Ref.
2026/IIAIEFTIDS/15007
Job offer type
Experts
Type of contract
Service contract
Deadline date
2026/03/29 16:19
Duration of the assignment
Long term
Contract
Freelancer
Duration
12 months
Individual Industry and Innovation Expert for the “CYPRUS INDUSTRIAL DEFENCE STRATEGY” (M/W)
Département Paix, stabilité, sécurité - P2S > Pôle Renforcement des forces de sécurité et de défense
Published on : 2026/03/11
CONTINENTAL EUROPE
CYPRUS
Mission description
Expertise France, the French agency for international technical cooperation, designs and implements projects that strengthen governance, security, climate, health, and education systems in developing and emerging countries, contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.
The Republic of Cyprus has requested the support of the European Commission to assist in drafting its National Defence Industry Strategy and in strengthening the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Republic of Cyprus in terms of regulation, oversight, planning, and decision-making related to the development of the defence industry. The initiative is funded by the European Union, through the Technical Support Instrument (TSI), and implemented by Expertise France in collaboration with the EU Commission.
Located at a strategic crossroad in the Mediterranean, the Republic of Cyprus has long faced challenges in defence and security. Its industrial development in this field was constrained for regional balance reasons. The change of EU’s priorities, to now include self-resilience in defence along with the lifting of the U.S arms embargo on Cyprus, has marked a turning point, opening the way to revitalising its national defence industry strategy. Cyprus can now enhance its military capabilities, integrate more deeply into international defence networks, and foster technological innovation.
To consolidate this strategy, it is recommended that the Republic of Cyprus draw inspiration from European good practices and initiatives, particularly the European Defence White Paper: Readiness 2030, which advocates for cooperation and integration within the European Union. Aligning with this vision will enable the Republic of Cyprus to accelerate the modernisation of its armed forces and strengthen its participation in international technological and industrial partnerships.
The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus plays a major role in defining and implementing this strategy. Its mission is to guarantee national sovereignty by developing an autonomous defence capacity, while aligning with regional and European strategic priorities. In partnership with Expertise France, the Ministry aims to develop a clear and ambitious roadmap promoting technological innovation, local production, equipment maintenance, and research and development.
Within this framework, and as part of the Cyprus Industrial Defence Strategy project, Expertise France is recruiting an Industry and Innovation Expert to serve as the bridge between regulatory design and industrial reality, ensuring the strategy is economically viable, attractive to investors, and aligned with EU industrial policy and innovation frameworks.
Project or context description
The project activities are based in Nicosia, Cyprus. The Industry and Innovation Expert is expected to be available for field missions, workshops, and stakeholder consultations as required.
The Industry and Innovation Expert serves as the strategic advisor on industrial development, business environment reform, and innovation ecosystems, working in close coordination with the Defence Law Expert and Key Expert to ensure that the National Defence Industry Strategy is grounded in economic reality, industrial best practices, and innovation dynamics. The role encompasses:
Strategic and operational industrial diagnosis: analysing current defence-related industrial capabilities, value chains, business environment constraints, and innovation potential;
Industrial policy design: proposing governance models, institutional arrangements, and policy instruments to stimulate investment, innovation, and competitiveness in the defence sector;
Bridging regulation and industry: translating regulatory frameworks into practical incentives and support mechanisms that industry can actually use; identifying where regulatory requirements need modification to be compatible with business dynamics;
EU alignment: ensuring that proposed industrial and innovation policies align with EU strategic autonomy objectives, state-aid rules, competition policy, and innovation frameworks.
The expert works under the overall direction of the Project Manager (Expertise France) and the Key Expert; maintains close coordination with the Defence Law Expert and Cyprus Law Expert to ensure coherence across legal, industrial, and innovation dimensions.
Required profile
· Senior-level experience in industrial policy design and implementation (minimum 12 years professional experience, with at least 8 years in government, multilateral development institutions, or strategy consulting focused on industrial development, business environment reform, or innovation policy);
· Demonstrated leadership in government sector on industrial affairs, manufacturing strategy, business regulation, or innovation policy; experience translating complex strategic visions into concrete, implementable industrial policies;
· Deep knowledge of EU industrial policy frameworks:
- European strategic autonomy and defence industrial cooperation initiatives;
- European Defence Fund (EDF) and related defence innovation funding mechanisms;
- Smart specialisation strategies and regional innovation policies;
- EU state-aid rules and their application to industrial support measures;
- Competitiveness and manufacturing policy frameworks.
· Expertise in designing support mechanisms for industrial development:
- Cluster development and industrial ecosystem governance;
- Government procurement policy and strategic purchasing;
- Public–private partnership (PPP) structures and risk allocation;
- Innovation support programmes (grants, tax credits, venture capital, incubators);
- Export promotion and access to international markets.
· Experience managing and coordinating with international development institutions:
- Proven engagement with World Bank, OECD, European Commission, and similar multilateral bodies on industrial reform projects;
- Understanding of how to implement donor-funded technical assistance on industrial policy;
- Track record of translating international best practices into national context.
· Capacity to conduct evidence-based industrial diagnostics:
- Skill in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis;
- Experience designing and implementing surveys and interviews with industry stakeholders;
- Ability to synthesise findings into clear policy recommendations and strategic priorities.
· Expertise in multi-stakeholder engagement and change management:
- Proven ability to facilitate dialogue among government, industry, research institutions, and civil society;
- Experience managing stakeholder consultations and building consensus around reform;
- Capacity to communicate complex industrial policy concepts to diverse audiences.
· Understanding of Cyprus's economic and industrial context is desirable; broader experience with Mediterranean economies or post-conflict economic development contexts is valued.
· Excellent written and verbal communication in English with capacity to work with interpreters if needed for Greek stakeholder engagement.
Additional information
The contract will run for the entire duration of the project. The estimated workload between the starting of the contract and the end of the project is 100 days (exact number of days to be discussed with the selected expert).
Selection criteria for applications
The selection process for candidates will be based on the following criteria :
- Candidate’s training/skills/experience
Deadline for application : 2026/03/29 16:19
Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :
- democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
- peace, stability, and security ;
- climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
- health and human development ;
In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results.