Official Presentation of actions undertaken for wildfire prevention, preparedness and early response
Limassol, 23 July 2026 – TechIsland®, the largest technology association in Cyprus, held a presentation event for the TechIsland Wildfire Initiative, the initiative launched following the devastating wildfires of 2025, with the aim of supporting affected communities and strengthening prevention, preparedness and early response to wildfire risk.
The TechIsland Wildfire Initiative began as an immediate mobilisation of the TechIsland community following the wildfires that affected Cyprus in 2025. Within just a few days, more than 60 companies and individuals responded to the call, with the total amount raised reaching approximately €2 million. What started as an effort to provide immediate relief has since evolved into a social impact programme, focused on recovery, prevention, early detection and support for local communities.
Among the key projects presented were TechIsland’s €450,000 contribution towards the acquisition of firefighting vehicles for 45 communities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and the Union of Cyprus Communities, and SafeIsland CY, a new free mobile application designed to strengthen wildfire awareness and community preparedness.
In his presentation, Valentinos Polykarpou, Chairman of TechIsland, thanked everyone who contributed to the initiative and highlighted the importance of collaboration between the private sector, the State, local communities, experts and volunteers.
As Mr Polykarpou stated: “The TechIsland Wildfire Initiative is an example of what can be achieved when we join forces. What started as an immediate response at a critical moment has evolved into a long-term programme with practical solutions and meaningful impact. The technology sector is today one of the most important pillars of the Cyprus economy, but its presence in Cyprus is not limited to its economic contribution. It also has a role in society. And this initiative shows exactly that: through collaboration, we can achieve more for Cyprus.”
Mr Polykarpou also thanked the members of the TechIsland Wildfire Committee for their commitment and continued involvement, as well as all partners, donors and volunteers who contributed to the initiative.
“Once again, the tech community showed that it is ready to step forward when Cyprus needs support. I am very proud of this initiative and of the practical value it has created: helping communities strengthen their readiness, supporting prevention efforts and enabling the development of technology-led solutions. This is the kind of systemic, collective action that can make a real difference,” said Alexey Gubarev, a donor to the initiative and a Board Member of TechIsland.
A central part of the event presentation focused on TechIsland’s collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and the Union of Cyprus Communities. Under a government subsidy scheme supporting Community Councils in the acquisition of small firefighting vehicles, TechIsland has contributed €450,000 to cover 20% of the cost for 45 Community Councils. The initiative aims to strengthen the operational readiness of local communities and support a faster and more effective response in the event of a fire. The Minister of Interior, Constantinos Ioannou, also addressed the event, highlighting the importance of collaboration in strengthening wildfire prevention and the immediate response capacity of communities.
In addition, Vladimir Polianskii, CMO of Brickworks Games, presented SafeIsland CY, a free iOS and Android app developed for Cyprus to improve early awareness and community preparedness in relation to wildfire risk. The app enables users to report signs of smoke or fire, add photos and short updates from the ground, receive alerts about nearby reports and access useful fire-safety information through an interactive map, including the locations of fire stations, water points and other fire-safety-related facilities. The goal of the app is not to replace emergency services, but to strengthen local awareness and help communities share useful information more quickly.
Dr Anna Zenonos, Researcher, CARE-C – Climate and Atmosphere Research Center at The Cyprus Institute, also presented the Geosfire Project, funded by the TechIsland Wildfire Initiative, which focuses on the development of early wildfire detection technology using satellite data and unmanned aerial vehicles. The project aims to detect fire outbreaks within the first critical minutes, using technology that can contribute meaningfully to faster information flow and the mobilisation of the relevant authorities.
The Green Souni project was also presented. It was initiated and facilitated by TechIsland Wildfire Committee Member Natalya Bolshakova,founder of Belle Air Villas, under the umbrella of the TechIsland Wildfire Initiative. The project included the clearing and rehabilitation of burned areas, the planting of 130 mature cypress trees and 200 shrubs, and the creation of a new green corridor for the local community. Beyond Souni, it has been designed as a methodology for post-fire recovery and protection that can be replicated in other affected villages across Cyprus.
TechIsland thanks all donors, partners and volunteers who contributed to the implementation of the initiative, underlining that addressing wildfire-related challenges requires coordination, continuity and collaboration among all stakeholders.
About TechIsland®
TechIsland® is the largest technology association in Cyprus, representing more than 400 member companies. Founded in 2021 as a non-profit organisation, TechIsland’s mission is to establish Cyprus as an international hub for technology and innovation. TechIsland works to accelerate the growth of the technology sector, strengthen a robust and collaborative ecosystem, and bring together all relevant stakeholders to support the country’s sustainable economic and social development. More information is available at https://techisland.org/.
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