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Cypriot Water Security Project Among EU-Funded Innovations

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

A cutting-edge project hosted by the University of Cyprus, aimed at enhancing the security of water distribution systems, is among 134 initiatives selected for funding under the European Research Council’s 2024 Proof of Concept grants. These grants, totaling €20 million, will support innovative projects from EU member states and Horizon Europe participants.

The Cypriot project, titled WaterSAFE: An Integrated Cyber-Physical Security Solution for Water Distribution Systems, has been awarded €150,000. This funding will help bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application, advancing the development of robust solutions for water system security.

The Proof of Concept program empowers researchers to validate the practical feasibility of their ideas, assess commercial potential, and prepare for patent applications. It plays a critical role in transitioning scientific breakthroughs into market-ready technologies.

Selected projects span a range of fields, including autonomous satellite navigation, food fraud prevention, cancer drug repurposing, and improved treatments for life-threatening diseases.

This year’s grantees represent 20 countries across Europe. Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands lead with 15 projects each, followed by Spain and the UK (14 each), and Israel (12). Cyprus secured one grant, standing alongside nations such as Croatia, Poland, and Portugal.

The WaterSAFE project’s inclusion highlights Cyprus’s growing contribution to innovative, globally relevant research initiatives.

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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