EU Commissioner for Science encouraged by Cyprus’ national programme

EU Commissioner for Research and Science, Janez Potocnik, said he was encouraged by the Cypriot government’s firm commitment to develop its research and science field through its national framework programme.
Potocnik, who is paying Cyprus an official visit, was received by President of the Republic of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting at the Presidential Palace, he indicated that although Cyprus ranks last in the EU regarding its relative spending in GDP in the field of science and research, on the other hand it ranks first regarding its growth rates in this field.
“If you look it from the point of view of the relative spending in GDP the answer is yes”, the Commissioner said, when asked if Cyprus ranks last in the field of science and research. But he added: “if you look it from the point of view of the growth rates and who is on the top, it is again yes, Cyprus”.
The Slovenian Commissioner noted that one has to acknowledge that the university sector in Cyprus is relatively young and the structure of the business sector is not very much favourable.
“That is why the commitments to strengthen this field have to be even stronger than in some other countries. But I think that the understanding to go in this direction is quite clear”, he added.
Referring to the government’s national framework programme to develop the field of science and research, he said that its launch today was a major success.
“The launch of the framework programme was a major success this morning, the number of people seen there was surprising even for me. All the meetings I had with the Minister of Finance and now with the President of the Republic encouraged me even more, because I have seen a clear understanding in the need to go to the direction of the knowledge society which is not only the direction of Cyprus but the whole EU nowadays”, he continued.
During his meeting with the Cypriot President, the EU official was accompanied by Minister of Finance Michalis Sarris and Head of the European Commission’s Representation in Cyprus, Themis Themistocleous.
In his statements after the meeting, Minister of Finance said that the government would emphasize on the sectors of information technology (IT), pharmacology, energy and environment, in order to raise its figures in the field of science and research.
He noted though, that the whole effort would take years and added that the government is focusing on encouraging the private sector to come up with ideas that would enable Cyprus to make progress in the field.