The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, has launched its newest joint hub in Cyprus. By connecting regional actors, innovators, and partners to Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem, the new EIT Community RIS Hub will strengthen cooperation among leading business, education and research organisations, and serve as a one-stop shop for local talents and entrepreneurs to benefit from the EIT Community’s opportunities in the field of education, business creation and innovation.

The EIT Community continues to support innovation by opening its first joint EIT Community RIS Hub (EIT CRH) in Cyprus. The new hub is part of the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (EIT RIS) programme designed to tackle Europe’s persistent geographic innovation divide. The aim of the hub is to strengthen cooperation among leading business, education and research organisations while increasing the region’s competitiveness and contributing to sustainable economic growth.

The EIT CRH Cyprus will represent all the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) and will act as a bridge for Cypriot innovators, linking them with information on the wide range of services and funding opportunities provided by the EIT Community in all RIS-eligible countries and regions. Additionally, it will spearhead the EIT Community’s engagement with local authorities, including providing policy support and expertise as required. The launch of Cyprus’ hub aims to provide the EIT Community with a strengthened on-the-ground presence across Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. Similar entities have opened in Latvia, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Ukraine.

Situated in the heart of the old city of Nicosia, the EIT Community RIS Hub Offices will stand as a beacon for innovation and entrepreneurship. Collaborating closely with the Nicosia Municipality and CYENS Centre of Excellence, the EIT Community RIS HUB will have an active role in establishing the Innovation and Entrepreneurship quarters. These quarters, with the CYENS Centre of Excellence and the EIT Community RIS HUB leading the charge, will host startups, research organizations, and investors in the newly renovated old municipal market and surrounding buildings, fostering a vibrant ecosystem ripe for collaboration and the exchange of ideas.

Leading the hub is Dr Styliani Petroudi, who will be stationed at the newly renovated CYENS Centre of Excellence premises, situated in the historical urban center of Nicosia within the old municipal market building. Dr Petroudi brings extensive experience and a track record of fostering innovation and research across diverse sectors. Through her efforts, she has applied for, coordinated, and executed projects, significantly contributing to the evolution of Cyprus's innovation ecosystem through various EU, national, and international funding programmes.

In her capacity as the EIT Community Officer, Dr. Petroudi will promote EIT initiatives within Cyprus, serving as a link between the EIT KICs and national innovation communities. She will organise activities to engage local stakeholders and facilitate partnerships aligning Cyprus's innovation agenda with the strategic objectives of the EIT. If you’re interested in delving deeper into the EIT's offerings and discovering how it can support you on your innovation or entrepreneurial journey, please reach out to the EIT Community RIS HUB Cyprus: [email protected] or follow the LinkedIn page: EIT Community RIS Hub Cyprus.

The EIT is the largest innovation network in Europe, operating since 2008. It is an independent body of the European Union and an integral part of Horizon Europe - the EU framework program for research and innovation.

The EIT Community offers a wide range of innovation and entrepreneurship activities across Europe, including entrepreneurship training courses, startup services, business acceleration programs, and research projects.

The EIT Community is a collaborative network comprising the European Institute of Innovation and Technology's (EIT) long-term partnerships, known as Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).

These KICs are dedicated to driving systemic change in Europe and beyond, focusing on key areas such as climate change, energy, health, food, manufacturing, raw materials, digitalisation, urban mobility, and culture and creativity. By harnessing the collective expertise of the KICs, the EIT Community initiatives power innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity in Europe. We believe that together we can foster a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable European economy for generations to come.

The EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (EIT RIS) was launched in 2014 to enhance innovation performance in countries with ‘emerging’ or ‘modest’ innovation scores according to the European Innovation Scoreboard. The RIS is managed by the EIT and implemented through the KICs.

Learn more: https://eit.europa.eu/our-activities/eit-regional-innovation-scheme

EIT Facts and Figures

● The EIT is Europe's largest innovation network with 2,400+ partnerships with leading business, research, and education organizations across Europe and over 50 innovation hubs.

● Bringing Innovation to Life: the EIT has empowered over 7,800 startups and scale-ups, creating 2,110+ new products and services that have attracted more than €7.3 billion in external capital.

More than 5,700 students have graduated from EIT master’s and doctoral programmes, and more than 10,000 have participated in EIT Community entrepreneurial training.