The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) hosted the inaugural event for the establishment of the EIT Community RIS Hub Cyprus on Tuesday. The event was held at the CYENS Centre of Excellence in the renovated Nicosia Municipal Market.

According to a CYENS announcement, the day-long event promoted EIT initiatives and presented collaboration and development opportunities as part of the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (EIT RIS), designed to address Europe's innovation gap.

The event was introduced by Dr. Styliani Petroudi, Head of the EIT Cyprus Community and Head of the CYENS Research Office, followed by remarks from Myrto Zambarta, Head of the European Commission Representation in Cyprus; Dr. Márton Herczeg, Head of the Innovation Ecosystem Unit at EIT, via live stream; and Patricia Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, via a pre-recorded message.

Charalambos Pruntzos, in his first public appearance since being elected as the new Mayor of Nicosia, expressed his satisfaction with EIT's presence in Cyprus and highlighted the positive impact EIT's presence will have on Nicosia. Additional speakers included CYENS General Director Professor George Chrysanthou, Diana Miceli, Head of EIT Community Malta, via live stream, and Nedi Kafa of the National Contact Points (NCP) of EIT at the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF).

Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation, and Technology of the Republic of Cyprus, provided an overview of the Cypriot innovation ecosystem. Other speakers included Kyriakos Attouni, representing Marios Tannousis, CEO of Invest Cyprus; Piotr Boulange of EIT Jumpstarter, via live stream; and Maria Georgiadou, Director of Cyprus Seeds, who warmly welcomed the launch of EIT CRH Cyprus.

Presentations on promoting innovative ecosystems were delivered by Izaskun Vale from EIT Food via live stream, Josep Marí from EIT Urban Mobility, Xanthi Bamboula from EIT Manufacturing, and Piotr Pawelec from EIT InnoEnergy. Discussions on startup issues featured Angela Gusztos from EIT Health, Tuan Trinh from EIT Digital, Dr. Imre Gombkoto from EIT RawMaterials, and Morten Kildahl Sorensen from EIT Climate-KIC, with Dr. Alkis Nikolaidis, CYENS Program Manager, moderating.

A panel on creating a creative business district in central Nicosia and the role of cultural stakeholders in Cyprus’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem featured Charis Theocharous, European Affairs Officer of the Municipality of Nicosia and coordinator of the RISE Teaming Project; Professor Dr. Ivana Unkovic from EIT Culture and Creativity; and Dr. Ioanna Chatzikosti, Director of the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture at the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus.

For strategic alignment, a panel moderated by Dr. Styliani Petroudi included Dr. Antigoni Komodiki from Junior Achievement Cyprus, Elena Poulli from the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy, and Konstantinos Loizou, CEO of Embio Diagnostics. The event concluded with pre-recorded messages from Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister of European Affairs, and Dr. Styliani Petroudi, followed by a reception and networking event, the announcement concluded.