a 3-day hackathon bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders from both sides of Cyprus to address pressing urban challenges.
Description
The 3 day EIT Community NEB Ignite Hackathon was implemented by CyprusInno, powered by SocialTech Lab, in collaboration with Kimitisik and the EIT Community NEB. The programme brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, creatives, and community leaders from across Cyprus to collaboratively address urban and social challenges through the lens of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) values: sustainability, inclusivity, and aesthetics.
The programme unfolded in two connected phases. Ignite NEB launched as a three-day, in-person hackathon hosted at The Base by CyprusInno. Participants worked in interdisciplinary, bi-communal teams to tackle real challenges proposed by local stakeholders, with a focus on sustainable urban development and inclusive public spaces. Through structured ideation, expert mentoring, and pitching sessions, teams translated community needs into concrete, impact-oriented solution concepts.
Following the hackathon, the two winning teams advanced to Grow NEB, a six-month incubation phase led by SocialTech Lab. This phase provided tailored mentorship, strategic guidance, and financial support, enabling teams to further develop, test, and validate their solutions. Grow NEB supported the transition from early-stage ideas to scalable, implementation-ready ventures with the potential to generate long-term social, environmental, and urban impact in Cyprus.
Structure of the Programme
Ignite NEB – Hackathon Phase
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3-day, in-person bi-communal hackathon in Nicosia
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Pre-hackathon online webinars on NEB values, team-building, ideation, and pitching
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Challenge-led innovation focused on Sustainable Urban Development and Inclusive Public Spaces
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Challenges co-designed with local stakeholders, CSOs, and urban experts
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Team formation, rapid ideation, prototyping, and pitch development
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Mentorship from practitioners, designers, technologists, and EIT experts
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Final pitch session evaluated by a multidisciplinary jury
Grow NEB – Incubation Phase
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Follow-on incubation programme for the 2 winning teams
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Dedicated mentoring and business development support
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Funding to advance prototyping and validation
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Strategic guidance on impact, sustainability, and scalability
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Connection to the wider EIT Community NEB ecosystem
Programme Impact
Brought together 52 participants
and 14 multidisciplinary teams to co-create solutions addressing urban and social challenges in Cyprus
Enabled bi-communal collaboration by bringing together
participants from across Cyprus to co-create solutions in the UN Buffer Zone
Generated innovative concepts
tackling food waste, circular systems, adaptive reuse of urban spaces, inclusive public spaces, and cultural activation
Activated local stakeholders,
municipalities, CSOs, and creatives in the innovation process
Awarded €20,000 seed funding
and 6 months of incubation to 2 winning teams to bring their solutions to life
Strengthened Cyprus’s role
within the wider European New European Bauhaus innovation ecosystem
Ready to create impact together?
We’re always looking to partner with organisations and changemakers who share our vision for a more inclusive and innovative future. Book a call with us to explore how we can collaborate and grow impact side by side.