The cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) will be the driving force for the development of the research and innovation ecosystem in the fields of dual-use technologies, Minister of Defense, Charalambos Petrides, said during today’s signing, at the Ministry of Defense, of the executive regulation for the implementation of the research and innovation programs “Dual-use Technologies” and “Classified Laboratories – Dual-use Technologies”.
The executive regulation, which includes the details of the implementation of the programs, was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, Andreas Loukas and RIF Director General Theodoros Loukaidis. The event was also addressed by Petridis, as well as the Chief Scientist of Research and Innovation, Dr. Nikolas Mastrogiannopoulos.
Petrides welcomed the signing of the executive regulation and stated that it includes the details of the implementation of the programs in question within the framework of the memorandum of cooperation signed by the Ministry of Defense and the RIF in 2020. He also expressed the hope that they will be the driving force for the development of the research and innovation ecosystem in the fields of dual-use technologies.
He added that it is the objective of the Ministry to practically strengthen the research potential of domestic academic and research institutions, organizations and businesses by supporting their participation in research and innovation programs, which fall within the operational interests of the Ministry at national and European level.
He also said that for the implementation of the programs, funding of 3 million has been secured from the Recovery and Resilience Fund. In particular, he said, the design and implementation of the programs aims to develop the local research and innovation ecosystem in technologies both through research and development projects for civil type applications and through the creation and upgrading of classified laboratories which can be used towards the implementation dual-use research activities.
The Minister noted that the deadline for submitting proposals for the “Dual Use Technologies” program has recently closed. There has been, he continued, significant interest involving research and development businesses, as well as research organizations from the local research and innovation ecosystem.
In particular, he stated that a sufficient number of proposals were submitted in all the thematic sections set as a priority by the Ministry of Defense, and which concern maritime surveillance, communication networks, unmanned vehicles (drones and small marine vessels), the active protection of critical infrastructure from drone threats, advanced personnel training through simulation and artificial intelligence applications.
Mastrogiannopoulos stated from his part that with today’s signing of the executive regulation implementing the memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and RIF “we are taking another important step in our joint effort to promote dual technologies and consolidate research and innovation in the field of defense”.
He added that in this effort to strengthen the defense capabilities of the National Guard through research and development “we will be fellow travelers”. He noted that research and innovation activities offer great prospects for upgrading the capabilities of Cypriot entities to deal with dual-use technologies, helping to strengthen their competitiveness and increase the country’s successful participation in European funding programs.
Source: Cyprus News Agency