Two University of Cyprus Researchers Secure €3 Million In ERC Funding For Cancer Studies

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 7, 2026

The grants were awarded to Dr. Myrofora Panayi and Dr. Maria Kalli, according to the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), adding two new European Research Council (ERC) grants to Cyprus’ research record.

Beyond the individual awards, the results show how national support can help researchers compete for highly selective European funding.

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A Signal Of Research Quality And International Credibility

In a statement, the RIF said the achievement confirms “the quality and international competitiveness of Cyprus’ research ecosystem” and highlights “the value of targeted investment in talent and research excellence.”

The foundation said the result reflects both the strength of the individual researchers and Cyprus’ growing capacity to develop proposals that can secure support from one of Europe’s leading research funding bodies.

How National Support Helped Unlock European Funding

Both successful proposals received assistance from the RIF through research funding under its VISION ERC Programme, along with proposal review services aimed at strengthening applications for ERC calls.

The programme supports early-career and experienced researchers seeking to compete for ERC funding. It is co-funded by the Republic of Cyprus and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the THALIA 2021-2027 Programme.

A Small Investment With Measurable Returns

According to the RIF, the latest awards demonstrate the potential leverage of targeted public investment in research. A national investment of €100,000 helped secure €1.5 million in ERC funding for each researcher, equivalent to 15 times the original support.

For policymakers and research institutions, the figures show how targeted national funding can help researchers access larger international grants while supporting longer-term research capacity.

Boost For Cancer Research And Cyprus’ Research Profile

The new grants add to Cyprus’ record of securing competitive European research funding and will support advanced cancer research.

More broadly, the awards provide another example of how targeted support for researchers can help strengthen Cyprus’ position in the international research community while bringing additional European funding into the country.

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Europe’s Busiest Ports Show The Scale Of Maritime Trade

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 7, 2026

Maritime transport carried roughly 13 billion tonnes of goods worldwide in 2024, highlighting its central role in global trade and supply chains. EU ports handled about 3.4 billion tonnes, or 26% of the global total, while nearly 90% of the bloc’s external freight trade is carried by sea.

Rotterdam And Antwerp-Bruges Lead The EU

Rotterdam was the EU’s busiest port in 2024, handling 397.3 million tonnes of goods. Antwerp-Bruges ranked second with 243.7 million tonnes, putting the two northern European hubs well ahead of the rest.

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Hamburg ranked third at 97 million tonnes, followed by Spain’s Algeciras at 81.5 million tonnes and Amsterdam at 78.8 million tonnes. France’s HAROPA port complex, covering Le Havre and Rouen, handled 76.6 million tonnes, while Gdansk recorded 71 million tonnes.

Marseille and Valencia followed with 66 million and 64.5 million tonnes, respectively. Romania’s Constanta completed the top 10 at 57.6 million tonnes, reflecting the Black Sea’s role in Europe’s wider trade network.

Europe’s Second Tier Of Major Ports

Several ports handled between 40 million and 56 million tonnes in 2024. Barcelona recorded 55.5 million tonnes, followed by Trieste at 53.5 million, Genoa at 47.4 million and Sines at 44.1 million.

Piraeus handled 43.7 million tonnes, while Germany’s Bremerhaven recorded 42.5 million. Sweden’s Göteborg handled 38.5 million tonnes and Dunkerque in France 36.8 million.

Netherlands Leads By National Port Volume

Looking at total cargo across each country’s ports, the Netherlands ranked first with 538.1 million tonnes in 2024. Italy followed with 488.6 million tonnes and Spain with 486 million tonnes, putting all three well ahead of the rest of the EU.

Belgium ranked fourth at 274.9 million tonnes, followed by Germany at 273.9 million and France at 269.8 million. Greece, Sweden and Poland each handled more than 100 million tonnes, showing the breadth of Europe’s maritime network.

Turkey Expands The Regional Picture

Including EU candidate countries and EFTA members puts Turkey in second place with 524.7 million tonnes, behind the Netherlands. Norway ranked eighth with 212.1 million tonnes and handled 212.1 million tonnes.

The European Commission has described maritime transport as a long-standing driver of European economic development. Its role now extends beyond moving cargo, with ports increasingly tied to supply chains, energy security and industrial policy.

In March 2026, the Commission adopted two strategies focused on competitiveness, sustainability, security and resilience across the EU’s waterborne sector, including ports, shipping and shipbuilding.

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