The University of Cyprus supports and promotes research by allocating a significant part of its budget to research activities and research programmes undertaken by the academic staff. In particular, in 2015, the following categories of research activity are funded through the University's budget:

 

 

These research programmes are usually biannual and are approved by the Research Committee, following evaluation by, at minimum, two independent reviewers. In 2015, 21 research programmes receive internal funding. Overall, the internal research programmes are the result of collective effort, and involve a number of researchers from the University, international collaborators and postgraduate associates, and it is conducted on the basis of a specific proposal, timetable and budget. The total internal funding for research projects, in 2015, reached €451.422.

 

 

Since 2000, the A. G. Leventis Foundation has supported the research activity of the University of Cyprus through funding a number of research programmes in basic research, especially in the Humanities. The A. G.Leventis Foundation provides the University with €170,000 annually.

 

The A. G. Leventis Foundation has funded 34 research programmes to date and its research programmes are highly sought by members of the academic staff of the University of Cyprus. It should be noted that all internal research projects, including those funded by the Leventis Foundation, are evaluated by, at minimum, two external reviewers of high academic standing. The proposals selected for funding are those which score the highest evaluation marks, and at the same time completely satisfy the selection criteria. In 2014, 12 research programmes were funded and will run until 2016.

The main objectives of the University of Cyprus are twofold: the promotion of scholarship and education through teaching and research, and the enhancement of the cultural, social and economic development of Cyprus.

 

Research projects that apply directly to Cyprus are considered as particularly important, as these projects aim to produce research results and products that directly impact Cypriot society. In this context, the departments and the academic staff of the University collaborate with various Cypriot institutions on research programmes which, for the most part, aim to address the needs of the local society. Of the 21 research programmes funded by the University of Cyprus in 2015, three concerned applied research with a total funding of €82.196.

 

Research at the University of Cyprus is wide-ranging, and includes both the individual projects of its academic staff, as well as collaborative efforts that involve local and international research centres, institutes, and universities.

 

Research Staff (TRS): lecturers, assistant professors, associate professors and professors. This funding supports researcher mobility, by broadening and enhancing the parameters of individual research activity. More specifically, this funding enables academic staff to participate in international scientific conferences, facilitates the dissemination of research results and promotes research collaborations among universities and research institutions.

 

The University of Cyprus has become known in the international research Community for the rich and high-calibre publications of its academic staff. Members of the academic staff regularly participate in international seminars and conferences, while a significant number of international conferences are also organized by the University of Cyprus. In addition, the University maintains research collaborations with many universities, research centres and institutions from all over the world, especially in Europe, the USA and the Mediterranean. The total funding for research activities in 2015 rose to €1.224.374.

 

C. START-UP FUNDING
The new Research Policy of 2004, introduced start-up funding. This policy reveals the University's commitment to encouraging research among new members of the academic staff by offering them funding to develop the infrastructure, in terms of laboratory equipment or other resources, that is necessary for their research. This will enable them not only to pursue their research effectively, but will also ensure that they are competitive in attracting external research funds, in areas where such funds are available. Start-up funding is approved by the Research Committee following the evaluation of applications and a personal interview of the candidate. In 2015, 13 such funds were approved, totalling to €182.877.

 

 

The following graph depicts the trend of internal and external funding up to 2015.