A Cypriot delegation conducted a series of high-level meetings in Silicon Valley with technology giants including Amazon’s Zoox, Oracle, ServiceNow, and Microsoft, as well as academic institutions like Stanford University. These meetings took place ahead of the official visit of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, to San Francisco as part of his engagements in the United States.

Discussions focused on artificial intelligence (AI), cloud technologies, and digital transformation, underscoring Cyprus’ emergence as a growing innovation hub in the wider region.

According to an official statement from the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus for Research, Innovation and Technology, the meetings were held on April 7. The delegation consisted of Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nikodemos Damianou, Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology Demetris Skourides, and Invest Cyprus President Evgenios Evgeniou.

The Cypriot mission visited Zoox, a subsidiary of Amazon providing Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Zoox is developing a fully autonomous vehicle specifically designed by Amazon. The delegation experienced a driverless ride through San Francisco and held meetings with senior executives at the company’s headquarters.

The delegation also met with top executives from Oracle. Discussions revolved around the company’s innovation strategy, AI and cloud technologies, and potential collaboration with Cyprus. Oracle’s integrated multi-cloud approach, targeting both governments and businesses, was presented. Representatives from Oracle Cyprus also participated in the meeting, strengthening bilateral dialogue.

At Stanford University, the Cypriot officials met with Panos Madamopoulos, founding member of the Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. Talks focused on the regional innovation ecosystem and best international practices for AI adoption. The Chief Scientist presented the Cyprus Research and Innovation Strategy 2024–2026 and the National AI Task Force, placing emphasis on talent development and the creation of a sustainable national AI framework.

The delegation also met with Amit Zavery, President, Chief Product Officer and Chief Operating Officer at ServiceNow, highlighting Cyprus’ potential as a rising tech hub. The Deputy Minister stressed President Christodoulides’ commitment to advancing the digital transformation agenda and promoting e-government services in Cyprus. He also underlined the government's determination to leverage digital tools to modernize the public sector.

Mr. Skourides outlined the “Cloud-First” and “AI/Mobile-First” policies aimed at transforming public administration. The President of Invest Cyprus invited ServiceNow to explore investment opportunities on the island, emphasizing Cyprus’ competitive advantages.

The mission also held a meeting with Piyush Mangalick, Head of Core AI Engineering at Microsoft. Discussions centered on aligning Microsoft's strategy with Cyprus’ national AI policy. Mr. Mangalick elaborated on Microsoft’s approach to sustainable and responsible AI deployment across multiple sectors. Mr. Damianou presented the government’s digital transformation agenda, while the Chief Scientist introduced the mission and scope of the National AI Task Force. The Invest Cyprus President highlighted investment prospects in Cyprus’ rapidly expanding ICT sector.

According to the statement, the Cyprus delegation’s visit to Silicon Valley marked a significant milestone in the country’s national effort to promote innovation, technological growth, and international collaboration.

“Through strategic meetings with senior executives of global tech giants and leading academic institutions, Cyprus was showcased as an emerging hub for innovation and digital transformation in the region,” the statement noted.

It was also emphasized that the exchange of expertise and best practices lays the groundwork for meaningful partnerships that will enhance the national strategy in key areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital governance—accelerating the country’s transition toward a more sustainable and innovation-driven future.