Participation in the European Network of Defence-related Regions (ENDR) proves to be an important European recognition for the Cyprus Association of Research and Innovation Enterprises (CARIE) as well as the Cypriot Defence Industry. The latter participate in ENDR along with more than fifty industrial authorities and clusters from all over Europe.

The ENDR network, which is supported by the European Commission and the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS), promotes a strong and innovative European defence industry by encouraging the development of the necessary defence capabilities agreed upon by Member States in 2016, when the Commission approved the European Defence Action Plan.

According to a relevant announcement, ENDR’s main goals are to:

• bring together regional organizations and groups to share best practices on how to develop dual-use (defence-related) development strategies, including integrating defence industrial and research resources into smart specialization strategies and supporting defence-related SMEs;
• facilitate the flow of information on funding opportunities (such as the European Defence Fund and the European Structural and Investment Funds);
• promote the development of regional clusters of excellence in the field of defence.

On behalf of CARIE, the President of the Association, Dr. Tasos Kounoudis, emphasized that it is a great success that their association and the Cypriot Defence industry are recognized by the European Commission, which supports their participation in the European Network of Defence-related Regions (ENDR). Dr. Kounoudis also added that they have taken important steps in recent years and the successes of the Defence Industry are recognized to the extent that we can now actively contribute – through the network – to the implementation of the European Defence Action Plan.

Also read: Podcast S3E3 | The European Perspective for the emerging Cypriot Defence Industry