More than 200 leaders from Cyprus’ research, innovation and entrepreneurship community came together on Tuesday for The Bash 2026, the annual flagship networking event of the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF).

Held under the theme “Let’s Cheers to Innovation Together!”, the gathering brought into one room the startups, scaleups, investors, academics, business support organisations, public sector representatives and policymakers helping shape Cyprus’ next phase of innovation-led growth.

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Building Momentum Through Collaboration

The event opened with remarks from RIF board chairman and Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology Demetris Skourides, RIF director general Theodoros Loukaidis and Konstantinos Kleovoulou, who represented the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy.

Across their speeches, one message was consistent: Cyprus’ innovation story is increasingly being defined by collaboration.

“Cyprus’ innovation ecosystem is growing, maturing and continuously delivering new success stories,” Skourides said. “This is not happening by chance. It is the result of the collective effort and collaboration of everyone who is part of this community.”

He added that RIF remains focused on helping create the conditions needed for the ecosystem to expand further. “As the Research and Innovation Foundation, and personally in my capacity as Chief Scientist, we remain committed to securing the necessary resources and creating the right conditions to further strengthen and support our ecosystem,” he said.

Skourides said The Bash has become a platform where connections turn into commercial and institutional value. “The Bash demonstrates that when the community comes together, new ideas emerge, new partnerships are formed, and the next success stories for Cyprus begin,” he noted.

A More Mature Startup Landscape

Loukaidis pointed to Cyprus’ improved standing in the global startup arena, citing the country’s 39th-place ranking in the StartupBlink Startup Ecosystem Index.

“Today, Cyprus has a much stronger and more mature innovation ecosystem, ranked 39th globally in the StartupBlink Startup Ecosystem Index,” he said. “This achievement is the result of a collective effort involving startups and innovative businesses, investors, incubators and accelerators, knowledge transfer offices, our universities, public sector stakeholders, and the Research and Innovation Foundation, which continuously evolves to better support the ecosystem.”

He said the country is now laying the groundwork for further progress. “Together, we are building the foundations for even greater success,” Loukaidis added.

“Thank you all for being here tonight at The Bash, which has grown into a flagship event, creating opportunities for meaningful networking, new ideas and lasting collaborations,” he said.

Government Signals Continued Support

Representing the deputy minister, Kleovoulou reiterated the government’s commitment to sustaining the sector’s momentum.

“Cyprus today has a dynamic research and innovation ecosystem that continues to grow and create new opportunities,” he said. “The Government remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen collaboration and further enhance Cyprus’ research and innovation ecosystem.”

Beyond the networking agenda, the event served as a snapshot of how far Cyprus has come in building a more connected innovation economy. It also highlighted a broader policy truth: in small markets, scale often depends less on size than on coordination among government, universities, research organisations, investors and businesses.

RIF said the strong turnout and energetic atmosphere confirmed The Bash’s role as the annual meeting point for the island’s innovation community, helping generate synergies, partnerships and initiatives with long-term impact.

The event was organised under RIF’s Innovation Factory initiative and formed part of the activities of the Enterprise Europe Network Cyprus.

Stripe and private equity firm Advent International have reportedly submitted a joint bid to acquire PayPal in a deal valued at about $53.4 billion, according to Reuters. The offer, backed by roughly $50 billion in committed bank financing, was reportedly submitted earlier this month.

A Potential Combination Of Two Payments Heavyweights

If completed, the transaction would unite two of the biggest names in digital payments and create one of the industry’s most powerful platforms, combining vast consumer reach with Stripe’s strength in merchant infrastructure.

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Under the reported proposal, Stripe and Advent would each own a 50% stake in PayPal.

PayPal serves around 440 million active accounts and processed approximately $1.8 trillion in payment volume in 2025. Stripe handled an estimated $1.9 trillion over the same period, highlighting its growing role in global digital commerce. Earlier this year, the privately held fintech reached a valuation of $159 billion, underscoring continued investor confidence in its long-term growth prospects.

Stripe Has Shown Interest Before

The reported bid follows earlier speculation that Stripe had explored acquiring PayPal. Reports in February suggested the company had held preliminary discussions, although no formal offer emerged at the time.

Neither company has publicly commented on the latest reports.

PayPal Faces A Crucial Turnaround Moment

The reported approach comes as PayPal pursues a broad restructuring aimed at reviving growth. Chief executive Enrique Lores took the helm in March after the company issued a profit warning and has since unveiled plans to cut at least $1.5 billion in costs over the next two to three years.

Media reports have also suggested that PayPal could reduce its workforce by around 20%, reflecting management’s effort to improve profitability and reposition the business for its next phase.

SpaceX shares fell back to just above $135 on Wednesday, returning to roughly the price set by Elon Musk and the company ahead of the blockbuster June 12 public offering, which raised nearly $86 billion.

After trading below the IPO price for much of the session and dipping under $133 at one point, the stock recovered modestly to close at $135.27.

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A Fast Reversal After A Surging Debut

The latest decline extends a steady pullback that has followed SpaceX’s market debut. Shares briefly climbed above $200 in the days after the listing, lifting the company’s valuation close to that of technology giants including Amazon and Microsoft. Momentum has since faded, with the stock retreating almost every week.

Part of that volatility reflects the stock’s limited free float rather than investor sentiment alone. Only about 4% of SpaceX’s shares are currently trading on Nasdaq, making the stock more sensitive to heavy trading activity and shifts in market demand.

Investors Are Taking A Harder Look At The Story

Investors also appear to be reassessing Musk’s long-term growth narrative, mirroring a broader cooling in technology stocks over the past month. The decline has extended beyond the shares themselves, with bonds issued after the IPO also coming under pressure.

A prolonged selloff could have implications beyond SpaceX. The company’s valuation has become a key gauge of investor confidence in Musk’s ambitious growth plans and may influence demand for future high-profile technology listings, including those expected from Anthropic and OpenAI, both of which have confidentially filed for IPOs.

Starship Faces Its Next Test

Attention will now turn to Thursday’s Starship test flight, the first since SpaceX became a public company.

The launch also marks the programme’s first mission since a booster failure in May. As with previous development flights, the company does not plan to recover either the booster or the upper stage. Instead, both are expected to perform a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, reflecting SpaceX’s long-standing approach of using repeated flight testing to refine the system.

The Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises (Stek) has renewed its call for stricter oversight of short-term holiday rentals, arguing that a recent Audit Office report confirms long-standing concerns about weak regulation and enforcement.

Audit Findings Reinforce Long-Standing Concerns

According to Stek, the report exposes significant shortcomings in the supervision of online short-term rental platforms, raising concerns about visitor safety and the reputation of Cyprus’ tourism industry.

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“The weaknesses in the supervision and control mechanisms for electronic short-term rental platforms constitute a significant risk to the safety of users and may have a direct negative impact on the credibility and quality of Cyprus’ tourism product,” the association said.

For years, Stek has argued that the existing legal framework has failed both in design and implementation, allowing accommodation providers to operate without the licences required by law.

Calls For A Stronger Regulatory Framework

Maintaining a property register alone is no longer sufficient, the association said. Instead, Cyprus needs a comprehensive system based on inspections, effective supervision and meaningful enforcement to ensure all accommodation providers operate under the same rules and safety standards.

Beyond creating unfair competition for licensed hotels, the rapid expansion of short-term rentals has also increased pressure on housing availability, disrupted residential neighbourhoods and, in some cases, created safety concerns for guests.

Stek welcomed the Deputy Ministry of Tourism’s plans to revise the legislative framework, describing the review as an opportunity to address longstanding weaknesses and bring Cyprus closer to practices already adopted in several European countries.

What Stek Wants To See

Among the proposed measures are systematic inspections, stronger enforcement powers backed by meaningful financial penalties and mandatory registration numbers displayed on all online listings.

Stek also supports closer cooperation between booking platforms and public authorities to remove illegal listings more quickly, as well as introducing a maximum annual rental period for short-term accommodation.

Additional proposals include allowing local authorities to restrict short-term rentals in areas facing housing shortages or excessive tourism pressure, introducing an overnight stay levy and applying common safety, health and insurance standards across all accommodation providers.

Europe Is Tightening Regulation

Pressure for reform is growing across Europe as governments seek to address the impact of short-term rentals on housing affordability and local communities.

Several cities, including Paris, have introduced stricter limits on the number of days primary residences can be rented each year, while EU rules that entered into force in May 2026 require hosts to register properties through a common database, making it easier for authorities to identify illegal listings.

The issue is becoming increasingly significant in Cyprus. Eurostat data show that guests booked 1.71 million overnight stays through online platforms such as Airbnb, Booking and Expedia during the fourth quarter of 2025.

Across the EU, online short-term rental accommodation recorded 144.3 million guest nights in the first quarter of 2026, up 9.7% from a year earlier, highlighting the sector’s continued expansion and the growing focus on stronger regulation.

Cyprus continues to lag behind the European Union average in digital skills among young people, even as the bloc records steady progress in digital literacy. New Eurostat data released on Wednesday also show that Cyprus has the widest gender gap in the EU, with young women significantly outperforming young men.

Cyprus Falls Short Of The EU Benchmark

According to Eurostat, 63.9% of Cypriots aged 16 to 24 had at least basic digital skills in 2025, well below the EU average of 74.6%.

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Across the bloc, nearly three-quarters of young people have reached at least a basic level of digital competence, reflecting the growing importance of digital skills in education, employment and everyday life.

Nordic And Central European Leaders Set The Pace

Denmark recorded the highest share of digitally skilled young people, at 92.1%, followed by the Czech Republic with 91.7% and Malta with 91.5%.

At the other end of the ranking, Bulgaria and Romania were the only member states where fewer than 60% of young people had achieved at least basic digital skills, at 52.8% and 53.3%, respectively.

Women Outperform Men Across Most Of The Bloc

Eurostat’s figures also highlight a persistent gender gap across much of the EU. At the bloc level, 75.9% of women aged 16 to 24 possessed at least basic digital skills, compared with 73.3% of men. The same pattern was recorded in 22 member states, including Cyprus.

No country recorded a wider gender gap than Cyprus. Some 73.9% of young women had at least basic digital skills, compared with 55.1% of young men, a difference of 18.8 percentage points.

A Wide Gap With Policy Implications

The disparity is significant because digital skills have become increasingly important for access to education, employment opportunities and participation in a technology-driven economy.

For policymakers, the figures underline two challenges: raising overall digital proficiency while narrowing the gap between young women and young men. Slovenia recorded the second-largest gap in favour of women, at 11.6 percentage points, followed by Austria with 9.1 points.

By contrast, young men outperformed women in only five EU countries. The widest gaps in favour of men were recorded in Malta, where 93.6% of young men had at least basic digital skills compared with 89.1% of young women, and Romania, where the figures stood at 55.1% and 51.1%, respectively.

Russian buyers accounted for 51% of foreign residential property purchases in Cyprus in 2025, according to a report published by Russian business magazine Business Petersburg.

Cyprus Retains Its Pull For Russian Capital

Despite European sanctions and tighter banking controls, Cyprus continues to attract Russian property buyers. According to the report, the island’s appeal lies in its European Union membership, established Russian-speaking community, favourable tax environment and permanent residence programme linked to the purchase of newly built property.

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Drawing on insights from real estate executives, the publication said Russian buyers remained the largest foreign group in the market. Many are purchasing homes not only to preserve wealth but also to relocate businesses, particularly technology companies, and establish a long-term presence within the EU.

Where Demand Is Concentrated

Interest remains strongest in newly built homes priced between €500,000 and €1.5 million, with Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos continuing to attract the highest demand.

Another key factor is Cyprus’ permanent residence programme. Foreign nationals who purchase newly built property worth at least €300,000 may qualify for permanent residency, making the scheme an important incentive for overseas investors seeking long-term stability and access to the European market.

Banking Compliance Remains A Barrier

Tighter compliance requirements introduced after sanctions against Russia have made property transactions more complex.

According to the report, purchases can now take between three and six months to complete as Cypriot banks carry out enhanced due diligence and request additional documentation. Those procedures have increased both transaction times and administrative costs for buyers.

Risks In The North Temper Enthusiasm

The report also examined the property market in northern Cyprus, where lower prices and more flexible payment terms continue to attract some Russian investors.

At the same time, it warned that the territory’s lack of international recognition and longstanding property ownership disputes create significant legal uncertainty. Particular caution was advised when considering properties built on land that may be subject to claims by displaced Greek Cypriot owners.

The Republic Remains The Safer Bet

While northern Cyprus may offer lower purchase prices, Business Petersburg concluded that the Republic of Cyprus remains the more secure option for investors seeking legal certainty, access to the European market and a stable regulatory environment.

For buyers balancing cost against long-term security, those advantages continue to outweigh the lower entry prices available in the north.

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) is encouraging regulated entities to participate in two public consultations launched by the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), as the European Union moves to strengthen and harmonise its anti-money laundering framework.

Covering draft technical standards, the consultations will help shape how suspicious activity is reported and how non-financial businesses are assessed for money laundering and terrorist financing risks across the bloc. For regulated firms, the outcome will define future compliance obligations.

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First Consultation Focuses On Suspicious Transaction Reporting

One consultation concerns the draft Implementing Technical Standards (ITS) under Article 69(3) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1624, which set out the format for reporting suspicious transactions and for submitting transaction records.

CySEC said the draft standards, supporting documents and consultation response form are available on AMLA’s website, with comments accepted until September 20, 2026.

AMLA will also host a public hearing on September 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CEST.

Second Consultation Targets Non-Financial Sector Risk Assessment

Another consultation focuses on draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) under Article 40(2) of Directive (EU) 2024/1640 (AMLD 6). The proposal introduces a common methodology for assessing the inherent and residual money laundering and terrorist financing risks of non-financial obliged entities.

Comments may be submitted until September 27, 2026, while a second public hearing is scheduled for September 10.

According to CySEC, the consultation is particularly relevant for non-financial entities under its supervision, including administrative service providers and crowdfunding service providers.

Toward A Harmonised EU Framework

According to AMLA, the proposed methodology would establish a consistent approach to assessing money laundering risks across all EU member states, allowing supervisors to evaluate comparable businesses using the same standards.

Feedback is also being sought on whether the reporting requirements are proportionate, practical and cost-effective, particularly for smaller organisations. Simplified reporting obligations are proposed for smaller entities, while supervisors would be able to rely on information already available to them instead of requesting duplicate data.

Implementation of the new framework is expected to begin in December 2028, with the first risk assessments under the harmonised system scheduled for 2029. Until then, national supervisors will continue applying their existing methodologies while preparing for the transition.

Businesses, supervisory authorities, financial intelligence units, industry bodies, academics and other stakeholders are encouraged by AMLA to submit feedback before the standards are finalised.

The Cypriot economy grew 3.0% year on year in the first quarter of 2026, marking its slowest pace in 10 quarters as a rebound in imports reduced the contribution from net exports. Domestic demand, however, remained resilient, supported by stronger private consumption, low unemployment and continued strength in residential investment.

Imports Dampen First-Quarter Growth

According to Eurobank Research, GDP growth eased from 4.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 3.6% in the first quarter of the previous year.

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The slowdown was driven primarily by a weaker contribution from net exports. Although exports and imports both recorded strong annual growth of 10.5% and 10.4%, respectively, imports rebounded sharply after an unusually weak period a year earlier, particularly in transport equipment such as ships and aircraft. As a result, external trade contributed less to overall economic growth.

Domestic Demand Remains The Main Engine

Domestic demand continued to underpin the economy. Private consumption accelerated to 4.9% year on year from 3.6% in the previous quarter, supported by favourable labour market conditions. Unemployment fell to 4.0%, the lowest first-quarter level on record.

Public consumption also strengthened, while the decline in gross fixed capital formation eased significantly to 6.9% from 21.7% a quarter earlier.

Residential investment remained resilient, expanding 4.7% year on year after a 5.9% increase in the previous quarter, supported by strong growth in housing lending throughout 2025. By contrast, momentum in non-residential construction weakened considerably, while investment in intellectual property products declined sharply for a second consecutive quarter.

Tourism Faces Pressure, But Services Remain Resilient

Looking ahead, Eurobank Research expects Cyprus to remain exposed to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, although the overall macroeconomic impact should remain limited if regional conditions continue to stabilise following the June 17 ceasefire agreement.

Tourism and transport are likely to experience the greatest pressure. After a record year in 2025 and strong growth at the beginning of 2026, tourist arrivals fell sharply in March and April before the decline eased to 4.9% in May, raising hopes of a gradual recovery during the summer season.

Information and communications technology, financial services and other business services are expected to remain comparatively resilient.

Inflation And Labour Market Pressures Emerge

Some signs of strain are beginning to appear. Registered unemployment rose 9.0% year on year in April and May, reversing the decline recorded during the first quarter. The increase was concentrated in tourism, administrative services and logistics.

Inflation also accelerated, reaching 4.0% in June from 0.9% in February as higher energy costs filtered through to service prices. Government measures aimed at containing imported inflation, together with an increase in wage indexation to 90% from July, are expected to help offset some of those pressures.

Construction Continues To Support Growth

Construction is expected to remain one of the economy’s key growth drivers through the second half of 2026.

Building permits increased 48.8% year on year in January and February, while the total approved building area expanded by 56.5%. Property sales also remained strong during the first four months of the year, supported by continued growth in housing lending.

Momentum softened in May as demand from foreign buyers eased. Even so, overseas purchasers remained the primary driver of market growth during the first five months of the year, accounting for 61% of the increase in property sales.

Labour Shortages Remain The Main Structural Challenge

Despite slower economic growth, Cyprus continues to benefit from strong public finances, improving financing conditions and a business-friendly regulatory and tax environment.

Eurobank Research identifies labour shortages as the country’s main structural constraint. With the job vacancy rate remaining elevated at 2.8% in the first quarter, policies that improve labour mobility and attract skilled foreign workers will be essential to sustaining the Cypriot economy’s medium-term growth potential.

Cyprus and Lebanon are taking a significant step toward a long-discussed electricity interconnection project that could reshape energy links across the eastern Mediterranean.

Formal Request To The World Bank

According to reliable information, the two governments are expected to sign a joint letter within days requesting World Bank financing for an undersea electricity interconnection. The move marks the transition from political discussions to a formal international funding process.

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From Feasibility Study To Strategic Project

Nicosia and Beirut jointly approached the World Bank at the end of 2025 to prepare a feasibility study for the proposed project. The study is expected to examine technical feasibility, potential tariffs and the project’s commercial viability, all key factors in determining whether the interconnection can move forward.

Beyond creating a physical link between the two countries, the project could strengthen energy security, improve regional integration and expand access to wider electricity markets.

Possible Connection Point In Zouk

Lebanon’s Energy Minister Joe Saddi said in April that the most likely connection point would be the Zouk area.

He added that, if the project proceeds, Cyprus could eventually connect to the wider European electricity grid, creating a potential route for Lebanon to access the same network.

Such a development would extend the project’s importance beyond bilateral cooperation, positioning Cyprus as a potential energy bridge between the Middle East and Europe while giving Lebanon a stronger connection to the European electricity system.

A Broader Diplomatic And Energy Context

The initiative follows another milestone in relations between the two countries. On November 26, 2025, Cyprus and Lebanon signed a landmark agreement delimiting their Exclusive Economic Zones, strengthening the legal framework for closer cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean.

Taken together, the two initiatives suggest that energy, infrastructure and diplomacy are becoming increasingly interconnected as both countries seek to deepen regional cooperation and improve long-term energy security.

The effort to establish a new cooperative bank in Cyprus has entered its most decisive phase, with a public share offering aimed at raising €42 million now serving as the gateway to securing a banking licence and launching operations.

Published by Phileleftheros, the prospectus of Pancyprian Cooperative Holdings and Promotion of Cooperativism Limited outlines both the opportunities and the risks facing investors, while also detailing the institution’s governance structure and principal shareholders.

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A Capital Raise Designed To Unlock Licensing

Raising €42 million is intended to provide the capital required to satisfy regulatory requirements, complete the licensing process and finance the bank’s initial operations.

Without a successful fundraising round, the proposed institution cannot move forward as a licensed credit institution.

A Cooperative Ownership Model With One Vote Per Member

Among the principal shareholders, the Limassol cooperative society holds the largest stake at 28.22%, followed by the Police and Military cooperative society with 12.53%, Paphos with 12.11%, Nicosia with 8.34%, Regional Nicosia with 6.97% and Lhedra with 6.69%.

Voting rights, however, do not mirror ownership. Under the company’s statutes, each of its 199 members has one vote regardless of the number of shares held, reinforcing the cooperative governance model rather than a traditional shareholder structure.

Board Composition And Regulatory Oversight

Elected in October 2025 for a three-year term, the Committee of Administration consists of 19 members, 18 of whom are classified as independent. Panikos Hamba serves as chairman, while Evgenios Eleftheriou is board secretary.

Before operations can begin, board members, senior executives and heads of key functions must all pass regulatory “fit and proper” assessments, making governance one of the project’s most important licensing requirements.

Limited Conflicts Of Interest

According to the prospectus, no material conflicts of interest have been identified among board members or those involved in the offering. The only disclosed relationship concerns the employment of the daughter of Chairman Panikos Hamba at the law firm providing legal services to the company.

The Investment Comes With Significant Risks

Investors are warned that the project carries substantial risks. Because the shares will not be listed on a stock exchange, there will be no organised secondary market for trading them. Transfers will also be restricted to company members, limiting liquidity.

Dividend payments are not expected during the early years, as any future distributions will depend on the bank reaching sustainable profitability.

Execution risk is also significant. Success depends on securing a banking licence, recruiting experienced staff, building technology infrastructure, complying with regulatory requirements and managing cybersecurity threats.

Funding Remains The Biggest Challenge

Meeting the fundraising target is only one of several milestones. Regulatory approval, operational readiness and the ability to attract customers in a highly competitive banking market will all determine whether the project succeeds.

Should the capital raise fall short, or regulators decline to grant a banking licence, the project will not proceed, and investors’ funds will be returned in accordance with the terms of the offering.

Management also warns that available funding may prove insufficient to cover technology investment, recruitment, marketing and other start-up costs. Any shortfall could delay expansion plans, weaken competitiveness and reduce future profitability.

Start-Up Costs Highlight The Scale Of The Challenge

Launching the public offering is expected to cost about €950,000. Personnel expenses are projected to account for roughly half of administrative costs, rising from between €3.5 million and €5.5 million in the first year to between €8 million and €10 million by the fifth.

As of 31 March 2026, the company reported negative working capital of €48,500 and estimated funding needs of almost €38 million over the following 12 months, underscoring the importance of completing the capital raise successfully.

What Comes Next

If the fundraising and licensing process is completed successfully, the new cooperative bank plans to offer deposits, mortgages, business lending, payment services, cards, digital banking and insurance products.

For the moment, the project’s future depends less on its long-term ambitions than on clearing the financial and regulatory hurdles required to begin operating.