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Cyprus Earns Prestigious Global Climb Award, Cementing Its Role As An Emerging Innovation Hub

Cyprus has recently garnered international acclaim by receiving the Best Global Climb Award Among EU Countries at the 3rd Edition of the StartupBlink Startup Ecosystem Awards. This significant honor was announced by StartupBlink, a leading global research platform renowned for its comprehensive mapping and analysis of startup ecosystems.

Driving Innovation Through Strategic Leadership

The accolade was awarded to the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), the national body responsible for promoting research, innovation, and technological advancement. RIF’s strategic initiatives have not only accelerated technological development within Cyprus but have also overseen the island’s remarkable ascendancy in the StartupBlink Startup Ecosystem Index Global Ranking, marking it as the EU member state with the most notable improvement.

A Growing Hub With Global Impact

This recognition underscores Cyprus’ transformation into a competitive innovation hub on the European stage. The award is a testament to the island’s dynamic research ecosystem, which is increasingly drawing international attention and fostering global partnerships. By integrating local researchers into broader European and international projects, RIF is poised to amplify Cyprus’ presence in the global innovation landscape.

Further Information

For additional insights into Cyprus’ innovation strategies and grant programmes, please visit the Research and Innovation Foundation website. Interested parties may also contact the foundation via email.

Nearly 80% Of Cyprus’ Foreign Investment Came From Outside EU In 2025

Cyprus had the highest share of foreign direct investment (FDI) originating outside the European Union among 14 EU member states reporting data for 2025. According to Eurostat, non-EU economies accounted for 79.4% of the island’s inward FDI, highlighting its distinct position among the reporting countries.

The figures contrast with most other EU economies, where investment from within the bloc remains the main source of foreign capital.

Cyprus Leads In Non-EU Investment Share

Eurostat measures inward FDI positions by the ultimate investing economy, identifying the economy where the investment ultimately originates rather than only the country through which it is channelled. This distinction is important when investments involve subsidiaries or intermediary holding companies.

In nine of the 14 reporting countries, most foreign investment came from within the EU. The Czech Republic recorded the highest intra-EU share, at 75.1%, followed by Romania at 73.3% and Estonia at 64.8%.

Cyprus was among five countries where non-EU economies accounted for more than half of inward FDI. Spain, Sweden, Greece and Denmark also recorded shares above 50%, ranging from 51% to 55.1%.

US Is The Largest Source Of FDI Across Reporting Countries

Across the 14 countries collectively, the United States was the largest ultimate source of foreign direct investment, accounting for 15.4% of the total.

Germany ranked second at 11.5%, followed by France at 9.4%, the United Kingdom at 9.3% and Switzerland at 5.8%.

These figures reflect the combined investment positions of the reporting countries and do not identify Cyprus’s leading individual investment sources. However, the country-level data underline the island’s strong reliance on capital originating outside the European Union.

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