The Cyprus Defence and Space Industry Cluster (CyDSIC) has been launched to enhance the country’s capabilities in defence and space sectors.
- The Cyprus Defence and Space Industry Cluster (CyDSIC) has been launched to enhance the country's capabilities in defence and space sectors.
- Further details, including the date for the new association’s first statutory meeting, are expected to be announced by January 2026.
On Monday, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) and the Cyprus Research and Innovation Enterprises Association (CRIEA) announced the formation of this new cluster, which aims to address the needs of the rapidly expanding ecosystem of Cypriot businesses involved in defence, security, and aerospace.
This initiative builds on a previous version of the cluster that has been operating successfully under CRIEA since 2019. The earlier cluster played a significant role in developing the Cypriot defence industry by promoting collaboration among industry, academia, and government authorities, thereby strengthening Cyprus’s presence in European and international research and technological programmes.
Since its inception, the cluster has participated in various exhibitions both at home and abroad. It has organised national pavilions at significant international events such as DEFEA and Eurosatory since 2021, showcasing Cyprus’s growing capabilities in defence technology. Additionally, it has established the BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED conference as a key event for defence and technology in Cyprus.
As a member of the EU’s European network of defence regions, the cluster is also set to host an international conference on dual-use technologies. Titled “Battlefield ReDEFiNED 2026: Modern Technologies with Dual-Use Potential for Enhancing Security, Defence and Space Resilience”, this event will be conducted in collaboration with DG-DEFIS and under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU and the Defence Ministry.
The cluster has actively supported Cypriot participation in the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) and facilitated successful involvement in the European Defence Fund (EDF) and the European Defence Agency (EDA) programmes. This engagement has significantly bolstered Cyprus’s position in the European landscape for defence, space, and technology production.
Moreover, the cluster has worked to enhance Cyprus’s collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) by hosting ESA experts at local facilities, which has helped document the national capabilities in the space sector. Networking events with European and international partners, including countries like Greece, Hungary, France, Poland, the UK, the Czech Republic, Italy, and India, have further strengthened these ties.
Memoranda of cooperation have been signed with corresponding associations in France, Greece, Poland, and Italy, fostering deeper relationships within the European defence and space community. The chamber stated, “This success is due to the efforts of a small but dynamic group of businesses, which are now called upon to broaden their base, and the new association is issuing an open invitation to all organisations and businesses in the sector to actively participate in this effort.”
The decision to create an autonomous association stems from the need to better respond to rapid technological and geopolitical developments. It aims to promote the industrialisation of Cypriot dual-use products, increase exports of advanced technologies, and enhance cooperation with the European Defence Agency and the European Space Agency.
With the new institutional framework in place, the Cyprus Defence and Space Industry Cluster is expected to strengthen cooperation among its members, promote innovation, and support Cyprus’s participation in international value chains. This will ultimately contribute to national and European technological and industrial autonomy.
Keve has called on all businesses and organisations in the defence, security, and space sectors to actively engage with the new cluster. This collaborative effort is aimed at enhancing competitiveness, fostering industrial development, and improving Cyprus’s presence in international markets.
Further details, including the date for the new association’s first statutory meeting, are expected to be announced by January 2026.
