Open Calls

RIF Launches €4.6 Million Call For Post-doctoral Researchers In Cyprus

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 13, 2025

The Research & Innovation Foundation (RIF) has announced a new €4.6 million funding call under the “Post-Doc” programme to support post-doctoral researchers leading ambitious projects across Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Social & Human Sciences. The programme aims to strengthen Cyprus’s research capacity, create high-skill jobs, and retain top talent.

Who should apply

The call is open to:

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Post-doctoral researchers who will coordinate the project. The coordinator must hold a PhD awarded within the last 7 years(extensions allowed for maternity/paternity, military service, or certified long-term sick leave).
Each Post-Doc can participate only in one (1) proposal, and each proposal can include
only one (1) Post-Doc. The Post-Doc must be named in the proposal and will be the Coordinator of the Proposal, and will be committed to working on the proposal for its whole duration. If the Post-Doc leaves the project, the project and its funding will be terminated.
Post-doc researchers must be employed by a Cyprus-based Host Organisation (Research Organisation, Enterprise, or Other Organisation) for the full duration of the project.
Host Organisations may be Research Organisations (A1/A2), Enterprises (B1/B2/B3), or Other Organisations (C1/C2) established in Cyprus. Large Enterprises (incl. private universities) may participate only if an SME also participates in the Cypriot consortium.

Benefits

Projects must fall into one of the following three scientific fields: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Social Sciences and Humanities.

Grant per project (cap):

€150,000 for projects in Life Sciences and Physical Sciences & Engineering
€120,000 for projects in Social Sciences & Humanities
Project duration: 24 months

Total call budget: €4.6 million, allocated by scientific area:

€1.65m – Life Sciences
€1.65m – Physical Sciences & Engineering
€1.30m – Social Sciences & Humanities

Funding inside each scientific area is further split by host-type category, to ensure balanced participation:

Category A: Research Organisations & Other Organisations
Category B: Enterprises

Fair-selection note (applies at the funding stage): In each scientific area, the first two eligible proposals coordinated by a woman are selected first (where applicable), then the remaining proposals are funded in ranked order until the budget is used. This can improve the chances of funding for top-scoring proposals with female coordinators.

How to apply

Register on IRIS
The project coordinator (post-doctoral researcher) and all Cyprus-based participating organisations must be registered in advance on the IRIS Portal. Review the Guide for Applicants and IRIS Portal User Manual in the IRIS document library before you start.
Select the correct call
Choose POST-DOC/0925 (Category A: RO & Other; Category B: Enterprises) and confirm your scientific field (Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, or Social Sciences & Humanities) matches the Work Programme codes.
Prepare your proposal package (use the official templates)
Part A – General Information & Budget: Complete the online form in IRIS.
Part B – Technical Annex (PDF): upload exactly the Part B template provided under the call documents—no modifications.
Annex I – CV: Coordinator’s CV (PDF) — mandatory.
Annex III – Call-specific information (PDFs):
a) Single-submission declaration (“this project has been submitted only once to either EXCELLENCE/0925 or POST-DOC/0925”) — mandatory.
b) PhD certificate of the coordinator — mandatory.
c) If applicable, proofs for allowable extensions to the 7-year PhD window (e.g., maternity/paternity, military service, certified long-term sick leave).
Check key eligibility points (save time at preliminary check)
The post-doctoral coordinator must have earned the PhD within 7 years before the call announcement (formal extensions accepted as above); must be employed by the Host Organisation in Cyprus for the full 24 months; and must allocate ≥70% of project months (timesheets). Only one coordinator per proposal, and each coordinator may appear in only one proposal in this call.
Submit before the deadline
Finalise and submit in IRIS by Friday, 28 November 2025, 13:00 (Cyprus local time).
Late submissions won’t be accepted.
Know what evaluators look for
Proposals undergo a preliminary check and remote peer review by two independent evaluators.
Compatibility (programme objectives, Do No Significant Harm, and allowable TRLs 1–8) is verified before scoring.
Evaluation criteria: Excellence (40%), Added Value & Benefit (20%), Implementation (40%).

Support & queries: support@research.org.cy| +357 22205000.
IRIS document library and call documents are available via the portal.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cypriot SMEs And Startups To Engage With Global Innovators At MWC Open Innovation Challenge 2026

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 30, 2026

Invitation For Strategic Collaboration

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Cyprus, in partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce, has extended a distinguished invitation to small and medium‐sized enterprises and startups to participate in the MWC Open Innovation Challenge 2026. This significant initiative, organized by ACCIÓ, a key department within the Catalan Government’s Ministry of Enterprise and Labour, is set to attract industry leaders and emerging innovators alike.

Global Forum For Innovation

The event is designed to convene corporates, investors, and technology providers in a dynamic setting to co-create solutions addressing real-world technological challenges. Participants will have the opportunity to connect during the MWC and 4YFN Barcelona congress, where breakthrough ideas and collaboration strategies will be spotlighted.

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Flexible Participation Formats

Attendees can choose from physical, online, or hybrid formats tailored to their schedules and business objectives. The in-person B2B engagements are scheduled to occur from March 2, 2026, to March 5, 2026, at the 4YFN Congress in Barcelona, specifically at the ACCIÓ Stand in Hall 8. These sessions, structured as focused 30-minute meetings, are exclusively reserved for corporate representatives presenting challenges and technology providers offering strategic solutions.

Digital Engagement For Global Reach

For those unable to travel, online B2B meetings will be facilitated via the b2match platform from March 9, 2026, to March 13, 2026. This digital format ensures that participants, including Cypriot startups, can seamlessly connect with large international companies and public entities eager to explore innovative technologies.

Streamlined Registration And Matchmaking

The challenge is open to technology and solution providers free of charge. Interested businesses must register on the platform by completing a comprehensive company profile. This profile should include a succinct pitch, a professional biography, and a detailed outline of the firm’s technological capabilities. Registration is limited to one participant per company, although additional representatives are welcome to attend the B2B meetings. Once validated, participants can begin scheduling meetings based on corporates’ published challenges, with final acceptance determined by the respective corporates.

Business-Driven Agenda

Participants will receive a personalized meeting agenda through the digital platform, ‘My Schedule’, which will detail all confirmed meeting times and sessions. This structured approach ensures that every interaction is geared toward harnessing commercial potential and driving actionable collaborations.

The MWC Open Innovation Challenge 2026 represents a landmark opportunity for Cypriot enterprises to forge key international partnerships and propel forward-thinking technological solutions. For further details and to register as a technology or solution provider, please visit the official registration page.