Five-Year Transitional Period

The Transitional Governing Board consisted of:

Loukas Christophorou, President (April 2019 – September 2020)

Andreas Demetriou, President (September 2020 – April 2024)

Euphrosyne Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou, Vice-President

Achilles C. Emilianides, Secretary General

Stavros Zenios, Member

Marios Polycarpou, Member

During the Transitional Period, the Academy achieved, among others, the following:

• The Academy’s budget became fully autonomous.
• The first new Members after the Founding Members were elected, including Ordinary Members, External Members, Corresponding Members and Honorary Members.
• The Academy became a member of leading European and international associations of academies, including EASAC (European Academies’ Science Advisory Council), ALLEA (All European Academies) and the UAI (Union Académique Internationale).
• Following the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in 2021, the Academy inaugurated its annual Ceremonial Session, held each December. During this event, the Academy presents an overview of its annual activities and confers its awards. It was established that the Ceremonial Session would be held at the Presidential Palace and would be addressed each year by the President of the Republic.
• The Excellence Award of the Republic of Cyprus, whose administration was entrusted to the Academy under its Founding Law, has been conferred annually. By decision of the Academy, the Award is presented on a rotating basis among its Classes. The Academy also established an annual Young Scientist or Artist Award, likewise awarded on a rotating basis among the Classes, and instituted its first Academy Awards.
• The Nemitsas Foundation, together with all its assets, was transferred to the Academy in order to ensure the continuation of the Nemitsas Award, which honours distinguished scientists and artists of Cypriot origin. The Foundation’s Board of Directors now consists of members of the Academy together with Takis Nemitsas and Loukis Nemitsas for the duration of their lifetimes.
• The Metropolitan of Kykkos and Tillyria granted the Academy, under a long-term lease and without financial consideration, the landmark building that had housed the Ecclesiastical School for decades prior to its closure. Located in the centre of Nicosia and extending to approximately 1,800 square metres, the building has been designated as the Academy’s future permanent home. At present, the Academy operates from leased premises in Phaneromeni as a temporary arrangement until it relocates to its own headquarters.
• The Academy organised its first public lecture series and academic conferences, concluded memoranda of cooperation with the universities of Cyprus and the Academy of Athens, and carried out a number of research projects under the supervision of its Members across a wide range of disciplines, many of which resulted in significant scholarly publications.