In a ceremony held at the premises of the Cyprus Institute (CyI) premises on Thursday, January 16, 2024, CyI and the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at promoting research, education and scientific excellence, so that Cyprus may become a regional centre of reference in these key areas.

The Memorandum, which is the culmination of the close and successful cooperation between the two organisations, was signed by Prof. Stavros Malas, President of the Cyprus Institute, and Academician Achilles Emilianidis, President of the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts, in the presence of Academician Elena Mouzala, Academician and Professor at The Cyprus Institute Costas Papanicolas, and CyI members of administration and academic staff.

The Memorandum includes the cooperation of the Academy with The Cyprus Institute on issues related to scientific fields served by the members of the Academy, the co-organisation of joint scientific and educational events and activities, the provision of expertise and the conduct of studies, the joint participation in funded research programmes, and cooperation on any other issues agreed between the two organisations.

Speaking at the signing of the memorandum, CyI President Malas announced an invitation to Prof. Achilles Emilianidis to participate as member of the the Board of Trustees of The Cyprus Research and Educational Foundation (CREF), the parent organisation that oversees the Cyprus Institute, and particularly thanked the Academy for the joint efforts on climate change issues, culminating in the co-organisation of the recent International Conference on the Climate Crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, where the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides announced the revival and strengthening of the Initiative to address the regional impacts of Climate Change. President Christodoulides also wished that the “diplomacy of science” and joint efforts on climate change issues would continue in view of the assumption of the EU Presidency by the Republic of Cyprus, so that decisions on this important issue would also influence at the European level.

For his part, Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts President Emilianidis, referred to the excellent cooperation between the two organisations both on climate change issues and other issues, and wished that the MoU would constitute an opportunity for further deepening and substantial cooperation and joint actions. He added that the Academy aims to collaborate effectively with the country’s leading research institutions, which undoubtedly include Τhe Cyprus Institute, in order to contribute to the promotion of sciences and excellence and the development of research and innovation in the Republic.