Cyprus makes successful debut at International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence

Cyprus participated for the first time in the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) 2026, held in Astana, Kazakhstan, securing four bronze medals and two honourable mentions. The eight-member delegation of students competed against an international field, representing the culmination of a rigorous selection process that began in late 2025.

The project was a collaborative effort involving Neapolis University Paphos, the Cyprus Computer Society, JetBrains, and the JetBrains Foundation, with JetBrains acting as the national coordinator. The initiative’s steering committee was chaired by Professor Savvas Chatzichristofis, alongside Panicos Masouras and Alexander Avdiushenko. Selection was open to all public and private school students, attracting over 100 applicants.

Preparation for the competition commenced in November 2025, featuring online machine learning modules. Following an initial selection, the top 30 performers attended the AI Winter Cyprus Camp in Paphos in early 2026. This was followed by four months of intensive training before the delegation travelled to Kazakhstan in July. The success of the team marks a significant milestone for Cyprus in the field of international academic competitions in technology.