On 15^th December, the Centre for Entrepreneurship (C4E) organised its 6^th Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum, in cooperation with PWC and Kathimerini. The event kicked off with a lecture by Katerina Pramatari, Associate Professor at Athens University of Economics and Business, and partner at Uni.Fund, on the subject ‘The need for the development of entrepreneurial competencies and the role of Universities in research commercialisation’. During the lecture Ms Pramatari gave the audience an overview of Greek universities’ role in encouraging and facilitating entrepreneurship as well as describing the actions taken by Uni.fund, part of the EquiFund investment initiative of the Hellenic Republic and European Investment Fund (EIF).

The lecture was followed by a panel discussion chaired by Evgenios Evgeniou, CEO of PWC Cyprus, and included Ms Pramatari, Androulla Vasilliou, Vice President of the University of Cyprus Council and former EU Commissioner, and Prof. Giorgos Chrysanthou, President of the University of Cyprus Entrepreneurship Council and Research Director CYENS. The discussions which took place revolved around the topic regarding the relationship of higher education and entrepreneurship, specifically what the situation in Cyprus is currently like, what restrictions there are for academics who wish to start up themselves and potential policy changes which could stimulate entrepreneurial activity.

The event concluded with the Cyprus Entrepreneurship Competition (CyEC 2021) awards, where seven finalist startups had the chance to pitch their startup idea and plans to the audience. The seven finalists and winners are listed below.

• Atokes
• BizView
• BolsterUp (First place; awarded €10,000)
• Intellar (Second place; awarded €6,000)
• Renewable Z
• S3 – Secure Smart Systems (Third place; awarded €4,000)
• SportsLink