On 27 February 2026, the KIOS CoE hosted a delegation from the EU Defence Industry Working Party, in the framework of Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The delegation was accompanied by representatives from the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus.
During the visit, national experts were introduced to KIOS’s cutting-edge research and innovation activities, with a particular focus on national and EU-funded defence projects. These included the THISEAS project, co-funded by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, which aims to enhance the operational capabilities of the Cyprus National Guard through advanced situational awareness and decision support.
The delegation was also briefed on European projects funded under the European Defence Fund, namely ACTING and CITADEL Range, which aim to deliver next-generation cybersecurity training through federated cyber ranges, as well as VICTORIOUS and PLEIADES, which focus on enhancing situational awareness through the use of unmanned ground and aerial vehicles.
KIOS researchers also presented advanced technological platforms developed at the Center, such as the Cyprus Digital Twin, an innovative platform designed to model and analyze the resilience of interdependent critical infrastructure systems. In addition, the AIDERS platform was showcased, demonstrating capabilities for coordinated multi-drone operations to support search-and-rescue missions in complex and dynamic environments.
The visit concluded with a productive exchange of views between the delegation and KIOS researchers, focusing on emerging dual-use and defence technologies, cyber-physical security training, and key challenges and opportunities for enhancing resilience and security across Europe.
KIOS CoE remains committed to advancing research excellence and fostering international collaboration to address critical challenges in dual-use and defence applications, security, and resilience of critical infrastructure systems.
