobile debut. The comparison, limited to the U.S. and Canada, puts Muse’s iOS downloads at 1.8 million versus 1.3 million for ChatGPT over the same initial window.

A Strong Early Start Across Platforms

In total, Muse has reached 2.8 million global installs in its first 12 days, according to the firm. The app’s momentum also appears to be holding. After debuting at No. 2 on the U.S. App Store, Muse has since climbed to No. 1, surpassing ChatGPT, according to reporting from Business Insider. Appfigures had previously estimated that Muse crossed 1 million downloads shortly after launch.

That early rise matters because app-store performance in the first days after launch often signals whether a product can sustain consumer attention beyond initial curiosity. In Meta’s case, the data suggests Muse is not simply benefiting from novelty; it is gaining ground quickly enough to challenge the category leader.

Daily Users Show Similar Momentum

Apptopia’s estimates point to another favorable comparison for Meta: daily usage. In the U.S. alone, Muse is said to have 642,000 daily active users, well above the 231,000 ChatGPT had at the same stage of its mobile rollout.

To make the comparison fairer, Apptopia also narrowed the analysis to iOS only, since ChatGPT launched on iPhone before expanding more broadly. Even under that tighter lens, Muse still comes out ahead, with 359,000 daily active users on iOS compared with ChatGPT’s earlier figure.

Why Meta Has An Advantage

Third-party estimates are not the same as internal company data, and Apptopia cannot see Meta’s proprietary numbers. Still, even directional data suggests Muse may be on track to become a meaningful consumer product for Meta.

That possibility is strengthened by Meta’s distribution advantage. The company has already demonstrated how powerful its ecosystem can be with Threads, which surpassed 500 million users after heavy promotion across Instagram and Facebook. Muse is likely to receive a similar boost, especially because it can connect across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Apptopia does not track Meta’s internal promotion strategy, but its data indicates that more than 95% of Muse users are also Facebook users, while 63% are Instagram users. That overlap underscores how effectively Meta can move users across its products when it chooses to prioritize a launch.

The Strategic Test For Meta

For Meta, the early signal from Muse is less about one app’s download count than about whether the company can turn its scale into durable AI adoption. The first test is attention. The harder one is retention.

If Muse can convert early downloads into habitual use, Meta may have found a new front door into its AI ambitions. If not, the app risks becoming another example of how easily mobile hype can spike before settling back down.

Meta, which was asked for comment, has not yet released public figures on Muse’s early adoption.

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