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Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou Elevates Bi-Communal Business Awards to €500,000

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Empowering Cross-Community Entrepreneurship

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou is set to once again champion bi-communal economic collaboration in Cyprus, announcing the 16th edition of the Stelios Bi-Communal Awards for Business Co-operation with an increased total prize fund of €500,000. This prestigious accolade reaffirms Sir Stelios’ enduring commitment to fostering harmonious business relations between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot entrepreneurs.

Enhanced Financial Incentives for Sustainable Growth

In a strategic move to further strengthen cross-community partnerships, the award structure has been augmented for the second consecutive year. Eighteen entrepreneurs, organized into nine bi-communal teams, will compete for substantial financial backing designed to stimulate reinvestment, growth, and stability in their business ventures.

Structured Award Categories and Prize Distribution

The awards program delineates three categories of recognition. The Gold category allocates a total of €150,000, awarding €75,000 to each entrepreneur in a winning team. Two teams will share the Silver prize, receiving a cumulative €200,000, each member earning €100,000. Meanwhile, six teams competing for the Bronze award will see a combined allocation of €150,000, translating to €25,000 per team or €12,500 per entrepreneur.

A Clear Path to Application

Applications open on January 8, 2026, and will remain accessible until April 30, 2026. Interested candidates are invited to download the application form and submit the completed document via email to Marios Missirlis at the provided contact address. Eligibility extends to Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot business owners with an annual turnover of at least €10,000 and a functioning business staff beyond the owner. Moreover, applicants must provide documentation substantiating joint business endeavors in both communities. Notably, past winners and previous applicants are encouraged to reapply.

A Celebration of Shared Vision and Prosperity

The winners will be announced by Sir Stelios on June 4, 2026, at the Head Offices of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation in Nicosia. Sir Stelios emphasizes that these awards transcend mere financial incentives, embodying the transformative power of entrepreneurship to bridge historical divides and cultivate a forward-looking economic landscape in Cyprus.

A Legacy of Peace and Progress

Now marking 16 years of bi-communal cooperation, the Stelios Awards have grown to an impressive cumulative value of €5.3 million. They are a cornerstone in a suite of initiatives by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation—an organization dedicated to supporting charitable causes and innovative ventures across Cyprus, Greece, the UK, Ireland, Monaco, and France. Alongside the Business Co-operation Awards, the Foundation also extends its support to young entrepreneurs and addresses critical social needs through programs such as the “Food from the Heart” initiative.

Conclusion

In backing these cross-community efforts, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou not only invests in business excellence but also promotes dialogue, shared responsibility, and peace. The enhanced prize fund serves not merely as a financial boost but as a powerful endorsement of the role that united, innovative efforts play in shaping a prosperous and cohesive Cyprus.

U2V Launches Europe-Wide Push To Fund University Spin-Off Deeptech

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

U2V (University2Ventures) has announced a first close of its inaugural venture fund, Fund I, which is targeting €60m to invest in pre-seed and seed deeptech university spin-offs across Europe. The fund focuses on startups emerging from academic research that are developing technologies with industrial and commercial applications.

Benefits

Startups backed by U2V receive early-stage venture capital and access to an industrial network that the fund says includes more than 500 corporate partners. The fund’s model is built around supporting early technical validation, pilot projects and go-to-market development, particularly for technologies requiring close collaboration with industry.

U2V also works closely with European universities and technology transfer offices, highlighting their relationships with institutions such as TU Munich, ETH Zurich, RWTH Aachen, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, DTU Denmark, Politecnico di Milano, and École Polytechnique.

Who can apply

The fund targets:

  • University spin-offs and startups commercialising academic research
  • Companies at the pre-seed or seed stage
  • Founders working in AI and novel computing, industrial technologies, and cleantech
  • Startups based in Europe, as defined by the fund’s stated geographic scope

How to apply

Founders are encouraged to approach the fund directly through its official channels by sharing a pitch deck and outlining the academic origin of the technology, its commercial potential, and industrial use case.

About the fund

U2V (University2Ventures) was founded by Philipp Semmer, Michael Schmitt, and Johannes Triebs. Fund I is targeting €60m in total; the amount raised at first close has not been disclosed publicly, although the firm has described it as being in the “strong double-digit millions”.

Jungheinrich, through its venture arm Uplift Ventures, is an anchor investor in the fund, alongside family offices, founders and industry executives.

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