The development of new national Artificial Intelligence infrastructures and supercomputing capabilities was the focus of an event entitled 'Artificial Intelligence: New National Infrastructures and Capabilities for Research & Innovation,' at the Presidential Palace and during which it was revealed that Cyprus' first supercomputer is being put into operation in pilot use starting today, Friday, 5 June.
The event presented the initiatives promoted by the Republic of Cyprus to strengthen the research, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, with key axes being the creation of the AI Factory Cyprus (CY-AIF), the utilisation of advanced high-performance computing infrastructures and the strategic partnership with American multinational technology company NVIDIA. As mentioned, the supercomputer is being put into operation in pilot use starting today and a public open call for applications will be announced at the end of the pilot phase.
At the same time, Pharos-CY was presented, which will be Cyprus' gateway to the European AI Factories ecosystem. Pharos-CY operates as the Cypriot AI Factory Antenna and aspires to make it easier for the local research and business community to participate in European artificial intelligence programs and infrastructures, enhancing the transfer of know-how and the development of new innovative applications.
Greetings were delivered by the Deputy Minister to the President Irine Piki and the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Dr. Nicodemos Damianou. The keynote speaker was the Global VP of HPC/Supercomputing NVIDIA, John Josephakis.
In her greeting, Piki stated that the Government is promoting a new production model for the Cypriot economy, based on knowledge, innovation and the creation of high added value products and services with an export orientation.
As she noted, Cyprus is investing in the creation of the necessary technological infrastructure, utilising the country's highly qualified scientific and professional personnel. The goal, as Piki explained, is the transition to a knowledge economy, through targeted investments that create new opportunities for research, innovation and sustainable economic growth, while contributing to the more effective management of the complex challenges of the modern era.
On his part, Damianou emphasised that Artificial Intelligence is already transforming economies and societies globally and that Cyprus must position itself in a timely manner in this new reality.
As he mentioned, the country does not seek to compete with major economies in terms of the size of the investments they make in Artificial Intelligence, but to strategically utilise its comparative advantages.
"The challenge for Cyprus is not to compete with major economies in billion-dollar investments, but to strategically utilize artificial intelligence to solve real problems and create new added value for the economy and society," he said.
At the same time, he emphasised that the new infrastructures created through AI Factory Cyprus will give researchers, universities, start-ups and organisations access to computing resources that have been difficult to secure until now, accelerating the production of knowledge and the development of new applications.
In his opening remarks, Josephakis described NVIDIA's collaboration with Cyprus as a typical example of how a small country can move quickly and decisively in a sector that is evolving at an unprecedented pace.
Josephakis emphasised that Cyprus' inclusion in the NVIDIA ecosystem offers access not only to local infrastructure but also to a global network of expertise, partnerships and advanced computing resources.
In closing, he called on researchers, universities and businesses to actively utilize the opportunities that are being created.
"Use the machine. Ask for help. Create intellectual property based on your own knowledge and your own data," he said.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
