A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the French Academy of Sciences (Institut de France) and the Cyprus Research and Educational Foundation (CREF), the parent organization of The Cyprus Institute, at a ceremony held at the Cyprus Institute on Thursday, 29 May 2025.

 

The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Prof. Alain Fischer, former President of the French Academy of Sciences and Professor Didier Roux, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Cyprus Research and Educational Foundation, aims to formally institutionalize the ex officio participation of the French Academy of Sciences in the Board of Trustees of the Cyprus Research and Educational Foundation, through the appointment of two of its members.

 

At the same time, it establishes a framework for enhanced cooperation between the two parties in the fields of higher education and research, which will be implemented through the activities of The Cyprus Institute.

 

Welcoming the participants, President of The Cyprus Institute, Professor Stavros Malas, spoke of a historic day which formalizes, as he said, a 20-year relationship, and institutionally integrates into the administration of The Cyprus Institute the members of the French Academy of Sciences, one of the oldest and most respected academic institutions in the world.

 

At the same time, Professor Malas emphasized, today's signing also sends a political message, that in order to create a knowledge economy, we must first accept the internationalization of our country's research centers.

 

In her remarks, Deputy Minister to the President, Ms. Irini Piki, stated that the signing of the Memorandum of Unserstanding is not only the official ratification of a promising institutional cooperation, but also a symbolic confirmation of the shared aspirations of the two institutions: scientific excellence, the promotion of knowledge and the deepening of international cooperation.

 

This initiative, Ms. Piki noted, is also a tangible demonstration of scientific diplomacy. In a world often characterized by fragmentation and uncertainty, our collective commitment to international academic cooperation is a testament to the timeless values ​​of reason, dialogue and shared progress, she stated.

 

The signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Cooperation was followed by a lecture on the topic “Advances in Medicine Do Not Necessarily Translate into Better Health”, delivered by Professor Alain Fischer. The lecture was part of the Hubert Curien Memorial Lecture series taking place annually at The Cyprus Institute, in honor of the late Prof. Hubert Curien (1924-2005), a Trustee of the Cyprus Research and Educational Foundation (CREF) and founding Chair of its International Council, whose contribution to the planning and realization of The Cyprus Institute was pivotal and profound.