Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou has said that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionals in Cyprus have almost doubled in the last ten years, as a result of targeted policies.
"In ten years, ICT professionals in Cyprus have almost doubled, as a result of targeted policies to attract and retain talent, which complement those to attract companies active in technology matters" he said, in his opening remarks at an event in Paphos, and referred also to the 'Minds in Cyprus' initiative for the repatriation of Cypriots abroad especially from the technology sector.
Damianou noted the catalytic role that technology plays in the development and competitiveness of states and organisations in the AI era and said that Cyprus today has more than 800 technology companies, with almost 15% contribution to the Gross Domestic Product.
Technology, he pointed out, is the driving force that can make our lives better, simpler, fairer, and for Cyprus it is one of the most fundamental pillars of the 2035 vision. A vision, he added, for the implementation of the goal of establishing Cyprus as a true hub of innovation, technology and digital entrepreneurship. Damianou noted that the government and the President himself have recognised this and have highlighted it as a very high priority.
He noted that the digitisation of the public sector has remained for many years "in an infantile state" at several levels and that significant investment is needed.
Our interventions, therefore, he said, serve a dual objective, namely the strengthening of the competitiveness of Cyprus as a destination for innovation and technology, but also the substantial digital transition of the state.
He also talked about the investment in AI, noting that this is of high priority. The Deputy Minister said that at the end of this year, the new Artificial Intelligence Strategy is expected to be completed with measures to integrate AI in the public and private sectors. In the meantime, he said, the Digital Assistant, the first application of GenAI in the public sector, is constantly being enriched with new topics, recently with tax issues that concern all businesses.
(Source: CNA)
