Cyprus Opens New Innovation Bridge to ASEAN Through High-Level Singapore and Indonesia Mission

PRESS RELEASE

2 July 2026

 

Cyprus Opens New Innovation Bridge to ASEAN Through High-Level Singapore and Indonesia Mission

The mission also reflects the broader strategic vision of President Nikos Christodoulides for Cyprus as a forward-looking hub of innovation, technology and international cooperation. Under this vision, Cyprus is strengthening its position as a trusted connector between Europe and strategically important regions, leveraging its geographic location, strong diplomatic relationships, European regulatory credibility and rapidly evolving digital capabilities. Artificial intelligence, research excellence and innovation-driven growth are increasingly central to this national strategy, supporting Cyprus’s ambition to attract strategic investment, create long-term value and expand its international relevance in the digital era.

Singapore / Jakarta, 22–26 June 2026 — Cyprus has taken a decisive step in its international innovation agenda, strengthening its role as a trusted European gateway for Southeast Asian technology, research and investment ecosystems through a high-level mission to Singapore and Indonesia held under the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026 — CY2026.eu.

The mission was organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, with the leadership of the High Commissioner / diplomatic representation of Cyprus in Singapore and Indonesia, and brought together Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology of the Republic of Cyprus and Chairman of the Research and Innovation Foundation, alongside a delegation of nine Cypriot innovation and research-driven companies, institutes and startups.

The week-long programme advanced two complementary strategic messages: ASEAN as a gateway for Cypriot companies to scale into Southeast Asia with Singapore and Jakarta as entry points, and Cyprus as a trusted European gateway for ASEAN companies, investors, research institutions and technology actors seeking access to the European Union.

The mission demonstrated that Cyprus is no longer positioning itself only as a promising regional innovation economy, but as a credible European platform for cross-continental technology cooperation, connecting European trust, regulatory alignment and market access with Asian scale, investment and innovation dynamism.

Through flagship “Gateway” events in Singapore and Jakarta, high-level bilateral meetings, ecosystem briefings, investor engagements and company showcases, Cyprus presented a clear proposition: the Republic can act as a trusted bridge between Europe and Southeast Asia in areas such as AI, digital transformation, research, cybersecurity, space, maritime technology, health innovation, fintech and startup scale-up.

Speaking during the mission, Demetris Skourides underlined the strategic importance of building practical bridges between ecosystems:

“Cyprus is building a new role for itself: a trusted European innovation gateway connecting research, startups, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, space, maritime, health technology and investment flows between Europe and Southeast Asia. Through CY2026.eu, we are demonstrating that Cyprus can convert European credibility into global partnerships, and global partnerships into measurable economic and innovation outcomes.”

The mission also reinforced the importance of technology diplomacy as a national competitiveness tool, enabling Cyprus to project its innovation ecosystem internationally while opening new pathways for Cypriot companies, researchers and attracting investors, and new partnerships.

The Singapore leg of the mission positioned Cyprus in direct conversation with one of the world’s most sophisticated technology, research, investment and digital economy ecosystems.

 

Key engagements included meetings and exchanges with:

  • Plug and Play Singapore / APAC, providing the Cypriot delegation with insight into Singapore and ASEAN startup, corporate innovation and scale-up pathways;
  • Prof Tan Chorh Chuan Permanent Secretary of National Research Foundation Singapore and Mr. Godwin Tang, Group Director Research and International Partnerships of A*STAR, Mrs Stacia Tan Deputy Director International partnerships exploring research and innovation alignment.

 

  • Mr. Jonathan Hung, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Industry & Partnerships Officer of Singapore Space Agency, discussing space strategy and potential industry partnerships;
  • Infocomm Media Development Authority, focusing on digital economy, media, telecommunications, innovation regulation and trusted digital ecosystems;
  • Mr CHUA Eu Jin, Head of Institutional Relationships and Mrs Christina CHOO Director of Institutional Relations Temasek, supporting institutional investment dialogue;
  • Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, addressing cybersecurity, resilience and trusted digital infrastructure;
  • Mr ANG Wee Keong, CEO Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, exploring maritime innovation, port technology and blue-economy opportunities;
  • Workshop with Dr Rachel OOI, G100, Global Council for Responsible AI  sharing best practices on Responsible, and Regenerative AI with  the Cypriot delegation.
  • Mr Rodney Tan, Director of Cybersecurity Engineering Centre, Cyber Security Agency of Singapore discussing best practices, policies Singapore is using to future-proof the nation from emerging AI threats and prepare for Quantum-day
  • The Singapore programme also included diplomatic and business coordination with the Greek Ambassador in Singapore H.E Christodoulos Margaritis, reinforcing wider regional connectivity and collaboration.

The main event in Singapore was held in the presence of Ambassador of Greece in Singapore H.E Mr Christodoulos Margaritis, Ambassador of Jordan in Singapore, H.E Dr Sa’ed Radaideh, and First Councellor from the Delegation of the European Union to Singapore, Mr. Benoit SAUVEROCHET.

The event featured companies; DynamicWorks, Powersoft, Orom AI, CMMI, Tototheo, Hyperion Group, Shadnuga, QSecure, German Medicall Institute with the fireside chat and moderation being supported by AI Governance researcher Mrs Stefania Constantinou,and Senior Scientist at SimTech Dr. Michalis Benakis.  Through these engagements, Cyprus showcased its capacity to engage with the full architecture of Singapore’s innovation ecosystem: research institutions, digital regulators, sovereign investment, space, cyber, maritime and startup ecosystem actors.

Jakarta: Strengthening Cyprus–Indonesia Technology, Research and Investment Ties

In Indonesia, the mission expanded the Cyprus–ASEAN gateway narrative through senior government, research, defence, innovation and investor engagements.

Key meetings and activities included:

 

  • A bilateral engagement with H.E. Arif Havas Oegroseno, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, focused on foreign affairs, maritime diplomacy and bilateral cooperation in research and innovation;

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Indonesia, H.E. Arif Havas Oegroseno

 

  • The Jakarta edition of “Cyprus as a Gateway: Linking Europe and Southeast Asian Tech and Innovation Ecosystems” at WTC Jakarta;

  • A bilateral meeting with Mr. Donny Ermawan Taufanto, Deputy Minister of Defence, focused on defence innovation and research.
  • Engagement with BRIN — the National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia, including discussion on research and innovation cooperation in areas such as AI, agriculture and maritime technology;

 

  • A visit to HI Incubator, introducing the Cypriot delegation to Indonesia’s innovation and startup ecosystem;

  • Business engagement with CBN Indonesia and senior leadership;
  • A media interview with Business Lounge Journal Indonesia, supporting wider visibility for Cyprus’s Asia Gateway positioning.

 

The flagship event in Jakarta; Cyprus as a Gateway

 

Linking Europe & Southeast Asian Tech & Innovation ecosystems opened with an address by High Commisioner H.E Nikos Panayiotou, followed by Ambassador of Europe in Indonesia H.E Denis Chaibi, and a powerful keynote by H.E Stella Christie Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science.  The main keynote address was delivered by Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Demetris Skourides, highlighting Cyprus’s attractive Research and Innovation ecosystem, and incentives including IP Box 3%, R&D 120%, followed by short presentations of CMMI, Tototheo Global, Qsecure, Powersoft, Dynamic Works and Oron AI who demonstrated Cyprus status as a tech hub in the Mediterranean, and  both AI maturity and readiness of the companies to enter the Indonesia market.  The event also featured Ambassador of Singapore in Indonesia H.E KWOK Fook Seng, , Ambassador of Greece in Indonesia Dimitrios Michalopoulos, Investors, VCs and local companies.

 

Ambassador of Europe in Indonesia H.E Denis Chaibi

H.E Stella Christie Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science

Cypriot Delegation Demonstrates the Maturity of Cyprus’s Innovation Economy

A central strength of the mission was the participation of Cypriot companies, whose presence demonstrated the growing maturity, export-readiness and sectoral diversity of the Cyprus innovation ecosystem.

The delegation was not symbolic. It brought forward real Cypriot capability across:

  • AI and applied data intelligence
  • Healthcare technology and AI safety
  • Maritime technology and connectivity
  • Fintech and financial services software
  • KYC, identity verification and customer intelligence
  • Industrial engineering and AI-enabled solutions
  • Startup scale-up and international market access

The companies’ Dynamic Works, German Medical Institute, Oron AI, Hyperion Group, Powersoft, Tototheo Global, CMMI, Shadgunya Cyprus, Qsecure participation showed that Cyprus has moved beyond early-stage ecosystem building. It now has firms capable of entering strategic conversations with Asian regulators, investors, research institutions, incubators, conglomerates and technology platforms.

 

George Malekkos, CEO of Powersoft and President of the Cyprus Information Technology Enterprise Association, said:

“The mission to Singapore and Indonesia showcased Cyprus as a technology hub and gateway to Asia. With the support of the Chief Scientist, Mr. Demetris Skourides, and our diplomatic representation, we held targeted meetings with strong prospects for collaboration. We demonstrated our leading capabilities in AI in Retail and projected our vision in building the worlds first autonomous retail operating system demonstrating that Cyprus can innovate, export know-how and connect businesses with the markets of Asia.”

Orom AI described the mission as a major first step into ASEAN:

“Orom AI had the opportunity to visit Singapore and Jakarta in what was our first exposure to the ASEAN region. The visit gave us meaningful access to a wide range of stakeholders, including Plug and Play, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the National University of Singapore, the Singapore Space Agency, Temasek, government bodies fostering innovation, conglomerates and major retailers. We were able to formally present Orom AI, receive valuable feedback and better understand how our technology can align with regional needs and business culture.”

Dr. Paul Doolan, Director of AI and Senior Medical Physicist at the German Medical Institute, highlighted the direct research and digital health value of the mission “The ‘Cyprus as a Gateway’ mission to Singapore was a truly productive trip for the German Medical Institute. In just three days we were given direct access to the people who shape Singapore’s innovation and research landscape — from A*STAR and the National Research Foundation to IMDA and Temasek, a level of engagement that would have taken years to build on our own.”

Dr. Doolan added that the German Medical Institute’s research infrastructure, including its AI Department and AGORA 3.0 digital health hub funded by the Research Innovation Foundation, enabled it to engage as a credible research partner, noting that a conversation with IMDA has already opened a concrete collaboration on AI safety in healthcare.  Agora 3.0 was built to be a healthcare sandbox, and offers any healthcare organization or startup wishing to enter the EU market validation services, reducing the barrier to entry.

Tototheo Global emphasized the importance of building practical Europe–APAC bridges:“As a Cypriot company with a firm focus on innovation and technology and an international outlook, and having already taken an important step in this direction through our establishment in Singapore, we see strong value in building practical bridges between Europe and APAC. The mission provided a meaningful opportunity to share our experience, learn from dynamic innovation ecosystems, and explore value-generating synergies in connectivity, digital transformation, maritime technology and innovation.”

Dr. Symeon Kassianides, Founder and CEO of Hyperion Systems Engineering Group, underlined the mission’s commercial and investment relevance:

“This initiative was a valuable opportunity for Hyperion Systems Engineering to engage directly with Singapore’s innovation ecosystem and strengthen relationships with organisations focused on technology and industrial innovation. The programme opened discussions around commercial partnerships, pilot projects and investment opportunities for our AI solutions.”

Angelos Gregoriou, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Dynamic Works, highlighted the global relevance of Cyprus-developed financial technology:

“This mission created an excellent opportunity for Dynamic Works to present the new generation of Syntellicore Financial CRM, which, through the support of the DISRUPT programme by the Research and Innovation Foundation, has become the world’s first CRM with built-in KYC and identity verification, AI-powered customer insights, AI market analysis, AI voice call intelligence and an integrated anomaly detection engine.”

He added that the interest generated through the mission demonstrated the global relevance of Cypriot innovation and reinforced Cyprus’s potential as a strategic gateway for technology collaboration between Europe and APAC.

 

A Cross-Sector Mission With Strategic Economic Relevance

The mission covered a broad set of sectors central to the future competitiveness of Cyprus, Europe and ASEAN:

  • Artificial intelligence and responsible AI;
  • Digital economy and ICT;
  • Cybersecurity and trusted digital infrastructure;
  • Research and innovation policy;
  • Space technology and satellite-enabled services;
  • Maritime and port innovation;
  • Healthcare AI and digital health;
  • Defence innovation;
  • Startup incubation and acceleration;
  • Sovereign investment and institutional capital;
  • Agriculture, maritime and applied research collaboration;
  • Fintech, KYC, customer intelligence and business software;
  • Connectivity and digital transformation.

 

This cross-sector approach reflects the direction of Cyprus’s innovation strategy: connecting government, research, startups, scaleups, established companies, investors and international partners into one integrated national competitiveness agenda.

Cyprus: Small in Geography, Strategic in Reach, Strong in Talent and AI Capability

The Singapore and Indonesia mission marks a significant step in Cyprus’s international innovation diplomacy. It created new channels for bilateral cooperation, introduced Cypriot companies to ASEAN market opportunities, strengthened ties with major public and private-sector institutions, and enhanced the international visibility of Cyprus’s research and innovation ecosystem.

Most importantly, the mission demonstrated that Cyprus’s innovation ecosystem has reached a new stage of maturity. Cypriot companies are not only developing promising technologies; they are now capable of entering advanced international ecosystems, holding strategic conversations with world-class institutions, and presenting solutions with relevance beyond the national market.

The Chief Scientist concluded:

“The value of this mission lies not only in the meetings held, but in the strategic bridges created. Cyprus may be small in geography, but it is becoming increasingly significant in influence and reach. We are connecting European trust with Asian scale, research excellence with commercial opportunity, and national ambition with global relevance. For startups, scaleups and technology companies seeking entry into the European market, Cyprus can be a trusted gateway and a long-term partner for growth.”