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Cyprus and Japan sign Memorandum of Cooperation on Science and Technology

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 8, 2024

Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nicodemos Damianou, and Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Toshiko Abe, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at strengthening relations between Cyprus and Japan in the fields of science and technology, both at the transnational and the European level, during an official visit Damianou paid to Kyoto.

According to a press release issued by the Deputy Ministry, the expansion of Cyprus-Japan relations in the fields of science and technology was the focus of Damianos’ official visit to Kyoto.

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In the framework of bilateral contacts with the Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed to strengthen relations between Cyprus and Japan in the fields of science and technology, both at the transnational and the European level, it is stated.

Specifically, the press relese added, the memorandum promotes, among other things, the joint implementation of research and innovation (R&I) projects on issues of common interest, the mobility of scientists and the exchange of know-how and expertise between the academic and research communities of the two countries.

In his remarks, the Deputy Minister, after congratulating the Japanese Minister on her recent appointment, referred to the importance of the Memorandum as a tool for transferring know-how from a mature ecosystem – such as that of Japan – to the emerging – but highly dynamic – ecosystem of Cyprus.

He also touched on the cooperation prospects within the European Framework Programme Horizon Europe, with Japan being already at an advanced stage of consultations with the European Union (EU) for joining the programme as an associate member.

The Deputy Minister, the statement added, also participated in a ministerial roundtable on Transformative science, technology and innovation policy to strengthen innovation ecosystems, which was attended by Ministers and senior officials from various countries around the world, including Japan, Canada, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Norway, Finland, Germany, Finland, Lithuania and the United Kingdom, with the participation of an EU representative.

As stated, the Summit was held in the context of the 21st Annual Meeting of the STS Forum, which brings together prominent political, business and academic figures to exchange views on strengthening the science and technology sectors and their impact on the global economy and society.

In his intervention, the Deputy Minister referred to Cyprus’ ascending performance in European and international R&D indicators, which puts the country for the third consecutive year in the top 10 strong innovators in Europe and 27th globally in terms of innovation (Global Innovation Index 2024), it is added.

Subsequently, the Deputy Minister stressed the need to create a favourable environment that encourages and facilitates innovation, underlining the importance of access to financial tools and skilled human resources, as well as providing incentives for investment in R&D.

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Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

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.

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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.