The BASH 2026: Connecting the People Driving Cyprus’ Innovation Ecosystem
Press Release
15 July 2026
The BASH 2026: Connecting the People Driving Cyprus’ Innovation Ecosystem
More than 200 representatives from Cyprus’ research, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem attended RIF’s flagship annual networking event
More than 200 representatives from across Cyprus’ research, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem gathered on Tuesday, 14 July, at The BASH 2026, the flagship annual networking event organised by the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF).
Under the theme “Let’s Cheers to Innovation Together!”, this year’s event once again brought together the people shaping the future of Cyprus through research, innovation and entrepreneurship, creating a vibrant environment for networking, collaboration and the exchange of ideas.
Startups and scaleups, innovative businesses, researchers, academics, investors, business support organisations, public sector representatives and policymakers had the opportunity to connect, establish new relationships and explore future collaborations during an evening that has now become a key meeting point for Cyprus’ innovation community.
The event featured welcome addresses by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Research and Innovation Foundation and Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology, Mr. Demetris Skourides, the Director General of the Research and Innovation Foundation, Mr. Theodoros Loukaidis, and Mr. Constantinos Kleovoulou, representing the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, who all highlighted the importance of collaboration in strengthening Cyprus’ innovation ecosystem.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of RIF and Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology, Mr. Demetris Skourides, stated:
“Cyprus’ innovation ecosystem is growing, maturing and continuously delivering new success stories. This is not happening by chance; it is the result of the collective effort and collaboration of everyone who is part of this community. As the Research and Innovation Foundation, and personally in my capacity as Chief Scientist, we remain committed to securing the necessary resources and creating the right conditions to further strengthen and support our ecosystem. The BASH demonstrates that when the community comes together, new ideas emerge, new partnerships are formed, and the next success stories for Cyprus begin.”
The Director General of RIF, Mr. Theodoros Loukaidis, said:
“Today, Cyprus has a much stronger and more mature innovation ecosystem, ranked 39th globally in the StartupBlink Startup Ecosystem Index. This achievement is the result of a collective effort involving startups and innovative businesses, investors, incubators and accelerators, knowledge transfer offices, our universities, public sector stakeholders, and the Research and Innovation Foundation, which continuously evolves to better support the ecosystem. Together, we are building the foundations for even greater success. Thank you all for being here tonight at The BASH, which has grown into a flagship event, creating opportunities for meaningful networking, new ideas and lasting collaborations.”
Representing the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Mr. Konstantinos Kleovoulou noted:
“Cyprus today has a dynamic research and innovation ecosystem that continues to grow and create new opportunities. The Government remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen collaboration and further enhance Cyprus’ research and innovation ecosystem.”
Beyond networking, the event highlighted the significant progress Cyprus has achieved in research and innovation in recent years, while showcasing the value of collaboration between the public and private sectors, universities, research organisations and businesses.
The strong attendance and vibrant atmosphere throughout the evening confirmed that The BASH has firmly established itself as the annual gathering of Cyprus’s innovation community, fostering new synergies, meaningful collaborations and initiatives with lasting impact.
The BASH 2026 was organised under the Innovation Factory initiative of the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) and as part of the activities of the Enterprise Europe Network Cyprus.