The launch event of the European Digital Innovation Hub in Cyprus (DiGiNN) was held on Wednesday, October 26 at the Cyprus Institute, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Mr. Philippos Hadjizacharias.
DiGiNN, which bears the seal of the European Commission, is a strategic partnership of leading digital technology champions, national industrial representation bodies, and the most important Cypriot organizations in the fields of high technology, research and entrepreneurship, such as the Cyprus Enterprise Center (CYENS), KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence (KIOS), Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), and PwC Cyprus, under the coordination of the Cyprus Institute.
The consortium includes the two largest public universities in Cyprus University of Cyprus, (Department of Computer Science & Center for Entrepreneurship) and Cyprus University of Technology (Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Informatics and the Dept. of Commerce, Finance and Shipping), ELECTI Consulting and the Cyprus Employers and Industrial federation. Cyprus Seeds, Chrysalis Leap and Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics complete this strategic partnership.
The goal of the Digital Innovation Hub is to accelerate the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises and the public sector, as well as to promote digital literacy.
The President of the Cyprus Institute, Prof. Stavros Malas, welcomed the guests and stressed the importance of establishing the first European Digital Innovation Hub in Cyprus. He characterized digital transformation as a “revolution”, emphasizing that the Cyprus Institute could not be absent from this development. At the same time, he assured that the Cyprus Institute will continue to contribute to Cyprus’s economic growth and competitiveness through synergies, both with society and with industry.
In his address, the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Mr. Philippos Hadjizacharias, said that the Digital Innovation Hub will contribute to the implementation of the main axes of the National Digital Strategy of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, such as digital transformation, training and up-skilling of individuals, and the use of funds for the digital upgrading of businesses, through the Digital Upgrading Plan of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry.
The project coordinator, Dr. Vassilis Tsakalos, presented the European Digital Innovation Hub DiGiNN, and its importance for the Cypriot ecosystem for achieving higher digital maturity. He also referred to the importance of digital transformation, through DiGiNN, and how it will help the Cypriot businesses become more resilient and sustainable in today’s digital era.
Ms. Helena Rodrigues, the European Commission Project Officer, addressed a greeting to the event on behalf of the European Commission. She wished DiGiNN every success and described the goals and expectations for the Digital Europe Initiative, assuring that the European Commission will support this important undertaking,
Within the framework of the event, an open discussion was also held, entitled: “Cyprus in the Digital Age: Opportunities and Challenges“, with the participation of Mr. Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist, Mr. Constantinos Yiorkadjis, Mayor of Nicosia and President of the Board of Directors of CYENS, Mr. Marios Tsiakkis, Secretary General of CCCI, Mr. Minos Georgakis, Director of Advisory Services of PwC Cyprus, and Dr. Christos Panayiotou, Deputy Director of KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence (KIOS).