CYENS is Cyprus’s Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence focusing on Interactive media, Smart systems and Emerging technologies aiming to empower knowledge and technology transfer in the region. A joint venture between three public universities (University of Cyprus, Cyprus University of Technology, Open University of Cyprus), the Municipality of Nicosia, and two renowned international partners, Max Planck Institute for Informatics De and University College London UK.
The research expertise at CYENS spans the areas of Interactive Media and Visual Sciences. Within this spectrum it is not only technology centric businesses that will be supported through knowledge transfer, training and state-of the art solutions provided by the team at CYENS, but also businesses and individuals in the cultural and creative sectors. From small-scale creators, artists and graphic designers to architects, engineers and animators, CYENS will be a hub for the development of innovative ideas and solutions.
CYENS will be housed in two building in the heart of Old Town Nicosia, a few meters from the Municipal Building, in proximity to exhibition and performance spaces, small creative stores, museums and galleries, and cultural heritage sites. Apart from the office spaces and laboratories and common areas for CYENS’s researchers, the buildings will host spaces designed to cater to the needs of a wide variety of interested parties: students, researchers, small-scale creators, artists, architects, engineers, designers, inventors and many more, with the ultimate goal to support all of them to bring their ideas closer to realization, and to bring theoretical ideas to innovative creations.
The location of STOA and OLD MARKET in the heart of Old Town, within-the-wall, city of Nicosia, greatly contributes to the success of CYENS in achieving its goal of becoming an Innovation Hub and a point of reference on the scientific and innovation map of Cyprus. The state-of-the art, purpose-designed facilities will play host to the currently dispersed Cultural and Creative Industry community to whom the research expertise at CYENS is most relevant. This “organic” collaboration will create both economic societal value.
CYENS seeks a strong impact and constructive long-term relationships with stakeholders that belong in four categories: academia/universities, industry/businesses, governmental policy makers and the general public/civil society. The creation of the Thinker Maker Space, Co-working Space and the rest of the facilities that foster the creation of new research-industry collaborations, start-ups and spin-offs at STOA will allow CYENS to achieve its goals.
More specifically, the facilities at STOA will give CYENS the opportunity:
Target groups for the use and inclusion in activities of the facilities at STOA include:
The contribution that CYENS wishes to make through the Maker Space and Co-working space is multifold and targets the scientific, creative and overall society: it aims to educate, train, inform and give opportunities to these groups to explore new capabilities and obtain higher goals.
More specifically, the Maker Space and co-working space provide the opportunity to: