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Minds In Cyprus Draws Strong Interest In London And Birmingham As Cyprus Expands Talent-Repatriation Push

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Strong interest in career opportunities in Cyprus and the incentives available to professionals considering a return was evident at two Minds in Cyprus events held in Birmingham and London, bringing together more than 350 Cypriot professionals working in the United Kingdom.

Held on June 22 in Birmingham and June 23 in London, the events featured 24 companies and organisations from Cyprus, showcasing more than 110 highly skilled job opportunities across key sectors of the economy.

A Direct Link Between Cyprus And Its Global Talent Base

The initiative returned to the United Kingdom one year after its launch in London by President Nikos Christodoulides. Representing the government, Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki outlined the programme’s progress over the past year, the incentives now available and the career opportunities emerging in Cyprus.

Designed to connect Cypriots living abroad with businesses and organisations operating on the island, the initiative attracted participants from fast-growing sectors including technology, fintech, financial and professional services, research, innovation and energy.

Showcase In London, Roundtable In Birmingham

The London event took the form of a career opportunities exhibition, while Birmingham hosted an open roundtable discussion on Cyprus’ economic prospects, labour market needs and efforts to strengthen ties with the Cypriot diaspora.

Piki said Minds in Cyprus is a coordinated initiative designed to position Cyprus as a credible option for professionals planning their next career move. The objective, she added, is not only to encourage Cypriots to return, but also to create the conditions that make returning to, or working with, Cyprus a realistic professional choice.

Economic Momentum Is Reframing The Case For Return

Referring to Cyprus’ economic performance, Piki pointed to strong growth, historically low unemployment, declining public debt and successive upgrades by international credit rating agencies. She said these developments are increasing demand for specialised talent, particularly in high value-added sectors.

Particular emphasis was also placed on the Opportunities for Talent platform, which already has more than 700 registered professionals and features over 330 specialised vacancies from companies and organisations in Cyprus.

Tax Relief And Practical Support Are Central To The Offer

Targeted tax incentives for professionals considering a return were also presented. These include a new 25% tax exemption on employment income for Cypriots who have lived abroad for seven years, alongside the existing 50% tax exemption available in specific cases. Officials said the measures are intended to reduce costs and uncertainty during the first years after relocation.

Alongside the tax incentives, the government presented practical support measures under the Minds in Cyprus action plan, including faster recognition of professional qualifications and licences, assistance with residence and work permits for spouses or partners, support for families relocating to Cyprus, and access to centralised information through the Information Hub.

Representatives from the Tax Department and the Research and Innovation Foundation also briefed participants on tax matters, funding programmes, research opportunities and innovation support tools.

Beyond Return: Keeping Cyprus Connected To Its Diaspora

Piki said the initiative is intended not only for those considering a return to Cyprus, but also for professionals who wish to remain connected to the country by collaborating with Cypriot businesses, sharing expertise or contributing to projects being developed on the island.

“Minds in Cyprus does not simply ask for a return,” she said. “It creates the conditions for the idea of returning or collaborating to become a real option.”

The events were organised by the government and Invest Cyprus, with the support of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cypriots in the City, and companies and organisations operating in Cyprus.

More broadly, the initiative forms part of the government’s strategy to attract and deploy talent, strengthen the competitiveness of the Cypriot economy and leverage the international experience of Cypriots living and working abroad.

Cyprus Innovation Leaders Gather For RIF’s Annual The Bash 2026

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

More than 200 leaders from Cyprus’ research, innovation and entrepreneurship community came together on Tuesday for The Bash 2026, the annual flagship networking event of the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF).

Held under the theme “Let’s Cheers to Innovation Together!”, the gathering brought into one room the startups, scaleups, investors, academics, business support organisations, public sector representatives and policymakers helping shape Cyprus’ next phase of innovation-led growth.

Building Momentum Through Collaboration

The event opened with remarks from RIF board chairman and Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology Demetris Skourides, RIF director general Theodoros Loukaidis and Konstantinos Kleovoulou, who represented the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy.

Across their speeches, one message was consistent: Cyprus’ innovation story is increasingly being defined by collaboration.

“Cyprus’ innovation ecosystem is growing, maturing and continuously delivering new success stories,” Skourides said. “This is not happening by chance. It is the result of the collective effort and collaboration of everyone who is part of this community.”

He added that RIF remains focused on helping create the conditions needed for the ecosystem to expand further. “As the Research and Innovation Foundation, and personally in my capacity as Chief Scientist, we remain committed to securing the necessary resources and creating the right conditions to further strengthen and support our ecosystem,” he said.

Skourides said The Bash has become a platform where connections turn into commercial and institutional value. “The Bash demonstrates that when the community comes together, new ideas emerge, new partnerships are formed, and the next success stories for Cyprus begin,” he noted.

A More Mature Startup Landscape

Loukaidis pointed to Cyprus’ improved standing in the global startup arena, citing the country’s 39th-place ranking in the StartupBlink Startup Ecosystem Index.

“Today, Cyprus has a much stronger and more mature innovation ecosystem, ranked 39th globally in the StartupBlink Startup Ecosystem Index,” he said. “This achievement is the result of a collective effort involving startups and innovative businesses, investors, incubators and accelerators, knowledge transfer offices, our universities, public sector stakeholders, and the Research and Innovation Foundation, which continuously evolves to better support the ecosystem.”

He said the country is now laying the groundwork for further progress. “Together, we are building the foundations for even greater success,” Loukaidis added.

“Thank you all for being here tonight at The Bash, which has grown into a flagship event, creating opportunities for meaningful networking, new ideas and lasting collaborations,” he said.

Government Signals Continued Support

Representing the deputy minister, Kleovoulou reiterated the government’s commitment to sustaining the sector’s momentum.

“Cyprus today has a dynamic research and innovation ecosystem that continues to grow and create new opportunities,” he said. “The Government remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen collaboration and further enhance Cyprus’ research and innovation ecosystem.”

Beyond the networking agenda, the event served as a snapshot of how far Cyprus has come in building a more connected innovation economy. It also highlighted a broader policy truth: in small markets, scale often depends less on size than on coordination among government, universities, research organisations, investors and businesses.

RIF said the strong turnout and energetic atmosphere confirmed The Bash’s role as the annual meeting point for the island’s innovation community, helping generate synergies, partnerships and initiatives with long-term impact.

The event was organised under RIF’s Innovation Factory initiative and formed part of the activities of the Enterprise Europe Network Cyprus.

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