On 3–4 December 2025, the kick-off meeting of the YIELD Project – Youth Innovators Entrepreneurship Launchpad for Deep Tech– took place at the Central Library of the University of Ioannina in Arta. The project is funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
With a total budget of €1,001,483.50, EU contribution: € 891.320,32 (89%), the project aims to strengthen youth entrepreneurship across the Euro-Mediterranean region by supporting young people aged 18–30 who wish to develop innovative solutions in sectors such as the blue, green, and circular economy, as well as eco-innovation.
YIELD provides a comprehensive set of services for aspiring young entrepreneurs, including:
- specialized entrepreneurship training,
• expert mentoring and guidance,
• business model development,
• cross-border cooperation networks,
• participation in missions to gain practical experience within regional companies.
The long-term goal of the project is to support the establishment of at least five new micro-businesses in the field of leading-edge technologies.
Six partners participate in the project: from Greece (University of Ioannina and KiNNO), Italy (VITECO), Jordan (Jordan University of Science and Technology), Egypt (Academy of Scientific Research and Technology), and Palestine (LEADERS Organization). Ten associated partners also contribute, bringing together academic expertise, entrepreneurial experience, and technological innovation. The Lead Partner is the Knowledge & Intelligent Computing Lab of the Department of Informatics & Telecommunications at the University of Ioannina.
The kick-off meeting confirmed the partners’ shared commitment to creating a strong support framework for young entrepreneurs. The first implementation steps were defined, focusing on:
• analysing regional needs and challenges,
• developing common training tools and methodologies,
• preparing the upcoming open call for young teams to join the project.
YIELD aims to make a meaningful impact on the Euro-Mediterranean entrepreneurial community by creating new opportunities for the next generation and fostering innovation in leading-edge technologies.
The project is carried out with the financial assistance of the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.