Online Meeting of the Cyprus Rectors’ Conference with the Leadership of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy

On Thursday, 08.04.2021, a scheduled online work meeting took place between the members of the Cyprus Rectors’ Conference and the leadership of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of the Republic of Cyprus.

On behalf of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, the Honourable Deputy Minister to the President Mr. Kyriakos Kokkinos, Mr. Nikolas Mastrogiannopoulos, President of the Research and Innovation Foundation and Chief Scientist, Mr. Stelios Chimonas, permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry and Mr. Theodoros Loukaidis, Gen. Director of the Research and Innovation Foundation, participated in the meeting.

Among the important topics on the meeting’s agenda that were discussed, was the significant challenge of increasing available funding resources for research and innovation in the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the possibilities for a more effective affiliation and optimal networking of research and innovation eco systems emphasizing on cooperation and synergies among Higher Education Institutions, Research Institutes and Centres of Excellence.

The President of the Cyprus Rectors’ Conference and Rector of Neapolis University Pafos Professor Pantelis Sklias stated:

“Today’s meeting of the Cyprus Rectors’ Conference with the leadership of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy signals the will of the institutiοnal bodies of the Republic to develop research, to further promote and intensify our joint efforts with emphasis on innovative research and excellence.

It comes at a particularly difficult time for society and the economy due to the pandemic, but also, at the start point of the new scheduling period of the European Union’s key funding tool for Research and Innovation, the Horizon Europe Programme, to highlight the common goals of the State and the academic community towards the exploitation of the possibilities and opportunities, which are created for social development, prosperity and competitiveness in the Republic of Cyprus, in a national and international environment.”