At the same time, he expressed the Government's will and determination to harness research, innovation and technology, with the aim of creating a modern, sustainable and flexible state.
In his address at the OEB Cyprus Innovation Awards Ceremony and the Cyprus Research Awards Ceremony of the Research and Innovation Foundation (R&I Foundation) held on Monday evening at the Strovolos Municipal Theatre in Strovolos, President Anastasiades stressed that "the main concern of the Government was and remains the creation of further prospects that will allow our scientists to develop creativity, develop initiatives and become professionally renowned in their home country, with long-term and substantial benefits for themselves, but also for our economy and society".
In this context, he continued, "the decisions to create the necessary conditions for the substantial development and consolidation of the sector, in order for Cyprus to become a regional centre of research, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship".
"We are investing in the cooperation between the business and academic worlds of Cyprus, as key players in the transfer of knowledge in the transformation of research results into innovative products and value-added services", he stressed.
He also mentioned that a milestone in this direction was the establishment of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, as well as the institution of the Chief Scientist, in the context of which the aim is the optimal coordination of all existing governmental activities.
"Completely relevant to the positive impact of this reform policy has been the adoption of a new system of Research and Innovation Governance, the establishment of the National Research and Innovation Council, as well as the expansion of the role of the Research and Innovation Foundation as the executive arm of the new funding system in the fields of research and innovation," he noted.
In particular, the President of the Republic said that members of the academic, research and business community in Cyprus have succeeded in raising over €317 million in funding over the period 2014-2020, returning three times our national contribution to the EU.
He also reported that under the EIP's business innovation programmes, 85 Cypriot companies, including 60 start-ups, secured over €20 million in funding and invested €9 million in equity, helping to increase private investment in research and development.
As a consequence, almost 200 new jobs were created in cutting-edge sectors, he added.
In addition, President Anastasiades said that "start-ups selected through this process succeeded in securing high-risk capital in excess of €12 million, demonstrating their competitiveness at an international level."
At the same time, he said that under the National Research and Innovation Funding Programme RESTART 2016-2020, with an investment of €130 million, 724 projects were funded, with the completion of which a total of 1,250 new jobs are expected to be created and more than 500 businesses will be supported.
He also said that additionally within the same framework of action, last April the Research and Innovation Foundation announced 4 new programmes, the GEFYRA programmes, which concern the transformation of research results into value-added products and services, as well as the strengthening of cooperation between the different actors of the ecosystem.
In addition, the President of the Republic said that the Foundation is working closely, from March 2021, with a renowned Knowledge Transfer Expert, implementing actions that enhance knowledge transfer between research centres and industry and added that the Research and Innovation Foundation recently announced the third cycle of "Innovation Programmes", with a total budget of 13 million euros.
He said that these programmes, which are aimed at both innovative and start-up companies and existing enterprises, aim to develop innovation activities, boosting the transformation of innovative ideas into products and services with the potential to penetrate the international market.
At the same time, in the context of the Digital Decade of Europe 2030, we are focusing our attention on accelerating the digital transformation of the state, he added.
To this end, according to President Anastasiades, 282 million euros will be allocated through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, corresponding to 23% of the total investments for actions related to or contributing to the digital transition, exceeding Europe's minimum requirement for resource allocation of 20%.
President Anastasiades also said that on the basis of the holistic plan we have formulated, the development of quality and easy-to-use digital services, the implementation of new information systems in vital services, the upgrading of technological and telecommunication infrastructure, as well as the upgrading of digital skills of both the workforce and all citizens is being promoted.
In his address to the event, which has been put under the auspices of the Ministry of State for Research and Innovation, he said. Digital Policy, OEB President Antonis Antoniou said that "The role of innovation in the struggle for rapid recovery and return to prosperity will be decisive and at the same time it lays the foundations of sustainability."
Mr. Antoniou said that in modern business where the business environment is changing at an unimaginable pace, the constant pursuit of innovation now translates as an important competitive advantage.
He said that the Recovery and Resilience Fund has defined Innovation as one of its key pillars that will help restore normalcy as quickly and painlessly as possible.
"This is proven by the results, since innovative companies are the ones that more easily gain significant market share while improving their efficiency and competitiveness", he added.
Citing international practice, the OEB President said that "companies that innovate continuously have on average twice as much profit as the rest and therefore make a greater contribution to the economy and society".
He also stated that "the adoption of innovation, from the moment of the birth of a new idea, to its evaluation stage and finally to its development and implementation, is a truly painful process and is a key component of successful entrepreneurship".
Referring to the event, the OEB President said that this year marks fifteen years since the launch of the Cyprus Innovation Awards - OEB and added that an award will be presented for the second consecutive year in the category of Social Innovation.
He said that "from the next competition in 2022, the Committee of the institution is considering the creation of an additional category for awards, which will be announced at the beginning of the new year".
This was followed by a speech by the Chief Scientist for Research and Innovation of the Republic of Cyprus and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Research and Innovation Foundation Nicolas Mastrogiannopoulos.
The Cyprus Innovation Awards for 2021 were then presented in the Primary Sector, Manufacturing, Services and Social Innovation, followed by the awarding of the Distinguished Researcher 2021 and Young Researcher 2021 research awards in the thematic areas of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Life Sciences and Social Sciences and Humanities.
Source: CNA
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