Representatives from the Tecnova Technology Centre and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology visited Cyprus last week to officially launch and coordinate the newly funded initiative: “Supporting the Demonstration of Sustainable Digital Solutions for Agriculture” (SDN – Stírixi – digital – Nōgyō). This innovative project, funded under the EIG CONCERT-Japan framework, aims to bridge the gap between research and implementation in the rapidly evolving field of digital agriculture.
The visit marks the beginning of a promising collaboration between two universities from Cyprus and Japan and one research centre from Spain, all committed to advancing sustainable agricultural solutions through international exchange and demonstration.
The SDN project is coordinated by the Sustainable Energy Lab of the Cyprus University of Technology and was designed to tackle a common problem faced by researchers, entrepreneurs, and startups worldwide: the difficulty in promoting and implementing their work beyond their home region. Factors such as limited networks, unfamiliar legislative landscapes, and different environmental or operational conditions create barriers to expansion. These challenges are particularly pronounced in the field of digital agriculture, a sector that must navigate a traditionally conservative and cautious industry.
Through SDN, the consortium will support the exchange of researchers and entrepreneurs between partner institutions and enable on-the-ground demonstration of digital agricultural solutions that have already secured national funding.
During their time in Cyprus, the visiting delegation participated in a series of meetings and networking events with local stakeholders and representatives from academia, industry, government, and various startups.
This project is funded through the EIG CONCERT Japan joint programme.
For more information about the SDN project and future activities, please contact Associate Professor Alexandros Charalambides of the Cyprus University of Technology at a.charalambides@cut.ac.cy.
