Cyprus Seeds, a non-profit organization in Cyprus supporting the commercialization of innovative scientific research from Cypriot academic institutions, is the national Winner of the 2022 European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA 2022), in the Category 2 - Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills, and will compete with other similar initiatives in Europe.

About the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA)

The European Enterprise Promotion Awards reward those who promote entrepreneurship and small businesses at the national, regional, and local levels. Initiatives from all EU countries, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine, Iceland, and the United Kingdom, can take part in the competition. Since 2006, over 4,000 projects have entered the competition.

There are 6 Award categories: 

1 - Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit.
2 - Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills.
3 - Improving the Business Environment and supporting the Digital Transition.
4 - Supporting the Internationalization of Businesses.
5 - Supporting the Sustainable Transition.
6 - Responsible and Inclusive Entrepreneurship

A total of 48 projects, from this year’s 176 participating projects, in all six categories, have been selected to advance to the European stage of the competition. The initiatives in Category 2 are recognized for improving, in particular, entrepreneurial and managerial skills. This year, the national winners in category 2- Investing in the Entrepreneurial Skills, come from seven countries, including Cyprus. The Grand Prize Winner will be selected by a European jury and will be announced during the SME Assembly.

Cyprus Seeds will join the EEPA national winners at the Awards Ceremony of the annual European SME Assembly, to take place in Prague, in November. The prize goes to the entry considered the most creative and inspiring entrepreneurship initiative in Europe. This year the Event will be co-hosted by the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission.

About Cyprus Seeds

Cyprus Seeds is a private, non-profit organization established in Cyprus in 2018, with the mission to support the commercialization of innovative academic research in Cyprus. To achieve its objectives, Cyprus Seeds offers an annual 12M program to a small number of scientific teams whose projects give breakthrough solutions to world problems in any area, including health, environment, and art. In addition to grants, Cyprus Seeds offers mentoring, business skills training, and networking with investors. Cyprus Seeds is funded through donations from the Cyprus Government, The Hellenic Initiative, The A.G. Leventis Foundation, The Mohari Hospitality Ltd – Philanthropy Foundation, corporations in Cyprus including Eurobank and EY, and individuals in Cyprus and abroad. Among the great achievements of Cyprus Seeds are the conclusion of two licensing agreements at the end of its first cycle, the creation of one start-up company resulting from one of its medical device projects which was supported in the second cycle of the Program, and the spinning out of a startup from the University of Cyprus, supported by Cyprus Seeds during both cycles.