Agriculture Ministry Extends Deadline For Strategic Investment Initiatives

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 26, 2026

Revised Timelines Strengthen Sector Support

The Agriculture Ministry, in coordination with the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation, has extended the submission deadline for applications to secure funding under the Major Investment Measure and Young Farmer Installation initiatives. This decision comes after extensive consultations with primary sector stakeholders, ensuring that the updated timeframe better accommodates the demands of a dynamic agricultural landscape.

Enhanced Funding Opportunities

The revised deadline now stands at March 31, 2026, replacing the initial cut-off date of January 30, 2026. The investment measures collectively offer a total budget of €67.5 million, exclusively accessible via the official payments organisation website. Applications must be submitted by accredited consultants approved by the Department of Agriculture, underscoring the initiative’s commitment to precision and expertise.

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Modernization and Sustainability at the Forefront

The Major Investment Measure is distinguished by ten comprehensive reforms aimed at modernizing both livestock and crop farms. This initiative emphasizes enhanced competitiveness, sustainability, and significant improvements in environmental protection and animal welfare, including investment in waste processing and management. Such strategic investments are essential for adapting to modern challenges and elevating the primary sector.

Encouraging the Next Generation of Agriculturists

The Young Farmer Installation intervention targets the urgent need to rejuvenate an ageing agricultural workforce. By fostering competitive holdings under the guidance of emerging agricultural leaders—those who either already possess or are in the process of acquiring the necessary expertise—the program builds a sustainable future for farming communities.

Simplified Procedures and Integrated Digital Access

Streamlined protocols, including a dedicated licensing guide for agricultural and livestock structures, have been introduced to facilitate smoother application processes. Special arrangements with the Ministry of Interior and other competent agencies have further expedited licensing and operational approvals. Candidates must also be registered in the Register of Farmers and Agricultural Holdings to qualify.

Further Information

Detailed application manuals and additional instructions are available on the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027 website. The Agriculture Ministry anticipates that this extension will encourage higher quality proposals and facilitate more effective absorption of available European and national funds.

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Women-Led Deep-Tech Startups Eligible For New €12 Million Women TechEU Fund

by News Editor

June 11, 2026

Overview

Women TechEU 2 EIC has opened the Eligibility Strand of its new call, the first step in a two-stage process for women-led early-stage deep-tech startups seeking support through the programme. The initiative will support 160 women entrepreneurs from the European Union and Horizon Europe associated countries, with each selected startup receiving a €75,000 non-dilutive grant and access to a personalised business development programme.

In total, Women TechEU will award €12 million in non-dilutive funding through an open call with 4 funding deadlines. For each funding deadline, 40% of the funding will be allocated to startups from widening regions, a category that includes Cyprus.

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Benefits

Startups selected after the full application process will receive:

€75,000 in non-dilutive funding
A six-month personalised business development programme
Access to business development services
One-to-one mentoring with an expert
Support to prepare for future funding opportunities, including the EIC Accelerator and Pre-Accelerator programmes

The six-month support programme will be co-designed by the selected entrepreneurs and the programme team, with individual development KPIs set for each startup.

Who Can Apply

The call targets women-led early-stage deep-tech startups established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country. Cyprus is listed both as an eligible EU country and as one of the widening EU Member States.

To qualify as women-led, at least one woman founder or co-founder must currently hold a top management position, such as CEO, CTO, CSO, or equivalent, and women must own at least 25% of the company’s shares at the time of submission. The woman founder or co-founder must actively participate in the programme if selected.

Criteria

Eligible startups must:

Be legally registered for at least six months and not more than five years at the relevant eligibility cut-off date
Qualify as an SME
Have raised less than €1 million in equity
Be developing a technology innovation between TRL 4 and TRL 6
Be working in deep tech, meaning innovation grounded in substantial scientific or engineering advances, not simply the use or adaptation of standard technologies

The guidelines list deep-tech fields including advanced connectivity, navigation, and digital technologies; advanced materials, manufacturing, and recycling technologies; advanced sensing technologies; AI technologies; biotechnologies; energy technologies; quantum technologies; robotics and autonomous systems; and space and propulsion technologies.

For AI-based startups, the programme makes clear that applicants must have passed the earliest development stages. Companies still at concept development, dataset collection, or algorithm development stage are considered too early; eligible AI startups should be at more advanced stages, such as AI model development, training, testing, or refinement.

Applicants must also ensure that the same proposal, or any part of it, has not previously benefited from earlier Women TechEU initiatives or the EIC Accelerator, to avoid double funding. Women TechEU 2 EIC consortium partners, their affiliated entities, employees, and subcontractors are not eligible to apply.

How To Apply

Applications are submitted through the Sploro online platform, accessible via the Women TechEU website. The current stage is the Eligibility Strand: applicants must first verify their eligibility and, if validated, will be invited to submit a Full Proposal.

Key dates:

Eligibility Strand opens: 1 June 2026
First cut-off: 30 June 2026, 17:00 CEST
Weekly cut-offs: every Tuesday at 17:00 CE(S)T / Brussels time
Final cut-off: 13 July 2027, 17:00 CEST

Applications must be submitted in English. Only submissions made directly through the official online platform will be considered. Eligibility results will be sent through the Sploro Platform no later than one week after the relevant cut-off.

Applicants are advised to review the guidelines and open call documents carefully and, where possible, attend one of the programme’s online InfoDays. The guidelines also recommend submitting at least two days before the relevant cut-off to avoid last-minute technical issues.

About The Programme

Women TechEU 2 EIC is an EU-funded initiative designed to support women founders leading early-stage deep-tech startups across Europe. The programme combines non-dilutive funding, mentoring, business development support and access to wider innovation networks, with a particular focus on improving access for startups from less-connected and widening innovation ecosystems.

Open Calls