The Cyprus Science and Research Centre (acronym: CSRC) aims to become a unique Centre of Scientific Excellence for Cyprus and the East Mediterranean area, focusing on the development of innovative and top-quality research within STEAM Education, Science Communication and interactive and digital technologies for STEAM. All eight Cypriot Universities join forces for the first time, and along with GrantXpert Consulting Ltd and prestigious EU research organisations and Science Centres, they undertook the responsibility to develop a unique Centre of Scientific Excellence in Cyprus, dedicated to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education research, science communication and entrepreneurship education. The key objective of CSRC is to address effectively major unmet needs of Cyprus in the research and technological innovation areas, which at present, constrain the economic development of the island. This objective closely adheres to the priorities of the Cyprus Smart Specialisation Strategy and of the European Commission (EC), for the enhancement of innovation and entrepreneurship to bring sustainable economic growth and prosperity at national and EU level. The envisaged Research Cluster (RC) areas to be developed are within the new Centre are: Research and Innovation Culture (RC1), Digital and Emerging Technologies for STEAM education (RC2), and Science in Society and Public engagement in Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) (RC3).
The importance of CSRC for the society can be identified in the vision and mission statements of CSRC. The vision of the Centre is to contribute to the long-term economic, social and innovation growth of Cyprus through the advancement of STEAM research and education, the promotion of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking, the enhancement of a science and research culture and the development of responsible citizenship. The long-term goal is for CSRC to grow as a Centre, where creative and visionary ideas in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education are nurtured and implemented leading to a thriving STEAM literate population where all Cypriots will be able to participate, and contribute fully to 21st century society. The Centre will be a place inclusive to all people, including disadvantaged groups of the society, like disables, immigrants, tourists, people with socio-economically disadvantages, people from all races and all ages.
The consortium worked effectively to materialise the plans so that CSRC could have the desired long-term impact and importance to Cyprus and to be self-sustainable from a financial point of view. The specific issues, which had to be addressed during Phase 1, were: (a) the development of a business plan to set up CSRC and make it operational and financially viable, (b) the development of the CSRC research strategy plan and (c) the implementation of a range of dissemination and communication activities related to the project for specific stakeholders, in order to gain their support for project sustainability and for maximising its impact. All of these were importance issues needed to be addressed for the realisation of the CSRC in Phase 2.
