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Larnaca Emerges As Hub For Maritime Research With New Tepak Marine Sciences School

The Larnaca Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Evel) has hailed the government’s recent decision to establish the Cyprus University of Technology’s (Tepak) new School of Marine Sciences in Larnaca. Described by the chamber as a milestone achievement, this initiative not only addresses a long-standing local demand but also promises to elevate the city’s academic and economic profile.

Government Vision And Academic Decentralisation

In a formal announcement, Evel expressed its strong support, noting that the decision marks a significant step toward making Larnaca a center for marine research, innovation, and education. The move aligns seamlessly with the government’s broader strategy to decentralise higher education and forge stronger links between innovative research and economic development. Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki underscored this point when she announced the decision, emphasizing the new chapter that this development represents for the city and university education at large.

Collaborative Endeavors For Regional Growth

Evel reiterated its commitment to partnering with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the school’s successful integration into Larnaca’s educational landscape. The Chamber views the new institution as a catalyst for regional sustainable growth, poised to harness Cyprus’ strategic coastal advantages alongside Tepak’s expertise in applied sciences. Education Minister Athena Michaelidou is expected to bring the necessary legislation before parliament, solidifying the regulatory framework that will support the institution’s launch.

A New Chapter In Maritime Expertise

Operating under the auspices of the Cyprus University of Technology, the School of Marine Sciences will focus on marine research, technological innovation, and sustainable development. This initiative is anticipated to transform Larnaca into a dynamic center of academic activity and maritime know-how, offering significant long-term benefits not only for the city but for the broader region as well.

Meta’s Muse Is Outpacing ChatGPT In Early Mobile Adoption, New Data Suggests

Meta’s new AI app, Muse, may be emerging as one of the company’s strongest consumer launches to date. Fresh estimates from market intelligence firm Apptopia suggest the app has outperformed ChatGPT in early mobile traction, at least in the U.S. and Canada.

According to Apptopia, Muse recorded more downloads in its first 12 days on the market than ChatGPT did during the comparable period after its mobile debut. The comparison, limited to the U.S. and Canada, puts Muse’s iOS downloads at 1.8 million versus 1.3 million for ChatGPT over the same initial window.

A Strong Early Start Across Platforms

In total, Muse has reached 2.8 million global installs in its first 12 days, according to the firm. The app’s momentum also appears to be holding. After debuting at No. 2 on the U.S. App Store, Muse has since climbed to No. 1, surpassing ChatGPT, according to reporting from Business Insider. Appfigures had previously estimated that Muse crossed 1 million downloads shortly after launch.

That early rise matters because app-store performance in the first days after launch often signals whether a product can sustain consumer attention beyond initial curiosity. In Meta’s case, the data suggests Muse is not simply benefiting from novelty; it is gaining ground quickly enough to challenge the category leader.

Daily Users Show Similar Momentum

Apptopia’s estimates point to another favorable comparison for Meta: daily usage. In the U.S. alone, Muse is said to have 642,000 daily active users, well above the 231,000 ChatGPT had at the same stage of its mobile rollout.

To make the comparison fairer, Apptopia also narrowed the analysis to iOS only, since ChatGPT launched on iPhone before expanding more broadly. Even under that tighter lens, Muse still comes out ahead, with 359,000 daily active users on iOS compared with ChatGPT’s earlier figure.

Why Meta Has An Advantage

Third-party estimates are not the same as internal company data, and Apptopia cannot see Meta’s proprietary numbers. Still, even directional data suggests Muse may be on track to become a meaningful consumer product for Meta.

That possibility is strengthened by Meta’s distribution advantage. The company has already demonstrated how powerful its ecosystem can be with Threads, which surpassed 500 million users after heavy promotion across Instagram and Facebook. Muse is likely to receive a similar boost, especially because it can connect across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Apptopia does not track Meta’s internal promotion strategy, but its data indicates that more than 95% of Muse users are also Facebook users, while 63% are Instagram users. That overlap underscores how effectively Meta can move users across its products when it chooses to prioritize a launch.

The Strategic Test For Meta

For Meta, the early signal from Muse is less about one app’s download count than about whether the company can turn its scale into durable AI adoption. The first test is attention. The harder one is retention.

If Muse can convert early downloads into habitual use, Meta may have found a new front door into its AI ambitions. If not, the app risks becoming another example of how easily mobile hype can spike before settling back down.

Meta, which was asked for comment, has not yet released public figures on Muse’s early adoption.

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