A message from the President
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The story of the Foundation
The idea of creating a Foundation to award Cypriot scientists who excel either in Cyprus or abroad, with their inventions and discoveries, came to me early on.
Along the way, however, I devoted myself to education and creating a family; on top of those, my business activities forced the idea to be placed on the back burner of my mind and forgotten.
Professional success followed in industry, exports and trade, as did my involvement in politics with my election to the House (1976-1981), and my taking on of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (1988-1993).
As time passed, through my experiences, both pleasant and unpleasant, reflection and knowledge, the idea returned to the foreground.
The ordeal of the death of my first wife, Daisy, and my good fortune in meeting my second wife, Louki, who stood by me as my first wife had done, helped me to develop and cultivate this idea. Louki embraced the idea, contributing her own property, wisdom and her own breadth of knowledge of Classical Music to it.
From 2005, I began studying all the literature, statutes and websites so that I could get familiar with prestigious Foundations around the world. Naturally, I was particularly impressed with the Nobel Foundation and strove, within the financial abilities of the Foundation that Louki and I decided to found, to determine the sectors that we would be able to support. This resulted in the five areas referred to in the Foundation’s Memorandum of Association.
After my first notes had been completed, I began contacting and sounding out leading Cypriot personalities among selected friends. I sought the opinion of Academics and other scientists; on the basis of the plethora of notes taken from the websites and Charters of other Foundations, I finally prepared, methodically and with great care, the Foundation’s first complete draft, based on the Charitable Foundations Law (Cap. 41) before the end of 2007.
The task was complete in January 2008. Then, I approached the Law Office of Chrysses Demetriades & Co to assist me in the legislative drafting of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Foundation. Eventually, the Foundation was registered as a Philanthropic Foundation on the 25th September 2009, bearing the registration number HE255317.
This is, in a nutshell, the story leading to the creation of the Foundation.
The Foundation’s steps are going on as they started: with enthusiasm, care and method. The founding members of the Foundation and the members of the Board of Directors were chosen very carefully. The Secretariat and Coordinating Committee were set up and regular meetings commenced with intense effort.
The Foundation immediately established annual prizes which, as a rule, shall be presented between the 15th - 29th November every year. In the interim, however, there shall be lectures and presentations of the works of those awarded, so that the Cypriot public is better acquainted with their work.
The first goal was to award the 1st Prize already within just one year after the Foundation’s creation, in coincidence with the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus, so that the first Prize could be presented as part of the celebrations of the half century since the establishment of our State. The first award ceremony was a miracular triumph.
In its two years of life, the Foundation has awarded two very successful prizes, the first in Medical Sciences on 23/11/2010 and the second in Classical Music on 16/9/2011.
Preparations for the 2012 Prize are already on their way; the decision has already been made that the Prize will be awarded in Engineering in November 2012. Details will be posted soon on the Foundation’s website and the press.
As for the Foundation’s future plans, these will follow, of course, the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Developments, however, as well as the structure and organisation of the Foundation and its financial strength, are expected to determine the further progress and the chosen fields for the Prizes. In every case, Cyprus has finally acquired the Prize to reward all Cypriot scientists and artists who excel all over the world.
Takis Nemitsas
Limassol 28/11/2011
