Barcelona: Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nikodemos Damianou, is traveling to Barcelona to participate in the Ministerial Program of the 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC).
According to Cyprus News Agency, a press release issued by the Deputy Ministry emphasized that the MWC is a significant annual international event in the telecommunications and technology sector. It brings together tens of thousands of participants from over 200 countries each year, including ministers, heads of regulatory authorities, international organizations, and leading executives of major technology companies worldwide.
This year's event coincides with crucial developments in European digital policy and the competitiveness of the Union. The Deputy Minister will be a speaker in the Opening Session on 'Connecting a World in Motion', where he will outline the key priorities and ambitions of the EU Cyprus Presidency in digital policy and connectivity. He aims to highlight the role of the Cyprus Presidency in crafting balanced and ambitious policies for Europe's digital future.
Additionally, the Deputy Minister will engage in a Ministerial Roundtable Discussion with his counterparts from Germany, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Finland, Poland, Sweden, and Lithuania. The discussion will focus on the Digital Networks Act, currently being drafted, and its significance in building a more resilient, competitive, and innovative European connectivity landscape to meet the future demands of digital society.
On the sidelines of the Conference, Damianou plans to hold bilateral meetings with European counterparts, heads of international organizations, and multinational companies. These include representatives from Vodafone Group, Connect Europe, Google, ICANN, and the leadership of Plug and Play Tech Center, to discuss the next steps for establishing the Plug and Play Cyprus Innovation Center.
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister will visit the Cyprus pavilion at the 4YFN exhibition, which runs concurrently with MWC and serves as a leading international festival-conference for start-ups. The Cypriot delegation to 4YFN is coordinated by the Research and Innovation Foundation, providing the Cypriot ecosystem with significant opportunities for promotion, networking, and attracting investment.
The involvement of Cyprus in the 2026 Mobile World Congress underscores the country's strategic goal of maintaining a strong international presence, taking an active role in European digital dialogue, and offering substantial support for innovation and entrepreneurship domestically.