in order to maintain scalability potentials , preserve active business cycles and enhance employability .
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Support start-ups and scaleups , in the form of dilutive equity investment and by the introduction of incentives for enhancing or attracting venture capital investments in these companies .
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Set up measures , regulation and incentives to encourage enterprises to increase their investments in R & D and to be involved in R & I activities . Promote optimal utilisation of publicly funded research infrastructure and support and encourage academia & business collaboration .
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Contribute towards the green and digital transition , in particular clean , efficient production and use of energy , waste and water management , circular economy , sustainable transport , digitalisation , research and innovation , in order to achieve the 2030 target for greenhouse gas emissions not covered by the EU emissions trading system .
( National R & I Initiatives in Defence ) In Cyprus , Defence R & I is still in its early stage but with notable and bold steps towards maturity . A niche but highly qualified number of companies and research organisations deal with this sector as part of their core businesses .
The knowledge , skills and the necessary infrastructure is in place and a daring ‘ game plan ’ for dual use classified projects is on the making , as this sector offers great prospects for collaborations , new opportunities and important spill-over effects on the competitiveness of the whole sector .
To this end the Research and Innovation Foundation – the main national Funding Agency for R & I - in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence is formulating targeted funding schemes to enable the upgrade of R & I capacity of academic institutions , research organisations , Research Centres of Excellence , as well as companies engaged in R & D on dual use technologies .
These schemes cover topics that include , among others , critical infrastructure protection , the fight against crime and terrorism , border security and external security , general security issues , artificial intelligence and cyber security .
The main objectives of the funding schemes are to encourage organisations to upgrade their facilities and acquire a security classification certificate and to provide funding to R & D projects in high TRLs ( 8 & 9 ) for the development and deployment of dual use technologies .
Dear Friends ,
The Government , recognising the pertinence of digital transition , through the Ministry of Research , Innovation and Digital Policy , is fully committed to working closely with all stakeholders at the national , regional and EU levels – governments , industry and academia - to set up an effective ecosystem to strengthen the national Defence Industry and promote the collaboration with our Allies , in particular within the European Union .
With this final words , I wish every success in today ' s conference and I am confident that the very interesting discussions in the margins of the Cyprus Defence and Security Conference will lay the foundations for establishing open channels of communication for promoting synergies in the National Defence sector .
Thank you .
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