Valentinos Polycarpou, the Chairman of TechIsland has called for a nationwide effort to make STEM education accessible to all, warning that societies that fail to understand artificial intelligence risk becoming passive participants in a technology-driven future.
Speaking at a “STEM for All” event organised by TechIsland and Women In Tech Cyprus, Polycarpou said the rapid rise of AI has transformed science and technology from specialist fields into essential life skills needed across every profession.
“The AI era is not asking for our permission. It is already here,” Polycarpou told attendees, which included educators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, students, and industry representatives.
He argued that STEM, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, should no longer be viewed simply as a career path for engineers and IT professionals, but as basic literacy required to navigate modern life.
“AI is no longer something engineers build and hand over to the world,” he said. “AI is the world.”
During his address, Polycarpou also highlighted the rapid transformation of Cyprus into a growing international technology hub, describing it as one of the country’s major success stories over the last decade.
“A decade ago, if you told someone that Cyprus would become a global technology hub, many would have smiled politely,” he said. “Today, that vision is no longer a vision. It is a fact.”
Founded in 2021, TechIsland now represents more than 400 companies, including startups, SMEs, and multinational corporations. According to Polycarpou, 52% of its members are Cypriot companies, while 48% are international businesses operating in the country.
He noted that the organisation has evolved beyond a traditional business association and now serves as a “think tank, connector, and platform for society.”
The chairman also referenced TechIsland’s recent recognition at the IN Business Awards 2026, where the association received the Editors’ Choice Award for its contribution to Cyprus’ technology ecosystem.
Polycarpou stressed that “STEM for All” does not mean everyone must learn to code or become software engineers. Instead, he said, professionals across every field should be able to understand and critically engage with the technologies increasingly shaping their work and daily lives.
He pointed to examples including teachers using AI-powered classroom tools, nurses interpreting predictive healthcare algorithms, and journalists and public servants navigating automated systems and digital platforms.
“We mean that people should engage with this technology as active participants rather than passive recipients,” he said.
Polycarpou warned that excluding people from understanding the technologies governing their lives could deepen inequality and reduce individual freedom.
“Every great transformation in human history has required a choice: whether to wait for the future to happen to us, or to shape it ourselves,” he said.
He concluded by describing Cyprus as being at a “remarkable moment,” with strong economic momentum and a rapidly expanding tech ecosystem, but said the country must now invest in human capital to match its technological growth
