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Cyprus’ Chief Scientist Earns Global GovTech Recognition On LinkedIn

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 6, 2026

Cyprus’ Chief Scientist, Demetris Skourides, has been ranked among the world’s leading LinkedIn creators in GovTech and the public sector, a recognition he says reflects Cyprus’ growing presence in global conversations on research, innovation and digital transformation.

A Ranking That Points Beyond Personal Reach

According to a post on his LinkedIn account, Skourides ranked 25th globally among the Top 200 LinkedIn creators in GovTech and the public sector. He also placed first in Cyprus in the category and seventh overall on LinkedIn in the country.

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The ranking, which included a Favikon score of 87.3, measures professional influence and visibility on the platform.

Cyprus As The Larger Story

Skourides described the recognition as part of a broader effort to raise Cyprus’ international profile rather than a personal achievement.

“Cyprus is small. Its ambition is not,” he wrote, adding that the recognition belongs to everyone helping position the country as a hub for research, innovation and digital transformation.

His comments reflect Cyprus’ broader strategy to strengthen its reputation as a regional centre for technology, entrepreneurship and digital government.

A National Strategy Built Around Innovation

Appointed Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology in September 2023 by President Nikos Christodoulides, Skourides is responsible for supporting policies that strengthen research, innovation, technological development and entrepreneurship. He also chairs the board of the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF).

The government’s Research and Innovation Strategy 2024–2026 places innovation at the centre of economic competitiveness and public-sector modernisation.

Recent indicators suggest progress. According to the Research and Innovation Foundation, Cyprus climbed to 34th place in the StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026, rising six positions year on year. The country’s startup ecosystem grew by 62.7% and was valued at $4.2 billion, while Limassol entered the global top 200 startup cities ranking for the first time, placing 191st.

Progress Remains Uneven

Despite those gains, challenges remain. The European Commission’s 2026 Digital Decade Country Report found that AI adoption among Cypriot businesses is still relatively low, although it noted that initiatives such as the National AI Strategy and the Pharos-CY AI Factory Antenna could accelerate adoption.

Communication As A Leadership Tool

Skourides argued that visibility is increasingly tied to credibility, partnerships and investment, particularly in fields such as artificial intelligence and GovTech.

“Technology is not the destination,” he wrote. “People are.”

He added that innovation only creates value when it improves people’s lives and that digital transformation succeeds only when citizens experience tangible benefits. In his view, communication has become an essential part of public leadership because people are more willing to embrace change when they understand it.

A Wider Cyprus Story

Skourides dedicated the recognition to Cyprus’ wider innovation ecosystem, thanking researchers, entrepreneurs, educators, public servants, businesses and policymakers for helping strengthen the country’s international profile.

“The future will not wait,” he said. “Neither,” Skourides added, “should Cyprus.”

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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.