Cyprus puts strong showing at major European startup festival
Cyprus’ dynamic research and innovation scene had a strong showing at this year’s SLUSH 2023, an innovation-driven startup event held in the heart of Helsinki every year.
The event attracted a global audience of over 8,000 entrepreneurs and investors from November 30 to December 1.
Cyprus’ participation in the event was spearheaded by the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF).
Headlining the Cyprus delegation were seven local startups – ecorbio, Codewheel, Efevre Tech Ltd, Periopsis, Moving Doors, Vevivo, and DCentric Health – who presented their products and services to potential investors.
Thousands of SLUSH attendees visited the Cypriot pavilion, engaging with RIF representatives to learn about Cyprus’ innovation and technology prospects.
Discussions also focused on the incentives and tools making the island an appealing destination for innovative enterprises and foreign investors.
On the conference’s second day, the foundation organised an event titled Breaking Grounds at Slush: The Tech Gala of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary & Poland, in collaboration with similar organisations from Poland, Bulgaria, and Hungary.
Dimitris Skourides, RIF’s Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation, and Technology and President of the foundation, highlighted Cyprus’ burgeoning research and innovation ecosystem to an international audience of entrepreneurs and investors.
Meanwhile, Cypriot startups participating in the mission showcased their activities in separate presentations.
During their visit to Finland, the Chief Scientist, along with RIF’s Director General, Theodoros Loukaidis, and Board Member Spyros Christofides, held meetings with high-profile tech industry executives.
They positioned Cyprus as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship while exploring prospects for international collaborations. Additionally, they met with Cyprus’ Ambassador to Finland, Dimitris Samouil.
In a statement recapping the entire endeavour, the foundation explained that supporting Cypriot business participation at the SLUSH entrepreneurship and innovation festival falls within the activities of the Cypriot Enterprise Europe Network, in which the RIF participates as a partner.