With a track record of success in many countries around the world, the MIC has the potential to create new job prospects and encourage youth entrepreneurship in Cyprus. 



Don Grantham, President of Microsoft Central and Eastern Europe, also addressed the event as part of a three-day visit to the island, and expressed the company’s commitment to the country’s economic and societal growth. 



“Amidst the financial crisis that our country is facing, it is imperative to work on initiatives aimed at promoting the generation of new innovative ideas. Investments in the area of Information and Communication Technologies are vital in order for the Cyprus market to remain competitive. Local companies need to become more innovative, since the generation of each and every new successful idea could support in the reduction of unemployment, while at the same time create a culture of innovation in our country”, said Minister Demetriades.

“The opening of the Microsoft Innovation Centre brings hope for the future, for the new generation, for our precious youth. We have a strong commitment to support people and businesses in realizing their full potential. Therefore, investing in a Microsoft Innovation Centre in Cyprus, was a top-priority for us; particularly so, amidst the financial challenges that the country is facing and the potential we see in the region,” Grantham said at the opening ceremony. “Microsoft Cyprus aims to be a true Partner for the Growth of the country,” he added. 



The MIC is a partnership between Microsoft Cyprus and European University Cyprus (EUC), and is located at EUC. A state-of-the-art technology facility where government, academic, and industry professionals can collaborate on research, technology, and software solutions, the MIC will provide programmes and services that foster development and help the growth of sustainable local software economies through skills and professional training, industry partnerships, and innovation. 



The MIC will be open to students, professional software developers, IT professionals, entrepreneurs, and academic researchers. With programmes tailored to the needs of Cyprus, the MIC will work with the local community to accelerate technology advances. Through the MIC, organisations will have the opportunity to run technical trainings, workshops, and seminars for students, start-ups, and developers, as well as access expertise and resources that support prototyping new solutions, testing existing applications, incubating new ideas, and starting apps-based businesses. 



More than 110 such centres operate in 38 countries, the majority of which are associated with government agencies. The first MIC was launched in December 2002. MICs have helped more than 500,000 technology professionals gain certifications, have assisted in the creation ofover 3200 companies and have helped partners develop and publish more than 9000 apps since 2011.

Microsoft Cyprus partners with European University Cyprus which is one of the Laureate International Universities, the world's largest higher education network with 80 universities in 30 countries and over 1 million students. Corporate Partners of the MIC in Cyprus include: Bernhard Schulte Ship management, the Cyprus Computer Society, CNP ASFALISTIKI and CNP CYPRIALIFE, members of the CNP Cyprus Insurance Holdings Group, Cyta, Exxon Mobil, EY Cyprus, Gnomi Communication Consultants, Headcandy, IN Business magazine, Laureate International Universities, Logicom Solutions and NetU. 



During his visit to Cyprus, Don Grantham met with a number of high level officials, including the Minister of Justice Ionas Nicolaou with whom he discussed the use by Cypriot law enforcement authorities of NetClean Analyze, Microsoft’s software which combats, amongst others, child pornography, economic fraud, and terrorism. He also met with the Minister of Commerce George Lakkotrypis and the Government Chief Information Officer at the Ministry of Finance Costas Agrotis. As part of a busy schedule, Grantham also attended a dinner hosted by Microsoft Cyprus for 50 top executives in Cyprus, and signed the ‘Cyprus Start-up Manifesto’, ensuring Microsoft’s engagement as a trusted advisor to the Cypriot start-up community. The Manifesto is an initiative by ‘Start-up Cyprus’ – based on the broader European Start-up Manifesto – which calls on all Cypriot start-ups to join forces and work collaboratively together.

Source: Financial Mirror