“In recent years, Cyprus has taken very important steps in research and innovation and several policies and programmes have been implemented by the government to assist this,” said Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides after MPs voted.

“People engaged in both research and innovation, as well as digital policy, are now a rapidly expanding community that can form the basis for the country’s new development model.”

He added that society and the young needed a governance framework that will help them make the most of their potential.

“The establishment of the deputy ministry as a strong and specialised central body and the policies that govern both research, innovation and digital policy are a necessity that is now becoming a reality,” he said.

The deputy ministry will bring together various services under one roof. It aims to design and implement a unified national strategy scientifically, reforming and modernising the way the government works to be able to support and promote research, innovation and digital policy.

This is the third deputy ministry, following the creation of a deputy shipping ministry in 2018 and a deputy tourism ministry in 2019.

Four members voted against the creation of the new ministry and 42 in favour.

Source: Cyprus Mail