EYE THRIVE 

Cross-border learning for Europe’s new entrepreneurs 

EYE THRIVE is a 24-month project funded under the European Union’s Single Market Programme (SMP-COSME) and delivered through Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE), Europe’s flagship cross-border exchange scheme for entrepreneurs. Coordinated by Citizens in Power (CIP, Cyprus), the project brings together seven Intermediary Organisations across seven countries to help aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs gain practical, hands-on business experience by working alongside experienced host entrepreneurs abroad. Over its duration, EYE THRIVE will facilitate at least 220 successful cross-border entrepreneurial relationships, with a strong focus on women entrepreneurs, green and digital business models, and the Western Balkans. 

The challenge 

Europe’s 24 million small and medium-sized enterprises represent 99% of all businesses, employ around two-thirds of the private-sector workforce and generate more than half of total value added. Yet early-stage ventures continue to face persistent barriers: limited access to international markets, few cross-border mentoring opportunities, a widening entrepreneurial skills gap, and the accelerating demands of the twin green and digital transition. EYE THRIVE addresses three specific gaps identified through the consortium’s needs analysis: limited cross-border learning opportunities for early-stage entrepreneurs in Southern Europe and the Western Balkans; the persistent under-representation of women in entrepreneurial mobility; and the growing demand for competences in green and digital business models. The project is directly aligned with the EU’s SME Strategy for a Sustainable and Digital Europe, the Single Market Programme and the Competitiveness Compass. 

What the project does 

At the heart of Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a simple, proven idea: a new entrepreneur — someone planning to start a business or running one for less than three years — is matched with an experienced host entrepreneur for a one-to-six-month working exchange in another country. New entrepreneurs stress-test their business plans in a live company abroad, acquire practical management skills and build cross-border networks; host entrepreneurs gain fresh ideas, new market knowledge and potential long-term partners. 

EYE THRIVE delivers this cycle through four work packages — management and coordination; promotion and recruitment; relationship building; and exchange management and aftercare. Every partner acts as a full Intermediary Organisation, running the complete cycle in its own country: promoting the programme, recruiting and assessing entrepreneurs, matching new and host entrepreneurs on the basis of thematic alignment, preparing and monitoring each exchange, administering financial support, and providing structured aftercare. Three cross-cutting priorities are embedded throughout: gender-responsive recruitment led by a dedicated partner, the identification and support of green and digital entrepreneurs, and the structured integration of a new organisation in the Western Balkans. 

What the project will deliver 

Over 24 months, EYE THRIVE will complete a minimum of 220 successful cross-border entrepreneurial relationships and recruit at least 440 entrepreneurs (256 new and 184 host) across seven countries. The consortium targets at least 45% participation by women entrepreneurs, at least 25% of matches in green and digital business models, at least 10% of relationships involving entrepreneurs from underrepresented countries, and a minimum of six exchanges with non-EU destinations (Canada, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the USA). Beyond the individual exchanges, the project will produce a replicable gender-mainstreaming training module for intermediary organisations, a structured onboarding protocol for new organisations from underrepresented countries, documented success stories, and structured aftercare for completed entrepreneurs. Based on the programme’s track record, the exchanges are expected to contribute to the creation of an estimated 55–65 new businesses within one to three years. 

The partnership 

EYE THRIVE brings together seven organisations from seven countries, coordinated by Citizens in Power (Cyprus). The consortium combines deep programme experience with strategic geographic and thematic complementarity: the Chamber of Commerce of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), the University of Thessaly (Greece), Forma Mentis (Italy), Conceptwin (Portugal), Empow’Her (France) and REDASP – Regional Economic Development Agency for Šumadija and Pomoravlje (Serbia). The Center for Sustainability (C4S, Cyprus) participates as an affiliated entity of CIP, reinforcing the consortium’s capacity in green-business-model assessment. Six of the seven partners are experienced Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Intermediary Organisations, while REDASP extends the programme into the Western Balkans as a Ministry-accredited development agency. 

CIP’s role 

As coordinator and Lead Intermediary Organisation, Citizens in Power holds overall responsibility for the management, coordination and quality of the project. CIP leads the management work package — consortium coordination, financial administration, reporting to the European Union (EISMEA), quality assurance and the continuous monitoring of performance across all partners — and coordinates exchanges with non-EU destinations. CIP also operates as a full Intermediary Organisation in Cyprus, recruiting, assessing and matching new and host entrepreneurs and supporting them throughout their exchange and aftercare. Drawing on its Department of Entrepreneurship, its Impact Hub co-working space and its role as Youth Entrepreneurship Advisor to the Cyprus Youth Organisation, CIP connects EYE THRIVE to a live pipeline of Cypriot entrepreneurs and to its wider European network of entrepreneurship, digital and sustainability partners. 

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.