Speaking at the presentation of the study on 'Creating a New Cohesive National Framework for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship', which took place at the Presidential Palace, he described the day as a milestone, explaining that it marks the completion of the study and paves the way for the adoption of a new comprehensive strategy approach which underlines the importance of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

He noted that research and innovation are the focus of the European Strategy 'Europe 2020' and added that in this context, Europe recognizes that achieving the objective of investing 3% of the EU GDP in research may lead to the creation of 3.7 million jobs in Europe and strengthen the annual European GDP by €795 billion by 2025. Referring to Cyprus, he said the country is going through a very difficult economic period, during which unemployment is at high levels.

In this context, he stressed the need for a new model of sustainable development, which will be based on the medium and long term strategic planning. "A model," he explained, "which will create sustainable jobs and contribute significantly to the social welfare of our citizens in the long run." President Anastasiades said that the government’s interest and intention to develop and invest in a new growth model is implemented gradually. One fundamental step towards this goal, he added, was the establishment, last September, of the National Committee for Research, Innovation and Technological Development, noting that this Committee has zero budget. He explained that the government had selected some of the most successful professionals in the field of research, innovation and technological development in Cyprus and asked them to form, within a fixed timeframe, a comprehensive proposal that would involve the creation of a unified and integrated framework in the fields of Research, Innovation and Technological Development.

Source: Famagusta Gazette