A qualifying startup or team must pursue an innovative product or service with international market penetration potential and satisfy PRE-SEED/0526's Cyprus entity, team and state-aid terms.

What burden and restrictions apply?

Awardees follow RIF agreement, milestone, financial and deliverable requirements; complete call terms control eligible costs. Funds support creation and initial development, including prototype, market, hiring, IP and investor-readiness activity subject to call eligibility.

Cyprus RIF PRE-SEED

Up to €119,999 per project from a €1 million call budget · Research and Innovation Foundation Cyprus · deadline 2026-09-11

Cyprus RIF PRE-SEED is a grant programme from Research and Innovation Foundation Cyprus for Innovative startups and research teams establishing and commercialising in the Republic of Cyprus Current lifecycle: open; next verified deadline 2026-09-11. Real economics: Up to €119,999 per project from a €1 million call budget.

Tier 3governmentcyprusgrantnon-dilutive

Apply Official site Open in the live directory

Key facts

Funder	Research and Innovation Foundation Cyprus
Amount	Up to €119,999 per project from a €1 million call budget
Deadline	2026-09-11
Decision time	The public announcement does not state a universal decision date.
Eligibility	A qualifying startup or team must pursue an innovative product or service with international market penetration potential and satisfy PRE-SEED/0526's Cyprus entity, team and state-aid terms.
Restrictions	Awardees follow RIF agreement, milestone, financial and deliverable requirements; complete call terms control eligible costs. Funds support creation and initial development, including prototype, market, hiring, IP and investor-readiness activity subject to call eligibility.
Status	open

Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.

Application process

Create an IRIS account
Read the PRE-SEED/0526 call document
Submit the online technical, team, market and budget proposal
Complete RIF eligibility and expert evaluation
Execute the grant agreement and startup milestones if selected

Background

Research and Innovation Foundation Cyprus operates Cyprus RIF PRE-SEED. This pass separates direct cash, repayable finance, credits, incentives and umbrella programs so later ranking does not compare unlike instruments. The 2026 call dedicates €1 million to globally oriented Cyprus startups The PRE-SEED route is explicitly positioned around international market penetration

How the application really works

Create an IRIS account → Read the PRE-SEED/0526 call document → Submit the online technical, team, market and budget proposal → Complete RIF eligibility and expert evaluation → Execute the grant agreement and startup milestones if selected

Tips

Show direct fit with innovative products and services with global market prospects.

Watch out for

Current lifecycle is open.
Awardees follow RIF agreement, milestone, financial and deliverable requirements; complete call terms control eligible costs.
Funds support creation and initial development, including prototype, market, hiring, IP and investor-readiness activity subject to call eligibility.

Track record

The 2026 call dedicates €1 million to globally oriented Cyprus startups
The PRE-SEED route is explicitly positioned around international market penetration

No applicant or expected award denominator is published.

Frequently asked questions

Is this actionable now?: open. Next verified deadline: 2026-09-11.
What is the real economic value?: Up to €119,999 per project from a €1 million call budget
Who is eligible?: A qualifying startup or team must pursue an innovative product or service with international market penetration potential and satisfy PRE-SEED/0526's Cyprus entity, team and state-aid terms.
How does selection work?: Create an IRIS account; Read the PRE-SEED/0526 call document; Submit the online technical, team, market and budget proposal; Complete RIF eligibility and expert evaluation; Execute the grant agreement and startup milestones if selected. The public announcement does not state a universal decision date.
What burden and restrictions apply?: Awardees follow RIF agreement, milestone, financial and deliverable requirements; complete call terms control eligible costs. Funds support creation and initial development, including prototype, market, hiring, IP and investor-readiness activity subject to call eligibility.
What evidence exists?: The 2026 call dedicates €1 million to globally oriented Cyprus startups The PRE-SEED route is explicitly positioned around international market penetration No applicant or expected award denominator is published.

Sources

www.fundingprogrammesportal.gov.cy/en/2026/05/new-call-for-proposals-for-the-creation-and-initial-development-of-startups-with-international-orientation-pre-seed-programme-pre-seed-0526 — Official 2026 opening, deadline, budget, ceiling, purpose and IRIS route (checked 2026-08-10)
www.research.org.cy/en/funding-programmes/pre-seed — Official program detail and contact (checked 2026-08-10)