TechIsland

11/08/2026

FIRE NEARBY? GET ALERTED.
We are excited to share that TechIsland and Brickworks Games have launched the SafeIsland CY app in collaboration with Kitasweather

SafeIsland CY is available for free on iOS and Android, helping people across Cyprus report signs of smoke or fire, receive nearby alerts and access useful fire-safety information on a single interactive map. This is especially important during the summer fire season.

Developed under the TechIsland Wildfire Initiative, the platform is administered by Kitas Weather, supporting timely updates and verification of information submitted through the app.

The more people have SafeIsland installed before an incident happens, the more useful it becomes for the whole community.

With SafeIsland CY you can:
🗺 See community reports and useful fire-safety locations on one map
📍 Drop a pin when you see smoke or fire
📷 Add a photo and/or short text/description from the ground
🔔 Get a push notification when a new report appears near you

Download it now. Before you need it. Links in the comments.

10/08/2026

Last Friday, TechIsland hosted a dedicated presentation of Cyprus’ National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for our member community, led by Mr Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology and Chair of the National AI Taskforce.

For a small, open economy like Cyprus, AI represents an important opportunity to strengthen competitiveness, increase productivity, improve public services and accelerate innovation across the economy.

This is particularly relevant at a time when technology has become one of the key pillars of the Cypriot economy, contributing more than 16% of the country’s GDP. The next opportunity is not only to continue growing the sector itself, but to use technologies such as AI to drive productivity, innovation and competitiveness across the wider economy.

The National AI Strategy provides an important framework for this ambition. Its impact will ultimately depend on our ability to translate vision into ex*****on — by building the right skills and infrastructure, enabling businesses to adopt AI at scale, strengthening research and innovation, and fostering effective collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Cyprus has an opportunity to use AI as a catalyst for its next stage of economic development, combining innovation and ambition with measurable value for businesses, citizens and society.

On behalf of our community, we would like to thank the National AI Task Force, and the Υφ. Έρευνας, Καινοτομίας & Ψηφιακής Πολιτικής / DepMinistry of Research, Innovation & Digital Policy for this project and great effort; and of course thank you to Chief Skourides for presenting the Strategy and for the open exchange with TechIsland members on Cyprus’ AI ambitions and the opportunities ahead.

23/07/2026

23/07/2026

Today, we presented the TechIsland Wildfire Initiative — a systemic long-term programme focused on wildfire prevention, preparedness, early detection and community resilience.

Following the 2025 devastating wildfires, more than 60 companies and individuals responded to TechIsland’s call, contributing financial and practical support approaching €2 million.

During the event, TechIsland presented key actions delivered and currently underway:
• €450,000 allocated to cover 20% of the cost of small, fully equipped firefighting vehicles for 45 Community Councils. A government subsidy program of the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the Union of Cyprus Communities. Thank you to Minister of Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou for attending and addressing the event.
• The launch of SafeIsland CY, a free community-powered wildfire awareness app developed by Brickworks Games.
• A TechIsland-funded project by The Cyprus Institute, using satellite data and unmanned aerial vehicles to support wildfire detection within the first critical minutes.
• The Green Souni project, initiated and facilitated by Belle Air Villas, under the TechIsland Wildfire Initiative umbrella. The project introduces a recovery and protection methodology designed to be replicated in other villages across Cyprus.

The tech sector is now the largest sector of the Cyprus economy. It contributes 16% of GDP and supports close to 80,000 jobs, directly and indirectly. And the TechIsland Wildfire Initiative reflects that the tech sector is here beyond its economic contribution — taking its role in society just as seriously.

We extend our sincere thanks to all the donors for their kind contribution, to the TechIsland Wildfire Committee for facilitating this programme, to all our Partners and everyone who has contributed their time, expertise and support to this collective effort.

06/07/2026

Have you ever wondered what networking... sounds like?

A quiet introduction. A shared laugh. A meaningful conversation that continues long after the event ends.
This is TechIsland Connect, powered by payabl.

Sound on. Next edition coming this Autumn — stay tuned.

26/06/2026

24/06/2026

TechIsland was proud to lead a delegation of member companies to support the Government’s Minds in Cyprus initiative in the UK on the 23rd of June.

The initiative speaks to something very relevant for Cyprus today: how we reconnect with talented Cypriots abroad and show them that there are real, meaningful career opportunities back home. For the tech sector in particular, this is an important conversation, as the industry continues to grow and create new pathways for professionals who want to be part of Cyprus’ next chapter.

Technology is now one of the strongest pillars of the Cypriot economy, contributing 16.2% of GDP, employing more than 48,000 people directly, and supporting close to 80,000 jobs when wider spillover effects are included. It is also the fastest-growing sector of the economy, creating high-value opportunities for professionals who want to build their future in Cyprus.

A warm thank you to the Deputy Minister by the President Irene Piki, Invest Cyprus and all partners involved for the invitation and for driving this important national effort.

Thank you also to the TechIsland member companies that joined the delegation and represented the strength, diversity and ambition of Cyprus’ tech and business ecosystem:
payabl.
DataArt
inDrive
Nexxie Group
CL8
Leptos Group
Hyperion Group

This was a valuable opportunity to come together around a shared goal: strengthening Cyprus as a tech island and as a place where people can work, live and innovate

19/06/2026

As AI, technology, and digital tools become part of every sector, technical understanding is no longer just a specialised skill. It is becoming a form of literacy. This is why accessible opportunities matter.

TechIsland® and Women in Tech®Cyprus, in collaboration with ISACA Europe, is proud to announce the five selected participants of the Cybersecurity Certification Support Programme:
Alena Ivanova
Sofia Michaelidou
Polina Georgakopoulou
Anna Nikolova
Georgia Stavrou

Through this initiative, the selected participants will receive free access to the ISACA Europe Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate, designed to help beginners, students, career changers, and professionals build foundational cybersecurity knowledge. The programme is facilitated under the SHE@CYBER project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, where ISACA was one of the consortium partners.

For us, this initiative is about creating practical and accessible entry points into cybersecurity. You do not need to already be a cybersecurity expert to begin. What matters is motivation, curiosity, and the willingness to learn and expand your skills. By removing the cost barrier, this scholarship opportunity gives more women in Cyprus the chance to explore one of the most important and fast-growing areas of the digital economy.

Congratulations to the selected participants. We are proud to support their learning journey and to contribute to a more diverse, inclusive, and future-ready tech ecosystem in Cyprus.

18/06/2026

Yesterday, TechIsland's Chairman, Valentinos Polykarpou, had the honor of moderating a panel discussion at the Digital Conference “Shaping the Next Digital Frontier” in Nicosia, organized in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The panel brought together leading voices from policy, technology, and industry: Kyriacos Kokkinos, Board Member of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology; Alexandre Roure, Head of Policy and Deputy Head of Office at CCIA Europe; Flavio Arzarello, Public Policy Senior Manager at Meta; and Simone Wießmeyer, Vice-President for Government Affairs & Policy at Mastercard.

The discussion focused on how Europe can move closer to a truly competitive Digital Single Market, one that supports innovation, strengthens resilience, and enables businesses to scale across borders. Panelists touched on some of the key issues shaping Europe’s digital future, from regulatory coherence and digital sovereignty to cybersecurity, infrastructure, and access to cutting-edge technologies.

A warm thank you to the DepMinistry of Research, Innovation & Digital Policy for the invitation, and congratulations to the organizers for such an insightful conference.

At TechIsland, we value the opportunity to take part in discussions that connect Cyprus with Europe’s broader digital agenda and bring the perspective of the tech business community into the conversation.