The Research Centre for Sustainable Energy (FOSS) was created in order to play a key role in research and technological development activities in the field of sustainable energy within Cyprus and at international level with the aim of contributing to the achievement of the relevant energy and environment objectives set out by Europe. In particular, the FOSS strives to become a centre of excellence in energy that will act as a structure where world-standard R&D work can be performed, in terms of measurable scientific production (including training) and/or technological innovation. The selected thematic priorities include:
Our vision is to establish a regional R&I hub of excellence which will generate novel ideas, provide a strong stimulus for interdisciplinary co-operation and be an internationally respected, state-of-the-art training and education centre.
The Centre of Excellence will generate an effective R&I culture in Cyprus and the surrounding region, promoting effective cooperation between academia, industry and business sectors, as well as contributing to the transfer of knowledge from advanced European clusters to the region. The Centre will create a test-bed and living lab in the areas of energy and sustainability and will be a major driver to facilitate commercialization of innovation in energy-related fields in Cyprus, Europe and MENA.
Education and awareness work on sustainable energy matters and promotion of active involvement of consumers in local energy production using RES. In the FOSS significant research expertise from the University of Cyprus as well as from industry has been assembled that spans a host of fields: Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Environmental, Chemical engineering, to Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Finance, as well as Architecture. The FOSS team aims, with the development of the necessary synergies, to create the impetus for the advancement of the field of energy. Members of the Centre represent Cyprus in European Energy Committees such as the Energy Committee for the FP7, the Horizon 2020, the SET Plan, the Solar Energy Industrial Initiative, the European Smart Grid Technology Platform, the European Standards Committees on PV and the EU PV Mirror Group. Furthermore, the FOSS staff act as expert evaluators for predominantly Energy Proposals within the FP7 and other National initiatives.