Breaking news

Chief Scientist highlights Cyprus’ role as technology hub in New Delhi

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 11, 2024

Chief Scientist Demetris Skourides participated in a recent Invest Cyprus event in New Delhi, India, aimed at promoting Cyprus as an emerging technology and innovation hub, as well as a reliable gateway for investments to and from Europe.

According to a press release, the 5 September meeting was also attended by the Deputy Minister for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nicodemos Damianou, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus to India, Evagoras Vryonides, the CEO of Invest Cyprus, Marios Tannousis, the executives of PWC, Chrysilios Pelekanos, and Eurobank, Panayiotis Chrystostomou, as well as several entrepreneurs and potential investors from India.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Skourides had the opportunity to present the research, technology and innovation ecosystem of Cyprus, to highlight the incentives provided to attract investment and talent to the country, as well as the efforts made by the state to make Cyprus a hub for research, innovation and international entrepreneurship, stressing that Cyprus presents high levels of scientific excellence, as it has a remarkable research potential with significant achievements both at national and European level.

He also emphasised the notable research infrastructure of the Centres of Excellence that have been developed in Cyprus with co-funding by the European Commission, the services they provide and the important role they play in the development of the ecosystem, as well as the opportunities presented for the internationalisation of their services through new partnerships and investments from countries such as India.

It is added that Skourides held talks with over 30 stakeholders and provided a thorough briefing on the benefits of cooperation between entities from Cyprus and India, tax incentives, the funding programmes of the Research and Innovation Foundation which can be exploited, as well as the opportunities for access to the single European market from the country.

During his meetings, he identified and provided specific opportunities for cooperation with innovative companies in Cyprus, specialized in Fintech, Regtech, Healthtech, Agrofood and ICT, areas that are highlighted in the country’s Smart Specialization Strategy and are priorities of the Research and Innovation Strategy 2024, it is added.

It is also noted that the Director General of the Cyprus Research & Innovation Foundation, Theodoros Loukaides, also travelled to New Delhi to participate in the one-day CII India-Mediterranean Business Conclave, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), with the participation of representatives from 28 countries. At the same time, the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy led the Cypriot representation.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

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.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

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.