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Chief Scientist’s Roadmap To Make Cyprus A Regional Research And Innovation Hub by 2035

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

In a bold vision for Cyprus, Chief Scientist Demetris Skourides presented a comprehensive roadmap to establish Cyprus as a regional hub for research, innovation, and technology by 2035. The strategy, developed through extensive consultation with over 650 stakeholders, aims to streamline processes, enhance transparency, and improve the overall research and innovation ecosystem.

Key initiatives include the introduction of a new grants management system by 2025 to reduce administrative burdens and promote scientific work and commercialization. The roadmap also emphasises the importance of public-private partnerships, with recent programs increasing collaboration between research organisations and industry.

Cyprus has maintained its 10th position in the European Innovation Scoreboard for three consecutive years, reflecting the country’s growing innovation capacity. This is supported by significant funding increases, with €177.25 million allocated for competitive funding between 2021-2027, a 34% rise from the previous period.

Public universities and research institutes have been pivotal in securing prestigious European Research Council grants, showcasing Cyprus’ research excellence. Notably, improvements in the operations of the Research and Innovation Foundation have significantly reduced the average time to pay and contract processing times.

Furthermore, the strategy includes targeted funding for research excellence, collaboration, innovation, and infrastructure. Specific focus areas include ICT, green transition, energy, shipping, agrifood, health, advanced materials, and environment.

Skourides also highlighted the importance of international collaborations, citing recent engagements with Japanese and international organisations to foster global partnerships. The roadmap sets a clear path for Cyprus to enhance its research and innovation landscape, positioning the country as a leader in the region by 2035.

Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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