Cyprus has officially launched Smart Cyprus, a national project aimed at radically transforming the island. The initiative seeks to build a modern, green, and sustainable digital ecosystem encompassing both large cities and small communities.
As the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy emphasized, Smart Cyprus is about more than just introducing technology; it is about systemic transformation, from efficient resource management to improving the quality of services for citizens and public safety.
The first phase will include smart streetlights and a mobile app.
The project will begin with the implementation of three solutions: smart lighting, smart parking, and smart waste management. At the same time, a special mobile app will be developed to enable residents to access services more quickly and communicate with the authorities.
Phase one is financed by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and has already received €35 million in funding. The funding will go toward new equipment and compensate municipalities for previous investments.
It is important that the platform be open to integrating new solutions with a transparent, flexible cost model developed by the project operator under state supervision. This will ensure the accessibility and effectiveness of the solutions for all cities and communities participating in Smart Cyprus.
National digital platform: Infrastructure of the future
Cyta was selected as the platform developer and operator following a tender. Its task is to ensure stable project implementation, compliance with uniform standards, consistency, and speed. According to Nikodimos Damianou, the Deputy Minister of Digital Policy, Smart Cyprus is not just another IT project, but rather, it is a central infrastructure built on the principles of scalability and compatibility.
It will form the basis of Cyprus' digital transition to a sustainable future, Dimianou noted.
Cyta CEO Andreas Neocleous confirmed that the company will play a strategic role in implementing the project and will guarantee quality.
Our goal is the clear, rapid, and standardized implementation of innovations across the country, Neocleus commented.
Open dialogue with the community
The presentation concluded with a discussion involving representatives of municipalities, government agencies, and other stakeholders. Participants were presented with a detailed implementation plan, platform functionality, and connection requirements.
Smart Cyprus is already being called one of the most ambitious digital projects in the island's history. It is aimed at putting Cyprus at the forefront of smart technologies and sustainable development in the EU.