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Green Business Innovation Challenge: Empowering Sustainable Enterprise

Overview

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) has extended an exclusive invitation to local enterprises for an upcoming workshop designed to accelerate sustainable practices and enhance competitive edge. Under the auspices of the European SUSTAINET project and the Erasmus+ initiative, this event marks a significant step toward bolstering the green transition in the region.

Fostering Innovation and Corporate Responsibility

Entitled the Green Business Innovation Challenge, the workshop will bring together small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with industry experts, mentors, and key stakeholders within the sustainability ecosystem. Participants will explore cutting-edge trends in sustainable business and learn how to leverage Corporate Social Responsibility as a strategic tool for market differentiation.

Interactive Collaboration and Expert Guidance

Slated for Friday, March 27, 2026, from 09:00 to 15:30 at the Elias Beach Hotel in Limassol, the event will proceed in a face-to-face format with sessions conducted in Greek. Delegates will engage in interactive sessions and co-creation workshops to devise pragmatic solutions to real-world business challenges, while also tapping into expert guidance and networking opportunities with institutional bodies and other industry leaders.

Unlocking Funding Opportunities and Sustainable Practices

The program is set to illuminate how sustainable practices can enhance overall business competitiveness, complemented by detailed insights into modern green business methods and potential funding opportunities for companies transitioning to eco-friendly operations. The initiative is further supported by the pilot development of Green Business Innovation Centres in Cyprus, Greece, and Bulgaria, which serve as robust infrastructural hubs to foster sustainable entrepreneurship.

Registration and Further Details

Although the workshop is free, registration is mandatory and must be completed by March 25, 2026. More comprehensive information about the SUSTAINET project and its strategic objectives is available on the official project website.

Cyprus Expected Working Life Reaches 39.5 Years, Above EU Average

People in Cyprus are expected to spend 39.5 years in the workforce, around two years longer than the European Union average of 37.5 years, according to the latest Eurostat data for 2025.

The figure places Cyprus among the EU countries with the longest expected working lives.

Cyprus Ranks Above EU Average

Only a handful of member states recorded higher figures than Cyprus. The Netherlands topped the ranking at 44 years, followed by Sweden at 43.4 years, Denmark at 42.6 years, and Estonia at 41.5 years.

At the other end of the ranking were Romania with 32.7 years, Italy with 33.0 years, Bulgaria with 34.6 years and Greece with 35.3 years.

Gender Gap Remains Wider Than EU Average

Men in Cyprus are expected to remain in work for 42.1 years, compared with 36.7 years for women. The gap of 5.4 years exceeds the EU average gender gap of 4.1 years.

Across the bloc, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were the only countries where women were expected to spend longer in employment than men. Finland recorded the smallest positive gender gap at 0.7 years.

Italy posted the widest gap at 8.9 years, followed by Romania at 6.9 years, Greece at 6.7 years and Malta at 6.3 years.

Working Lives Continue To Lengthen

Between 2016 and 2025, expected working life in Cyprus increased by 3.5 years, placing the country among the strongest performers in the EU over the period. Men’s expected working life rose by 3.3 years, while women’s increased by 3.6 years.

Across the EU, every member state recorded an increase. Malta posted the largest gain at 4.9 years, followed by Hungary and Ireland at 4.2 years each, and the Netherlands at 4.1 years.

Malta’s increase was driven largely by women, whose expected working life rose by 7.8 years, the biggest increase recorded across the bloc.

By comparison, Romania, Spain, Italy, Germany and Austria recorded gains of two years or less over the same period.

Women’s Working Lives Increase Faster Across Europe

Women’s expected working life increased faster than men’s in most EU countries. Denmark, Romania, Sweden and Greece were the main exceptions.

In Cyprus, gains for men and women were broadly similar, alongside Bulgaria, Belgium and Slovenia.

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