eunite:SME
As part of the European Union (EU) funded eunite Programme, the eunite:SME project is a dedicated €4 million, two year initiative focused on empowering Turkish Cypriot small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and advancing economic convergence and bi-communal collaboration in Cyprus.
Our mission is to boost the competitiveness of Turkish Cypriot SMEs, fuel innovation, and strengthen trade across the Green Line. By providing grants, technical assistance, and capacity- building programmes, we aim to facilitate Green Line trade, integrate Turkish Cypriot businesses into the island-wide economy, and create a thriving business ecosystem that benefits the Turkish Cypriot community and the island of Cyprus. Our focus is on digitalization, sustainability, and compliance with EU standards.
This new programme builds on years of EU investment and successful initiatives, advancing economic convergence and bi-communal collaboration in Cyprus. Our mission is to achieve this by:
What we do
We are building a more vibrant and resilient business ecosystem in the Turkish Cypriot community (TCc),
aiming to increase trade across the Green Line and integrate TCc SMEs into the EU single market.
Our targeted initiatives provide businesses with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need
to thrive, enhance their competitiveness, and foster innovation within the entrepreneurial
ecosystem. Through close collaboration with local partners and stakeholders, we are also
strengthening value chains to increase the volume and expand the scope of Green Line trade.
eunite:SME delivers a comprehensive range of actions to this end:
Grant Schemes
Offering financial support to SMEs to improve quality and value, embrace innovative and sustainable practices, and enhance their digital and green transition capabilities.
Technical Assistance
Providing guidance and support to SMEs, helping them develop effective business strategies and improve their capacity.
Innovation Training and Roadmaps
Working with SMEs to design and implement tailored innovation roadmaps, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and competitiveness.
Startup and SME Support
Offering mentorship, training, and networking opportunities to early- stage entrepreneurs and startups, empowering them to turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses.
Strengthening value chains
Partnering with local actors and stakeholders to identify, develop, and strengthen value chains with high potential for Green Line trade.
Supporting local ecosystem actors
Providing capacity-building resources to entrepreneurship ecosystem actors to promote innovative and high value-added businesses with a priority focus on sustainability and digitalization.
How we do it
Grant Scheme
eunite:SME is dedicated to enhancing the growth and competitiveness of Turkish Cypriot SMEs through targeted grant programs. Eunite offers grants are designed to equip businesses with the necessary resources and expertise to navigate Green Line trade and expand into the EU single market. Recognizing the challenges of meeting EU standards, our scheme offers tailored support in areas such as machinery investment, certification, marketing, and digitalization. We also engage with key stakeholders, including EU representatives and local business associations, to ensure our grants address the most pressing challenges faced by Turkish Cypriot SMEs. Direct Support to SMEs to Boost Green Line trade Grant Scheme is accepting applications until 26th of August 2024.
EU Business Hive
Located in the heart of Old Town Nicosia, the EU Business Hive is a dynamic ecosystem designed to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable business development across Cyprus. It serves as a hub for entrepreneurs and innovators, turning their ideas into successful businesses. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the EU Business Hive promotes a collaborative and inclusive environment where businesses of all sizes can flourish. Through targeted initiatives, including bi-communal programs, the EU Business Hive encourages joint ventures, inclusive business development, and strengthens the local start-up ecosystem. Activities include mentoring, training, an innovation training program for SMEs, an accelerator program, innovation roadmaps, and bi-communal cooperation, all aimed at maximizing the impact of eunite:SME support and creating a robust entrepreneurial landscape driving innovation and economic growth.
Startups4Peace
Startups4Peace (Su4P) is a competition and acceleration programme co-
funded by the Embassy of Finland and the EU Aid Programme for the TCc
within the scope of the eunite programme, implemented by GIZ International
Services. The programme is delivered in partnership with CyprusInno, Cyprus
Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Turkish Cypriot Chamber of
Commerce. We aim to encourage innovative startup entrepreneurship with
intercommunal vision in Cyprus, to bring together and increase contacts
between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and support
entrepreneurs in developing their businesses.
Applications for the 2024 Startups4Peace Programme are now closed!
Thank you to all who applied. Stay tuned for updates on our exciting program!
Strengthening Value Chains for GLT
Recognizing the importance of robust value chains for economic growth and increased Green Line trade, eunite:SME supports SMEs and local actors in strengthening these chains by either creating new ones or integrating into existing ones. A value chain includes all processes from raw material to final consumer, encompassing production, marketing, delivery, and customer service. By analyzing these activities and linkages, we identify sectors with high potential for economic development, pinpointing opportunities for investment, innovation, and skill development. Strengthening value chains fosters a more efficient, integrated economy, benefiting businesses and consumers on both sides of the Green Line, leading to increased trade, economic growth, and sustainable development across Cyprus.
Grant Scheme
eunite:SME is dedicated to enhancing the growth and competitiveness of Turkish Cypriot SMEs through targeted grant programs. Eunite offers grants are designed to equip businesses with the necessary resources and expertise to navigate Green Line trade and expand into the EU single market. Recognizing the challenges of meeting EU standards, our scheme offers tailored support in areas such as machinery investment, certification, marketing, and digitalization. We also engage with key stakeholders, including EU representatives and local business associations, to ensure our grants address the most pressing challenges faced by Turkish Cypriot SMEs. Direct Support to SMEs to Boost Green Line trade Grant Scheme is accepting applications until 26th of August 2024.
EU Business Hive
Located in the heart of Old Town Nicosia, the EU Business Hive is a dynamic ecosystem designed to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable business development across Cyprus. It serves as a hub for entrepreneurs and innovators, turning their ideas into successful businesses. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the EU Business Hive promotes a collaborative and inclusive environment where businesses of all sizes can flourish. Through targeted initiatives, including bi-communal programs, the EU Business Hive encourages joint ventures, inclusive business development, and strengthens the local start-up ecosystem. Activities include mentoring, training, an innovation training program for SMEs, an accelerator program, innovation roadmaps, and bi-communal cooperation, all aimed at maximizing the impact of eunite:SME support and creating a robust entrepreneurial landscape driving innovation and economic growth.
Startups4Peace
Startups4Peace (Su4P) is a competition and acceleration programme co-
funded by the Embassy of Finland and the EU Aid Programme for the TCc
within the scope of the eunite programme, implemented by GIZ International
Services. The programme is delivered in partnership with CyprusInno, Cyprus
Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Turkish Cypriot Chamber of
Commerce. We aim to encourage innovative startup entrepreneurship with
intercommunal vision in Cyprus, to bring together and increase contacts
between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and support
entrepreneurs in developing their businesses.
Applications for the 2024 Startups4Peace Programme are now closed!
Thank you to all who applied. Stay tuned for updates on our exciting program!
Strengthening Value Chains for GLT
Recognizing the importance of robust value chains for economic growth and increased Green Line trade, eunite:SME supports SMEs and local actors in strengthening these chains by either creating new ones or integrating into existing ones. A value chain includes all processes from raw material to final consumer, encompassing production, marketing, delivery, and customer service. By analyzing these activities and linkages, we identify sectors with high potential for economic development, pinpointing opportunities for investment, innovation, and skill development. Strengthening value chains fosters a more efficient, integrated economy, benefiting businesses and consumers on both sides of the Green Line, leading to increased trade, economic growth, and sustainable development across Cyprus.
Our background
eunite:SME is the latest chapter in the European Union's ongoing commitment to fostering
economic development and cross-community collaboration in Cyprus, with European Union allocating close to €700 million
to the Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, since 2006.
One key milestone in this journey was the EU Innovative Entrepreneurship (IE) Project, a €16
million investment from 2018 to 2024. This project supported 97 SMEs with grants for equipment,
services and technical assistance to create more than 200 new jobs and safeguard more than
2,400 jobs. Business mentoring and training was also provided to over 1,000 entrepreneurs to
assist in developing business ideas. More than 40 High value Startups were identified and
mentored through the recently established EU Incubator Hive alongside the Startups4Peace
Programme, co-funded by the Embassy of Finland.
Building on the success of IE project and the lessons learned from previous initiatives, eunite:SME
is uniquely designed to address the specific needs and challenges faced by Turkish Cypriot SMEs.