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Cyprus RIF Deploys €18M Funding Program To Empower Private Sector Competitiveness

Introduction

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve), in its role as coordinator for the Enterprise Europe Network Cyprus, has announced that the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) is extending substantial funding opportunities to the private sector. This initiative underscores Cyprus’s commitment to advancing research, innovation, and competitiveness across industries.

Investing In The Future

As a pivotal component of Cyprus’s research and innovation ecosystem, the RIF has unveiled a series of funding programmes backed by a total budget of €18,015,000. These programmes are designed to enhance competitiveness, promote international market engagement, and stimulate groundbreaking innovation that can drive businesses on a global scale.

Strategic Information Sessions

To ensure that the business community is well informed, the RIF is organizing a series of personalized information sessions across all districts. A designated RIF officer will be available at the Keve offices from 08:00 to 15:00 on specific dates, including 4 and 18 September, 2, 16 and 30 October, 13 and 27 November, and 11 December. These sessions are set up by prior appointment, guaranteeing that each company receives tailored guidance and can gain direct access to critical funding details.

Driving Competitiveness Through Support

These one-on-one meetings are structured to provide comprehensive support to company representatives, ensuring they have all the information required to capitalize on these funding opportunities. By fostering an environment of direct communication and expert advice, the RIF is proactively strengthening the bridge between innovative research and practical business applications.

Conclusion

With this targeted funding initiative, Cyprus is strategically positioning its private sector for enhanced global competitiveness. The structured outreach and personalized support provided through these sessions are poised to unlock significant growth opportunities, marking a decisive step forward in the nation’s innovation agenda.

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.

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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