Opening Address for Reflect Festival 2025 By Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus, Demetris Skourides, 15 May 2025,
Opening Address for Reflect Festival 2025
By Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus, Demetris Skourides
15 May 2025, 10am
Big Picture Stage, Kolla Factory, Limassol
Good morning, Honourable Deputy Minister, distinguished guests, fellow innovators, and all the bold doers gathered here today!
It is a true honour to welcome you to Reflect Festival 2025, right here in the vibrant city of Limassol. As the Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus, I am proud to see this event bring together minds from across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East—regions united by a common drive for innovation, progress, and sustainable development.
Reflect Festival has become the largest tech and entrepreneurship event in Cyprus, with over 10,000 attendees, 300 startups, 250 investors, and 250 speakers. It reflects Cyprus’s strategic role as a bridge between continents—a place where ideas and partnerships flourish.
Innovation is not just about technology. It’s about people, purpose, and progress. A “doer” doesn’t wait for perfect conditions—they act, adapt, and persevere. They turn ideas into impact. In the world of tech, doers are the builders of tomorrow—creating tools, platforms, and solutions that change how we live and work. And importantly, they empower others, creating ecosystems where more doers can thrive.
Shaping a national innovation strategy is like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It requires preparation, a clear path, strong leadership, and the ability to adapt to changing conditions. Most importantly, it requires everyone to move forward together—with purpose and determination.
Vision 2035 outlines Cyprus’s ambition to become a regional hub for research, innovation, and technology. To achieve this, we have developed the Research and Innovation Strategy 2024–2026, built around four pillars:
- Research Excellence
- R&D as a Growth Engine for SMEs
- Empowering People as Drivers of Growth
- Becoming a Leader in Research and Innovation
We are building the infrastructure, policies, and funding frameworks that turn research into viable ventures.
Our sincere thanks go to the Honourable Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Mr. Nicodemos Damianou, for his unwavering leadership and vision in shaping this forward-looking national strategy. His dedication to aligning innovation policy with Cyprus’s long-term economic and technological goals has been instrumental in advancing our position on the global innovation map. Under his guidance, the Deputy Ministry has fostered a culture of collaboration, accountability, and action—ensuring that innovation is not just encouraged but embedded across government, academia, and the private sector. The National Research and Innovation Strategy 2024–2026 is a direct reflection of this approach: clear in its objectives, ambitious in its scope, and grounded in real mechanisms that will drive growth, strengthen our innovation capacity, and turn Cyprus into a true regional leader in science and technology.
Cyprus is already gaining international recognition. In the 2024 European Innovation Scoreboard, Cyprus ranked 10th in Europe and was recognised for the third year running as a Strong Innovator. In the Global Innovation Index, we continue to maintain a strong position globally.
Cyprus offers real advantages: a favourable business environment, educated workforce, strategic location, quality of life, and a growing tech sector. With over 500 startups, 15 incubators, 140+ tech companies, and thousands of entrepreneurs and researchers, our ecosystem is expanding rapidly.
We’re also pursuing deep international collaborations—from the U.S., Japan, and Singapore to Israel, the UAE, and Finland—as part of a new diplomacy built on innovation and science.
A major step forward is the creation of Cyprus’s national AI Task Force, focused on integrating artificial intelligence into public services, promoting responsible use, and positioning Cyprus as a regional AI leader. A milestone in this effort is our AI Memorandum of Understanding with the United Arab Emirates, signed earlier this year—demonstrating our commitment to global cooperation on emerging technologies.
SLIDE 1
As we move forward, Cyprus’ digital vision is clear: to create personalised digital experiences that empower individuals and businesses alike, where the only limit is how far we dare to dream big, develop for scale, and commit to relentless execution in shaping a future of innovation and sustainable growth.
SLIDE 2
As we look towards the future, it’s important to acknowledge the key pillars driving Cyprus’s growth and innovation. Today, Cyprus’s map is not just defined by its geography, but by its thriving industries—digital champions in the technology and innovation sector, where we see ICT and digital technologies at the forefront, supported by advancements in fintech, healthtech, energytech, maritech, envirotech, spacetech—all shaping our economy and our future.
SLIDE 3
With ICT contributing 13% to Cyprus’s GDP, and growing at an impressive rate of 17% annually, we are seeing a transformation like never before. This remarkable growth is a testament to the incredible work of the builders of the future—those who are disrupting, accelerating, transforming, and taking Cyprus to new heights. It is through their relentless drive and vision that Cyprus is rising to new heights, becoming a beacon of innovation and a global player in the digital landscape. To all the innovators and doers here today, thank you for your dedication and for playing such a pivotal role in propelling Cyprus toward a brighter, more dynamic future.
Our goal is simple: make Cyprus a launchpad for bold ideas and bold doers. Whether through access to funding, infrastructure, or global markets, we are building the tools innovators need to succeed.
As we begin this festival, I encourage you to connect, collaborate, and be inspired. Together, we can build a future that is not only technologically advanced—but also inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.
Thank you.