Nicosia, 3 June 2026 — The Cyprus Game Makers Association (CYGMA) and the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework for joint work in education, research, innovation, and professional training across the game development and interactive media sector. The agreement was signed on 26 May 2026 at CUT by CYGMA General Manager Andrey Ivashentsev and CUT Rector Professor Panayiotis Zaphiris.
The MOU marks the launch of CYGMA’s Academic Partnership Programme, with CUT as its founding academic institution and the first university to join. The programme is designed to connect higher education with the game development industry, and CYGMA intends to extend it to other institutions in Cyprus over time.
CYGMA General Manager Andrey Ivashentsev said: “Cyprus already has a substantial video game development industry; what it needs now is a talent pipeline built by studios and universities together. CUT is the founding institution of CYGMA’s Academic Partnership Programme, helping to build a bridge of cooperation between academia and industry. This agreement is where that work begins.”
A central aim of the collaboration is to work toward embedding game development–specific coursework within CUT’s existing degree programmes, including at bachelor level, subject to the University’s academic governance. Alongside curriculum development, the MOU provides for internships and work placements for CUT students with CYGMA member studios, guest lectures and practitioner workshops, and the participation of industry professionals in teaching.
The two organisations will also develop joint research programmes, with a shared focus on moving toward grant-funded projects and proposals. Priority areas include game design, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), and artificial intelligence applications for games.
Commenting on the agreement, CUT Rector Professor Panayiotis Zaphiris stated: “Our collaboration with CYGMA strengthens the University’s strategy of meaningfully connecting education and research with the needs of society and the economy. The video games and interactive media sector is a dynamic field with significant growth and innovation potential. Through this partnership, we are creating new opportunities for our students, enhancing the transfer of knowledge and expertise, and contributing to the development of a modern ecosystem of creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship in Cyprus.”
On behalf of CUT, the Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts, coordinated by Professor Despina Michael-Grigoriou, will lead the implementation of the partnership’s activities.
The MOU runs for an initial term of two years and reaffirms both organizations’ commitment to innovation, research, and talent development in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the digital economy.
Photo: Andrey Ivashentsev (CYGMA, General Manager) and Professor Despina Michael-Grigoriou (CUT, the Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts) during the MOU announcement at GDCy FEST ’26 (Limassol, Cyprus).