“Researcher’s Night” took place for the 13th consecutive year, with over 90 exhibition kiosks and 400 researchers, interactive experiments, competitions, games and theatrical happenings. It is “one of the most important and optimistic events in our country,” the Finance Minister said.

The event constitutes a European Commission initiative and is organised in over than 370 cities across Europe, aiming to promote a research and innovation culture and to showcase research activities from universities, research centres and innovative businesses.

According to Harris Georgiades “it has been proven that we have the capability and the ability to turn Cyprus to an even more competitive economy based on a focus to research, scientific excellence and innovation.”

The Minister praised all the excellent efforts towards research and innovation, and further noted that it shows “the huge progress which has been recorded in recent years: the gradual establishment of a very serious, dynamic research community in our country.”

Additionally, he said that the challenge and what the government is focusing on is to ensure that this will translate in terms of the real economy through the expansion of the economy’s productive base, through innovative entrepreneurship. “It is one of the government’s priorities,” he said.

Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Research and Innovation Foundation Stavriana Kofteros, said that over 7,000 visitors attended the event, most of whom were young people and children.