Open Calls

EIT RawMaterials Offers Up To €1M For Raw Materials Innovation Projects

EIT RawMaterials has opened its Call for RIS Innovation Projects, offering up to €1 million per project to support innovation across Europe’s raw materials value chain.

The call is aimed at projects developing new technologies, products, services or business models in areas including sustainable mining, processing, exploration, circularity, recycling and material substitution. Projects are expected to run for one to two years.

Funding And Support

Selected projects can receive funding covering up to 70% of eligible project costs, with the required co-funding depending on the project type and Technology Readiness Level.

Innovation projects can receive between €800,000 and €1 million. Selected applicants will also have access to proposal guidance, matchmaking support and EIT RawMaterials’ European network for raw materials innovation.

Who Can Apply

The call is open to startups, SMEs, large companies, universities, research centres, NGOs, government agencies and public institutions in RIS-eligible countries, including Cyprus.

Applications must be submitted by consortia meeting the call’s eligibility requirements. Each consortium must include at least two organisations from different RIS-eligible countries and represent at least two sides of the knowledge triangle: education, research and business.

The lead partner must be based in a RIS-eligible country. Organisations that are not yet partners can contact their regional innovation and knowledge centre for support.

The EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) supports countries and regions with lower innovation performance by providing funding, expertise and networks to strengthen local innovation ecosystems, develop skills and bring new products, services and business models to market.

How To Apply

Applicants should download the call documents, including project templates and evaluation criteria, and prepare a proposal outlining the project’s objectives, expected impact and work plan.

Applications must be submitted through SeedBook. The deadline is Friday, October 16, 2026, at 13:00 CET.

About EIT RawMaterials

EIT RawMaterials supports Europe’s transition towards a green, circular and digital economy by promoting innovation, education and strategic cooperation across the raw materials sector.

Its work focuses on securing raw materials supply, closing material loops and developing new materials solutions.

Junior Achievement Cyprus Launches 2026–2027 Company Programme For Student Entrepreneurs

Overview

Junior Achievement Cyprus has launched its Company Programme for the 2026–2027 academic year, giving students the opportunity to design, launch and run their own real-world companies from the ground up.

The programme challenges student teams to develop a business idea, build a working company structure, manage a budget and bring a real product or service to market within a single academic year. Participants take on roles such as Managing Director, Finance Director and Marketing Director, gaining hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, teamwork and financial literacy.

Benefits

Throughout the year, participants will receive mentorship from local business professionals, who will guide them through the competition. The programme is designed to build essential skills in leadership, financial management and innovation, while giving students a taste of running a business.

Last year’s programme brought together 91 student companies from 51 schools across Cyprus. Cyprus’s national winning team, HerShield, went on to place third in the JA Europe Company of the Year competition. Junior Achievement Cyprus says this year’s aim is to extend the opportunity to even more schools and young people.

Who Can Participate

The programme is aimed at students who will work in teams to create and operate their own companies during the academic year. An introductory online session for secondary teachers will take place on 29 September.

Partners

The Company Programme is supported by PwC Cyprus and the Youth Board of Cyprus as strategic partners. Its partners are XM and Coffee Island, while supporters include the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Amdocs, Coca-Cola HBC Cyprus and the Research and Innovation Foundation. The institutional partner is the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth.

How To Register

Registrations are available through the Junior Achievement Cyprus website. For more information, interested participants can contact Programme Coordinator Marios Kakouris at marios.kakouris@jacyprus.org or info@jacyprus.org, or call 99 203701.

About Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement is one of the world’s largest organisations dedicated to preparing young people for employment and entrepreneurship. Through experiential programmes in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, work readiness and active citizenship, JA helps young people build the skills and confidence to shape their futures. Operating in more than 100 countries, JA connects education with the world of work through collaboration with schools, educators, volunteers and businesses.

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