Research and Innovation – Greece-Cyprus cooperation is expanding

A Joint Statement of Intent in order to formulate a new Joint Transnational Cooperation Program in Research and Innovation, was signed in the presence of the Minister of Development and Investment of Greece, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, the Deputy Minister Mr. Christos Dimas and the Deputy Minister for Digital Policy of Cyprus, Mr. Kyriakos Kokkinos. Also present at the meeting were the Secretary General of Research and Innovation, Mr. Athanasios Kyriazis, as well as the Chief Scientist for Research and Innovation of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikolas Mastrogiannopoulos.

The two sides, appreciating the great importance of Research and Innovation for their economic and social development, declare their intention to expand and deepen the transnational Cooperation between Greece and Cyprus in the fields of Research and Innovation.

The main objective of the Program is to strengthen business innovation for the benefit of the economy and society of the two countries in the following indicative priority areas:

· Smart Cities

· Public health

· Renewable Energy Sources and support for the objectives of the EU Green Agreement

· Digital Transformation

· Sustainable Agriculture – Agri-food

The Minister of Development and Investment, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis stated:

“Greece and Cyprus, joining forces in the field of Research and Innovation, can do wonders. I am very happy for the signing of today’s agreement between the Deputy Minister, Mr. Dimas and the Deputy Minister, Mr. Kokkinos. I believe that in the next period we will see amazing results “.

The Deputy Minister of Development and Investment, Mr. Christos Dimas, stated the following:

“With today’s signing we declare our will for closer cooperation between Greece and Cyprus in the field of research and innovation. We have realized all this time that there is significant room for improvement in critical areas that we need to take advantage of. The Joint Declaration of Intent forms an even broader network of cooperation in research and innovation for the benefit of the economy and society of the two countries in critical areas. ”

According to Mr. Kokkinos, “The deepening of the cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and wider regionally and internationally, are the solid background on which we can build our common vision: A development model with nuclei pushing research, innovation and technological development, which will bring the maximum benefits to the productive economy of the two countries. “Today we are laying the foundations for an expanded collaboration, which I am sure the research and business community will embrace and make the most of.”

The Program, which will be funded by both countries, will be addressed to research, academic institutions and companies of both countries and will follow the 2 + 2 model with the participation in each project of a research / academic institution and a company from each country .

For the information of the stakeholders and the launch of the Joint Program, a joint, open Call for Proposals will be published simultaneously in both countries within the next year.

Responsible bodies for the coordination and implementation of this program will be from the Greek side, the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation and from the Cypriot side, the Foundation for Research and Innovation.