Visit from 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

On Friday, May 6, 2022, the Director of CARE-C, Prof. Jean Sciare, the CyI President, Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas and the CyI Vice President of Operations, Dr. Michalis Yiangou, hosted the visit of 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 at the CARE-C premises of the CyI in Aglantzia, Nicosia.

The distinguished guests were accompanied by 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. Present at the meeting was also 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 the CARE-C  research infrastructure and the CyI campus and facilities including the Unmanned Systems Research Laboratory (USRL), and the Andreas Pittas Art Characterization (APAC) Laboratories. 

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, as 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.

The visit of the delegation to The 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.