The Director General of the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), Theodoros Loukaidis has underlined the need to strengthen the ecosystem of innovative businesses in Cyprus, while also addressing the challenges the country faces in achieving this.
He was speaking in the context of the recent INSPIRE 2025.
Funding obstacles
“What keeps you up at night?” the moderator asked Loukaidis at the beginning of their conversation. The Director General of RIF knows that ideas are not enough if they do not find 'fertile ground' to be developed in. This is what sets up the ecosystem, which gives space, support and direction for research and creativity to flourish. So, very briefly, he answered “Securing funding.”
RIF needs the appropriate resources to be able to financially support, among others, universities, research centres and start-ups. "We need to be one step ahead of this ecosystem. We need to keep it in constant motion," he pointed out.
Leaps of progress
Commenting on how much the innovation sector has changed in the country today, Theodoros Loukaidis said that huge leaps forward have been made. “Today there are many more research centres and we must support this ecosystem. At the end of the day, this is how we build and improve the image of Cyprus abroad,” the Director General of the Research and Innovation Foundation noted.
The moderator of the panel on "The Innovators' stage", which took place at the 360 building, on Makariou Avenue, was Rally Papageorgiou, a journalist for CNA.
Partners & Sponsors
Strategic Partner: Cyta Business
Platinum Sponsor: Bank of Cyprus
Gold Sponsors: ECOMMBX, Zorbas Group, Cyfield
Silver Sponsors: PwC Cyprus, Petrolina, Bioland
Academic Sponsor: University of Nicosia
Stage Sponsors: National Bank of Greece (Cyprus), KPMG Cyprus, Odyssey, CyRIC/Gravity Ventures Incubator, Invest Cyprus
Panel Sponsors: HRDA, OPAP
Podcast Presenter: Payabl.
Sponsors: Hermes Airports, IMR, Libertex
Technology Partner: Kotsovolos
Community Partner: TechIsland, Junior Achievement Cyprus
Innovation Partner: Research & Innovation Foundation (IDEK)
Mobility Partner: Pilakoutas Group
Sustainable Transport Partner: Cyprus Public Transport
Sustainability Partner: Electricity Authority of Cyprus
Coffee Partner: Coffee Berry
Partner: Charalambides Christis
Supporters: ASBIS, CSR Cyprus, Capacitor Partners, HJS Insurance Agents, Mastercard, Robura, Superad, Kapodistrias, Photos Photiades Breweries & Epilogi, Voici La Mode Group of Companies, GrantXpert, Gap Vassilopoulos, Techbiz, Grow Sustainability Consulting, ASBIS, Murex, Drastyc, Bolt
With the support of: Cyprus Computer Society, CITEA, CPMA, Youth Board of Cyprus, OEB, Skills Cyprus, National Betting Authority
Media Sponsors: Alpha Cyprus, CBN, IN Business, Reporter, SuperFM
Organizer: IMH
Under the auspices of: Municipality of Nicosia
- INSPIRE 2025 – Where passion meets action, and action changes the world.
