CyI has been developed as an international science and technology organization, to strengthen the research community of Cyprus, help transform its economy to a knowledge-based economy and to create a research hub for the Eastern Mediterranean region. For realizing its vision the Institute is developing pioneering research infrastructures and programs involving cutting-edge, high throughput technologies, in order to address problems of local and regional significance and of international interest and providing high quality graduate education and training in related areas.
A key strategic theme for CyI is its large network of local, regional and international partnerships, which include universities, research institutes and other institutions relevant to its thematic areas. The CyI research centers have been developed in partnership with centres of excellence in their respective fields: EEWRC with MiT; CaSToRC with the University of Illinois; and STARC with C2RMF. In addition, CyI has formed major collaborations with the Max Planck Society, the Jülich Supercomputing Center, CNRS, ENEA, CNR, ETH Zürich, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Imperial College, Tel Aviv University, Skoltech and many others.
View our interactive map of international collaborations
The Institute’s education remit is a key part of its activities. CyI currently offers graduate degree programs accredited by the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA). Students are actively involved in research. They are immersed in the research environment of CyI with the help of faculty and staff members, and have direct access to experimental and computational facilities. The programs are:
CyI holds the view that science and technology are key elements for developing innovation capacities in a society. These in turn underpin the creation of a knowledge economy, leveraging ideas and technology, creating job opportunities and increasing overall wellbeing. CyI is actively engaged in knowledge exploitation initiatives, going beyond research for its own sake and contributing to the solution of real world problems.
CyI has established outreach programs for education and community relations, focusing on the specific needs of Cyprus and the region. The Institute will continue to use its intellectual and material resources to promote science education and awareness throughout Cyprus.
Following its launching in late 2007 with an initial small team comprising of about 10 members of faculty and staff overall, CyI has been continuously growing in the last few years and will soon engage more than 150 scientists and professionals, from around the world.
The Cyprus Institute takes pride in attracting scientists of an impressive international repute and diverse in cultural background, bringing with them experience and knowledge acquired from leading international universities and research institutes. Just less than half of CyI’s staff originates from countries other than Cyprus. More than haf of its research staff is international. The staff includes mainly EU nationals (over 10 different EU nationalities), but also nationals from other countries such as the United States, Russia and Egypt.
The research conducted at the Institute will continue to be relevant to many important scientific and technological areas and challenges relevant to Cyprus, as well as to regional and international society. The research thrusts of CyI include: