Logo
Print this page

EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Ms. Mariya Gabriel, and the Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Dr. Stelios Himonas, Visit CyI Featured

banner

From left to right: Head of the European Commission's Representation in Cyprus, Ms. Myrto Zambarta; President of The Cyprus Institute, Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas; European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Ms. Mariya Gabriel; Former EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, and CyI Member of the Board of Trustees, Mrs. Androulla Vassiliou, and the Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy (DMRID), Dr. Stelios D. Himonas 

On Friday, May 6, 2022, the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Ms. Mariya Gabriel, and the Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy (DMRID), Dr. Stelios D. Himonas, along with the Head of the European Commission's Representation in Cyprus, Ms. Myrto Zambarta, the Head of the Commissioner’s Cabinet, Ms. Pauline Rouch, the Chief Scientist of Research and Innovation of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr. Nikolas Mastroyiannopoulos, the Head of Deputy Minister Office, Ms. Kyriaki Pantziarou, the Planning Officer A’ of the DMRID, Mr. Christos Aspris, and the Scientific Officer of the DMRID, Ms. Eleana Gabriel, visited CyI’s premises in Aglantzia, Nicosia.

Hosting the meeting was CyI President, Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas, in the presence of CyI Vice President of Operations, Dr. Michalis Yiangou, and Director of CARE-C, Prof. Jean Sciare. The meeting was attended by the Former European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Former EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, and CyI Member of the Board of Trustees, Mrs. Androulla Vassiliou.

Following a closed meeting and discussion between members of the delegation of DMRID with the Chief Scientist, the EU Commissioner, and CyI’s Administration that focused on issues of research and innovation, the EU official and the DMRID delegation were given a guided tour of CyI campus, facilities and Institute’s laboratories, including the Unmanned Systems Research Laboratory (USRL), and the Andreas Pittas Art Characterization (APAC) Laboratories. 

“Today's intensive program ends with a visit to The Cyprus Institute. Thanks to the teams for the discussion and interesting visit to CyTera Supercomputer, STARLab Mobile Archaeology Laboratory and the Unmanned Systems Research Laboratory. Investments in skills and people, in innovation and world-class infrastructure are leading European leadership in the field. Glad to continue to meet such motivated and talented science teams. European science needs their skills, innovation and charge”, the Commisioner noted in a social media post regarding her visit.

During the visit, Ms. Gabriel stated that the Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre (CARE-C) is truly a Centre of Excellence and its activities should be extensively promoted. Overall, the example of The Cyprus Institute, a gateway for science, research and innovation exchange between the European research area and the EMME region, and its pioneering research infrastructures as well as its multidisciplinary approach to tackle and address concrete challenges of local and regional significance and international interest, such as the Climate Change, are very important. “The Horizon EU Program, the biggest research and innovation program in the world, that supports research activities and Centers of Excellence, such as CARE-C, is the reason why we are here today”, she noted.

Finally, Ms. Gabriel and the DMRID’s delegation expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to visit, and congratulated the Administration and the Scientists of the Institute for the impressive facilities and their research achievements. The visit toThe Cyprus Institute was a great opportunity for the EU Commissioner to identify the importance of research and innovation in Cyprus and to see tangible results of CARE-C’s work.