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RIF Unveils €45.3 Million In 2025 Funding Calls To Boost Innovation

The Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) has announced its main funding calls for 2025, with a total budget exceeding €45.3 million. The funding aims to strengthen Cyprus’ research and innovation ecosystem through targeted programs supporting business innovation, knowledge transfer, and international collaboration.

For the first time, RIF will provide funding for establishing production lines for innovative products and developing AI-driven solutions to address public sector challenges. Additionally, the Fast-Track Innovation program will accelerate the commercialization of new products and services.

Funding Priorities

The 2025 funding programs align with RIF’s five strategic pillars:

  • Research
  • Knowledge Transfer and Collaboration
  • Innovation
  • Internationalization
  • Infrastructure and Capabilities

Planned Calls by Quarter

Q1 2025

  • Innovate
  • Seed
  • Innovation Support Structures
  • New Product Development – Capacity Building
  • STEP – Setting up facilities and production lines for manufacturing innovative products/services
  • Fast-Track Innovation
  • European Partnership – EUROSTARS
  • Vision ERC
  • Horizon Europe – 2nd Opportunity – MSCA
  • AI in the Public Sector
  • R&I Internships
  • Events Sponsorships

Q2 2025

  • Research in Enterprises (ENTERPRISES)
  • Proof of Concept
  • Excellence Hubs (EXCELLENCE)
  • Post-Doc Fellowships
  • Cybersecurity Capability Enhancement

Q4 2025

  • BRIDGE2HORIZON

Further details on funding eligibility, proposal submissions, and deadlines are available on the RIF website.

Central Bank Of Cyprus Balance Sheet Reflects Strong Eurosystem Position

Overview Of Financial Stability

The Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) has released its latest balance sheet, reaffirming its steadfast role within the Eurosystem. The balance sheet, featuring total assets and liabilities of €29.545 billion, underscores the institution’s stable financial posture at the close of January 2026.

Asset Allocation And Strategic Holdings

Governor Christodoulos Patsalides issued the balance sheet, which details the CBC’s asset composition under the Eurosystem framework. Notably, the bank’s gold and gold receivables amounted to €1.635 billion, providing a significant hedge and stability to its balance sheet. Additional asset categories include claims on non-euro area residents denominated in foreign currency at €1.099 billion, while claims on euro area residents in both foreign and domestic currency add further depth to its portfolio.

The most substantial asset category, intra-Eurosystem claims, reached €19.438 billion, an indication of the CBC’s deep integration with its European counterparts. Furthermore, euro-denominated securities held by euro area residents contributed €6.587 billion. Despite a marked emphasis on these areas, lending to euro area credit institutions in monetary policy operations recorded no activity during the period.

Liability Structure And Monetary Policy Implications

On the liabilities side, banknotes in circulation contributed €3.218 billion. Liabilities to euro area credit institutions associated with monetary policy operations were notably the largest single category, totaling €17.636 billion. Supplementary liabilities included those to other euro area residents, which aggregated to €4.989 billion, with government liabilities playing a predominant role at €4.754 billion.

Other liability items, such as claims related to special drawing rights allocated by the International Monetary Fund at €494.193 million, and provisions of €596.571 million, further articulate the CBC’s exposure. Revaluation accounts stood at €1.643 billion, and overall capital and reserves were confirmed at €333.822 million, completing the picture of a well-capitalized institution.

Conclusive Insights And Strategic Alignment

The detailed breakdown illustrates the CBC’s sizeable intra-Eurosystem exposures, reinforcing its central role within Europe’s monetary landscape. With an asset-liability balance maintained at €29.545 billion, the CBC’s financial position remains robust, indicating a commitment to structural stability and strategic risk management.

This fiscal disclosure not only provides transparency into the CBC’s operations but also serves as a benchmark for comparative analysis among other central banks within the Eurosystem, highlighting the intricate balance between asset liquidity, regulatory oversight, and monetary policy imperatives.

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