Cyprus is investing in artificial intelligence to close one of the most persistent gaps in modern economies: the distance between what people are trained to do and what the labour market actually needs. The project, CySKILLS-AI, turns fragmented labour market information into timely, evidence-based insight for education and policy, in support of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth as the platform's public-sector user.
Why the project matters
Phase A of CySKILLS-AI runs through 2026 and delivers a working prototype aimed at a problem Cyprus knows well. The country already gathers information on graduate outcomes and employer needs through national surveys, but that data is analysed only periodically, while the skills the economy demands change far more quickly.
The result is a familiar lag. Insight often arrives only after a delay, information sits fragmented across different organisations and systems, policymakers have limited ability to anticipate emerging skills needs, and universities and colleges receive evidence only after labour market demand has already shifted. By the time the picture is clear, it has often changed again.
CySKILLS-AI aims to bridge this gap by combining trusted national data with continuously updated labour market information, producing a single, clearer picture rather than scattered snapshots.
The platform is designed to support evidence-based education policy, curriculum planning, skills-mismatch analysis, labour market monitoring and short-term workforce forecasting. It does not replace existing data collection, but builds on established national datasets and complements them, with transparency and reliability treated as core requirements.
Starting with ICT and business
CySKILLS-AI begins with the ICT and Business sector as its initial pilot, an area where skills requirements evolve rapidly.
In this first phase, the project establishes a secure, integrated data foundation, applies AI-powered analytics to that combined information, and delivers a prototype dashboard to support evidence-informed decisions within the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth. The objective is to demonstrate that AI can significantly shorten the time needed to generate labour market intelligence, while keeping the process transparent and reliable.
A later phase will build on the validated prototype, moving towards wider deployment and scaling across additional sectors.
Who is behind the project
CySKILLS-AI is delivered by a consortium of Artemis Intelligence (M.G. Artemis Industries Ltd.) and the CYENS Centre of Excellence, with the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth as the platform's public-sector user.
A step forward for Cyprus
Beyond the technology, CySKILLS-AI reflects a broader ambition: to give students, educators and policymakers the evidence they need, when they need it, so that education and workforce planning can respond to change rather than trail behind it. It is described as a practical example of Cyprus applying AI in the public interest, not as an end in itself but as a tool to help people make better-informed choices about learning, careers and skills.
CySKILLS-AI is funded by the Republic of Cyprus, through the Research and Innovation Foundation. It is developed under the "AI in Government" programme of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth.
