“Funding Opportunities for the Industrial Sector” was the title of an event featuring several presentations, jointly organized by the Limassol Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) and the Ypsonas Municipality. The aim of the event was to brief industrialists and other interested parties about funding opportunities through the optimum utilization of tools made available at national or European level, especially in the realm of research and innovation and the strengthening of the connection between academia and entrepreneurship. The event also made part of joint actions launched by the LCCI and CUT in the framework of a bilateral cooperation protocol between the two organizations.
Addressing the event on the part of LCCI was Industry Vice President Charalambos Pattihis who referred to the importance and contribution of the industrial sector to the national economy, highlighting at the same time the Chamber initiative in drafting a detailed and well documented proposal for the adoption and implementation of a New Industrial Policy, a document that is already under consideration by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism. He also singled out the Limassol Chamber recent successes in joining entrepreneurship-related European programmes.
In his address, CUT rector Dr Andreas Anayiotos referred to the accomplishments of the University in research and in connecting with industry, as well as to its ever improving international reputation and hailed the cooperation between CUT and LCCI. On his part, Ypsonas Mayor Pantelis Georgiou highlighted the importance of the subject matter of the event, pointing out the importance of supporting the industrial sector, especially in the wake of the negative impact of the recent economic recession.
Participants had the opportunity to be briefed about the possibilities accorded to industrial enterprises with regard to participating in European and other programmes, in addition to what is on offer in terms of industry-support services. Presentations were made on the following:
- The “Strategy of utilizing research opportunities towards the promotion of innovation and technological development’’, by Dr Marilia Panayiotou, Research Officer at CUT
- Το “EU’s Horizon 2020 Funding Programme’’, by Lina Tsoumbanou, Scientific Officer at the Research Promotion Foundation
- “The Restart 2016-2010 Programme”, by Nedi Kkafa, Scientific Officer at the Research Promotion Foundation
- The Ministry of Industry’s “Export Help Desk”, by Andreas Christou, Ministry Officer
- “CUT’s Liaison Office with the Business Community”, by George Kokou, Liaison Office Coordinator
Coordinating the event was Nikolas Iordanou, CUT Board member and President of the University Industry and Society Liaison Office.
The event organizers express their thanks to all presenters and attendees as well as to those who provided press coverage, the local weekly newspaper “Lemesos”, the All About Limassol portal as well as CUT for the photography.
