On Thursday, 19th of December 2019, The Cyprus Institute and the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) signed an extension to their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), agreeing to reinforce their collaboration on issues of common interest related to scientific, educational and cultural fields.

The MoU signing ceremony took place at The Cyprus Institute’s premises in Athalassa. Signing the MoU on behalf of CyI, was its President, Prof Costas Papanicolas and on behalf of CUT, was its Rector, Prof. Andreas Anayiotos.

Present at the meeting were also CUT Vice Rector for Economic Planning and Development, Prof. Christis Chrysostomou, CUT Associate Professor, Dean of Faculty of Geotechnical Sciences and Environmental Management, Prof. Theodoros Zachariades, and senior academic and administrative staff of The Cyprus Institute.

With the extension of the MoU, CyI and CUT agree to pursue collaborative activities that support science and education, joint participation in research and development projects in Cyprus and abroad, the exchange of information in areas of common interest, as well as to promote job opportunities for their students..

In his address, Prof. Papanicolas noted that one of the major issues agreed within the MoU's renewable framework, is the cooperation between both institutions on their two European “TEAMING” projects on Energy, Climate Change and the Environment. These important H2020 Projects aim to establish Centers of Excellence, and are led by the Director of the Energy, Environment and Water Research Centre (EEWRC), Professor Jean Sciare at CyI, and by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Professor of the Department of Civil Engineering, Diofantos Hadjimitsis, at CUT.

Additionally, Professor Papanicolas, announced on the occasion of the signing of the MoU that at a later stage, there will be a follow-up meeting in Limassol, in which CyI and CUT will discuss and sign an Annex for the collaboration on the two “TEAMING” projects.

Speaking at the ceremony, CUT Rector, Prof. Andreas Anayiotos, stated that there are huge prospects for cooperation, especially within the “TEAMING” framework. As he explained, the following five years are crucial, as the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus expect the six “TEAMINGS” projects currently funded in Cyprus to produce tangible results. He also said that this is a big challenge, though he strongly believes that the two institutions will manage to reach their targets.

Finally, Professor Papanicolas and Professor Anayiotos exchanged warm thanks for the cooperation between the two institutions, stressing once again the great prospects, but at the same time, the great challenges that they have to successfully overcome.