Harvard continues talks for local research institute
By Demetra Molyva
(From "Cyprus Weekly" 27 February 2004)

The Cyprus government is in the second phase of negotiations for reaching an agreement to establish an International research and technology institute in association with the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), Tourism Minister Yiorgos Lillikas said yesterday.

At a news conference, in the presence of six Harvard professors including the rector of the administration department of the university's Public Health School, John Lichten, Lillikas announced the establishment of the institute which is expected to be open in January next year and be in full operation in about two years.

Lillikas told newsmen that the Harvard Public Health and Environment Institute is part of a government policy to make Cyprus a regional research centre, mainly in the field of research in applied technology.

"Our EU accession, the role we want to play as a bridge with the neighbouring countries, our scientific staff force and geographical position, create a favourable environment for Cyprus' s development in the field of research", Lillikas said.

With the creation of the institute, Lillikas. who initiated the project in April last year, said specialised research in environment and public health matters, mainly related to EU directives and restrictions, as well as research in the entire region including Europe, the Middle East and Africa will be conducted at the centre.

Letterhead

The Institute will be visited by Harvard scientists regularly who will work closely on research programmes with local and European scientists and scientists from the entire region.

Lillikas said one of the main demands of the Cyprus government was the use of the Harvard name and it will appear on letterhead and official correspondence.

"This pleases and satisfies us mainly as it is happening for the first time in the history of Harvard", said Lillikas, noting that the institute will have close participation with Harvard scientists.

Thanking the Minister and President Papadopoulos for their proposal for the Institute professor Lichten said:

"We are very pleased to be able to add our name to this proposed institute. We feel that it truly is a partnership between the government of Cyprus, the people of Cyprus and Harvard University. So we are pleased to be in a position of having a joint name." Commenting on the exact date the institute will be up and running Harvard Professor of Environmental Science Petros Koutrakis said:

"The process for achieving full speed operations for the institute will happen after the initial agreement is signed in May, and full operations will happen probably in two years. It is very difficult to establish and develop such institutes but we are ready to start."

Koutrakis said entire Harvard classrooms will spend time at the Institute on the island to carry out research related to public health and environmental issues in the entire region.

Primarily research will be carried out at the Institute which will also offer educational seminars for professionals and accommodate postgraduate students in close association with the Cyprus University.

The Institute's director general and research directors will be Harvard professors and will be appointed at the university's suggestion, the meeting heard.

Through the institute, scholarships will be granted for postgraduate research programmes at Harvard, said Lillikas.

The Institute will initially be housed, along with other research centres, at the government proposed hi-tech park.