About
CYENS Centre of Excellence is a leading Research and Innovation hub specializing in Interactive Media, Smart Systems, and Emerging Technologies. As the only organization in Cyprus dedicated to immersive technologies, it plays a vital role in advancing knowledge and facilitating technology transfer across the region. This Centre is the result of a unique collaboration between three public universities—the University of Cyprus, the Cyprus University of Technology.
Who we are
CYENS Centre of Excellence is a leading Research and Innovation hub specializing in Interactive Media, Smart Systems, and Emerging Technologies. As the only organization in Cyprus dedicated to immersive technologies, it plays a vital role in advancing knowledge and facilitating technology transfer across the region.
Its research community is composed of distinguished faculty members and experts working across three main pillars: Visual Science, Human Factors & Design, and Communications & Artificial Intelligence. This interdisciplinary approach ensures a dynamic and forward-thinking environment at the forefront of innovation.
Our values
and social impact
Our work is grounded in core values that shape who we are and how we operate. We embrace openness and creativity, encouraging new ideas and fostering a culture where innovation can flourish. Commitment and professionalism define our approach, while respect and inclusivity ensure that all voices are heard and valued. Above all, we believe that research and innovation should serve the greater good.
CYENS is deeply invested in giving back to society. We actively engage with youth, students, and the wider public through events and initiatives designed to inspire, educate, and empower. From supporting university students in their entrepreneurial journeys to helping start-ups launch and grow, we work to create an ecosystem that nurtures talent and sparks innovation. Public awareness efforts further ensure that our work resonates beyond research, contributing to a more informed and technologically empowered society.
Partners
This Centre is the result of a unique collaboration between three public universities—the University of Cyprus, the Cyprus University of Technology, and the Open University of Cyprus—and two renowned international partners, the Max Planck Institute for Informatics and University College London. It is funded by the Horizon 2020 program and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, with overall coordination provided by the Municipality of Nicosia.
CYENS Centre of Excellence thrives on collaboration, and our success is magnified through strategic partnerships with leading institutions and organizations. These partnerships amplify the impact of our research and innovation initiatives, fostering a dynamic ecosystem where knowledge transfer and technological advancements flourish.
Our People
Aekaterini Mavri
Research Fellow
Alessandro Artusi
DeepCamera MRG Leader
Alexander Baldwin
3D Modeler / Technical Artist
Alexios Mylordos
Research Assistant in Computer Graphics and Computer Animation
Alexis Polydorou
Research Associate
Ali Najm
Research Associate
Amir Azizi
Research Associate
Andreas Andreou
XR System Engineer
Andreas Aristidou
Senior Research Fellow
Andreas Kamilaris
SuPerWorld MRG Leader
Andreas Kopriva Lernis
Digital Artist
Andreas Lanitis
VMC2 MRG Leader
Professor, Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts
Cyprus University of Technology
Andreas S. Panayides
Team Leader
Andrew Kun
Senior Research Fellow
Andri Ioannou
EdMedia MRG Leader
Professor, Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts
Cyprus University of Technology
Andria Shimi
Affiliate
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus
Andronikos Xydas
Procurement Manager
Angelos Kassianos
Senior Research Fellow
Anna Cox
Senior Research Fellow
Anthony G Cohn
Advisory Board Member
Professor of Automated Reasoning
University of Leeds, Vision and Robotics
Anthony Steed
Board Member
Head of the Virtual Environments and Computer Graphics group and Deputy Head of Department in the Department of Computer Science University College London (UCL)
Antigoni Parmaxi
Research Associate
Antreas Kourris
Antria Ioannou
Research Assistant
Argyro Zachou
Events Officer
Athena Zanetti
Executive Assistant to the General Director
Cengiz A Tarhan
Advisory Board Member
BA RTTP
O2h Ventures, University of Tartu Ventures, Conception X
Chandan Gepala
Android Software Developer
Chara Theocharous
Research Assistant
Charalambos Prountzos
Board Chairman
Mayor of Nicosia Municipality
Dimarxio Lefkosias
Charis Thocharous
Charithea Stylianides
Research Associate
Chariton Hadjicostis
Senior Full Stack Software Developer
Chirag Prabhakar Padubidri
Research Associate
Chris Christodoulou
Senior Research Fellow
Christiana Ioannou
Research Associate
Christina Charalambidou
Project Officer
Christophoros Christophorou
Research Associate
Christos Ioannou
Executive Committee Member
Leader of Neo-Move
Marie S. Curie Fellow
Chrysostomos Chadjiminas
Research Assistant
Constantinos Leonidou
Board Member
Professor of Marketing and Business Administration Open University of Cyprus
Constantinos Odysseos
Research Assistant
Constantinos Pattichis
HealthXR MRG Leader
Professor at Computer Science Department
University of Cyprus
Costas Kokkinos
IT Manager
Dieter W. Fellner
Advisory Board Chair
Director
Fraunhofer-Institut für Graphische Datenverarbeitung IGD
Dimitra Flouri
Research Associate
Dimitrios Skarlatos
Researcher Affiliate
Cyprus University of Technology
Doros Polydorou
Affiliate Researcher
Eirini Christou
Research Associate - EdMedia MRG
Eirini Schiza
Research Associate
Eleftherios Vourkos
Research Associate
Eleni Papanikolaou
HR Senior Manager
Eleni Pashia
Research Associate
Elias Athanasopoulos
Research Fellow
Ellada Evangelou
Research Fellow
Evangelos Kalogerakis
Research Fellow
Filip Skola
Research Associate
Fotis Liarokapis
Executive Committee Member
Extended Experiences MRG Leader
Fotos Frangoudes
Research Associate
George Angelos Papadopoulos
Senior Research Fellow
George Kirkos
Head of Research Office
Haris Psallidopoulos
XR Systems Engineer
Helen Sphikas
Receptionist / Administrator
Helia Zakeri
Research Assistant
Hidayet Turk
Accounting Manager
Iacovos Ioannou
Research Associate
Ioanna Valiandi
Research Associate
Ioannis Charalambous
Research Associate
Ioannis Constantinou
Research Associate
Ioannis Koureas
Marketing and Communication Officer
Ismail Kamil Hadjri Giraldo
Game Engineer / Programmer
Jahna Otterbacher
MRG Leader
Associate Professor
Open University of Cyprus
Kalli Koulloufidou
Research Associate
Kalliopi Evangelia Stavroulia
Research Associate
Kleanthis Neokleous
ITICA MRG Leader
Kristiana Kudrasova
UI/UX Designer
Loizos Michael
Leader of Artificial Intelligence & Communications / SCRAT MRG
Associate Professor of Computational Cognition
Open University of Cyprus
Louiza Avraam
Accounting Officer
Loulla Ioannou
Senior Administration Officer
Magdalene Charalambous
Innovation Officer
Maria Christofi
Research Assistant/Associate in Character Animation and Virtual Humans
Maria Loizou
Senior Graphic Designer
Maria Matsangidou
Senior Researcher
Maria Papaioannou
Senior Research Associate
Maria Pavlou
3D Artist
Maria Poveda
Senior Project Manager
Maria Shehade
Senior Research Associate
Marianna Hadjiandoniou
Board Member
Executive Committee Member of the Cyprus International Businesses Association (CIBA)
Marina Toumpouri
3D / Software Development Team Leader
Marios Antreou
Research Associate with HealthXR
Marios Avraamides
Leader of Human Factors & Design Research Pillar & CCAPPS MRG
Professor of Cognitive Psychology at the Department of Psychology
University of Cyprus
Marios Christodoulou
Research Associate with HealthXR
Marios Constantinides
Senior Researcher
Marios D. Dikaiakos
Board Member
Professor of Computer Science
University of Cyprus
Marios Loizou
Research Associate
Marios Thoma
AI Engineer
Mel Slater
Advisory Board Member
Department of Computer Science
Malet Place Engineering Building University College London
Melinos Averkiou
VCG MRG Leader
Mercè Álvarez de la Campa Crespo
Post-Doc Researcher in Computer Graphics and/or Computer Animation
Michael Savva
Research Associate with SNS
Michael Sirivianos
Board Member
Associate Professor, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology, Department Of Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science and Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology
Cyprus University of Technology
Michalis Kyriakou
Research Associate
Miria Plastira
Research Associate (Post-doctoral)
Myrto Aristidou
Research Fellow
Nadia Magnenat Thalmann
Advisory Board Member
Founder and Director
MIRALab, University of Geneva, Switzerland
Natalie Temene
Research Associate- SNS MRG
Nicolai Petkov
Advisory Board Member
Professor, Head of the research group Intelligent Systems, Faculty of Science and Engineering
University of Groningen, Netherlands
Niki Kyriakou
Senior Project Manager
Noor Sajjad
Research Associate
Oded Cohn
Advisory Board Member
Oksana Dremova
Research Associate
Orestis Georgiou
Senior Research Fellow
Orit Shaer
Senior Research Fellow
Ourania Miliou
Education and Training Manager
Panayiotis Charalambous
PULSE MRG Leader
Pantelis Anthimou
Research Associate with HealthXR
Pantelis Panteli
Lab Technician
Paschalis Kontopyrgos
Research Associate
Savvas Antoniou
Full Stack Software Developer
Savvas Karatsiolis
Research Associate
Shaziye Mehmet
Innovation and Community Engagement Manager
Stefanos Papadas
Research Associate
Stelios Yiatros
Research Fellow
Stella Taousiani
Design Desk Officer
Stephanie Papalla
Research Associate
Stratis Pantelides
Makerspace Technician
Styliani Kleanthous Loizou
Affiliate
Open University of Cyprus
Styliani Petroudi
Head of Innovation
Tania Garcia
Experienced Researcher (Post-doc)
Tasos Kourouniadis
Full Stack Software Developer with SNS
Theodoros Kyriakou
Research Associate
Theopisti Stylianou-Lambert
Museum Lab MRG Leader
Professor at the Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts
Cyprus University of Technology
Ugne Buraciene
Board Member
Group CEO of payabl Board member of TechIsland
Vasos Vassiliou
SNS MRG Leader
Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science
University of Cyprus
Vassilis Vassiliades
CAIR MRG Leader
Veronica Hadjipanayi
Research Associate with HealthXR
Victor Klinkenber
Research Fellow
Xenios Milidonis
Senior Research Associate
Yiorgos Chrysanthou
General Director
Professor, Department of Computer Science
University Of Cyprus
Yvonne Rogers
Advisory Board Member
Professor and Director of UCLIC
University College London
Zinon Zinonos
Research Fellow
Zinonas Antoniou
Research Associate with HealthXR
Αvra Sidiropoulou
Research Fellow