The view that the Cyprus-India relationship "ceases to be defined by a simple perspective and is characterised by targeted implementation" was expressed by the Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus, Demetris Skourides, who, in the context of the India-Cyprus Business & Investment Summit 2026, stated that the world order is going through a period of profound transformation, where "innovation is a determining factor of national power."
Referring to the defence and technology sector, he stressed that “the character of modern warfare has changed radically”, with security extending simultaneously to land, sea, air, cyberspace and space. He spoke of autonomous systems, artificial intelligence applications, resilient communications and space surveillance, noting that Cyprus has systematically invested in research structures aligned with new operational needs. In this context, he referred to the contribution of organisations such as the Cyprus Institute, the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, emphasising that the country “is ready to participate as a partner in the co-development and co-design of next-generation systems”.
Also important was the proposal to create a 'Cyprus-India Innovation Mechanism,' an institutionalised framework that would connect laboratories, centres of excellence, research organisations and industry, with the aim of transforming the common strategic direction into economic development, scientific excellence and technological dominance with tangible results.
Earlier, he argued that artificial intelligence is redefining competitiveness, semiconductors are reshaping industrial dominance, space is emerging as a strategic infrastructure, while modern defence doctrines are evolving towards autonomy, cyber resilience and advanced information systems. As he stressed, Cyprus and India operate as “strategically complementary forces”, with India possessing “engineering superiority, speed and scale of innovation” and Cyprus “alignment with the European Union, regulatory credibility, institutional flexibility, research excellence and geopolitical position at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East and Asia”.
In his greeting, he underlined that a "high-speed innovation corridor connecting the Indo-Pacific with the European Union" is being formed, noting that "strategic convergence requires converting political will into measurable results."
He also mentioned that from 2023 its integration in the public and private sectors is being accelerated, through the 'AI for Government' programme, which allows for the pilot testing of solutions for state needs. According to data he presented, an emerging ecosystem of over 110 companies and research organisations operates in Cyprus that develop artificial intelligence applications, from research prototypes to solutions in production operation with international reach.
In the field of health and biotechnology, he noted that artificial intelligence creates decisive prospects in personalised medicine, with strong biobank infrastructure and research centres, as well as cross-border clinical validation capabilities in collaboration with India, which has significant scale and research depth.
In financial technologies, he said that the sector accounts for over 10% of GDP and operates within the European Union regulatory framework, providing intra-EU passporting capabilities, regulatory transparency and digital asset licensing. He stressed that the coupling of the Indian digital infrastructure ecosystem with the European-aligned environment of Cyprus creates prospects for testing and scaling solutions on a pan-European scale.
Particular reference was also made to semiconductors and space, with Skourides pointing out that technological self-sufficiency is a common strategic goal. He recalled that Cyprus is implementing the National Space Strategy 2022–2027 and participates in international initiatives, utilising space data for maritime security, agricultural applications and climate resilience.
The conference was organised by the High Commission of India in Cyprus.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
