Cyprus Seeds collaborated with Conception X, which runs the UK’s leading PhD deep-tech venture programme, turning researchers into startup founders.

The collaboration was described as a milestone in Cyprus Seeds’ mission to bridge the gap between academic research and commercialisation, while also providing new opportunities for researchers on the island to develop deep-tech ventures.

Through the agreement, select teams from universities and Centres of Excellence in Cyprus will take part in Conception X’s specialised training and mentorship schemes.

According to the announcement, this will give them “valuable entrepreneurial tools and guidance to bring their innovations to market.”

Moreover, Conception X’s track record in creating successful startups was said to align seamlessly with Cyprus Seeds’ commitment to supporting scientific entrepreneurship.

“At Cyprus Seeds we are thrilled to partner with Conception X,” the company said.

It noted that the cooperation strengthens its package of funds, training and mentoring sessions, as well as networking opportunities.

This, it added, enables academic teams to “transform their groundbreaking ideas into impactful ventures of products and services that tackle global challenges.”

Conception X, which is UK-based and operates as a not-for-profit, runs Europe’s largest cross-university deep-tech venture programme for PhD students.

Its mission is to turn more scientists into founders, accelerating scientific breakthroughs and building new career pathways for researchers.

Since launching in 2018, it has recruited eight cohorts from more than 70 universities across 11 countries, building over 170 deep-tech companies.

Furthermore, it has already recorded two exits, quantum drug discovery company Rahko and energy optimisation startup Kapacity.io, with a third to be announced soon.

The Conception X portfolio, which includes startups developing anything from cancer vaccines to carbon-absorbing building materials, is now valued at more than £500 million.

Cyprus Seeds emphasised that Conception X’s involvement directly supports its own goal of accelerating research-led innovation and deep-tech entrepreneurship in Cyprus.

By leveraging Conception X’s expertise, the collaboration, therefore, creates additional opportunities for cutting-edge research to emerge from the local ecosystem and translate into real-world solutions.

The non-profit Cyprus Seeds, founded with the vision of commercialising innovative academic research and creating a pipeline of Cypriot technology spin-offs, runs an 18-month Innovation Grant Programme that provides grants, mentoring, training and investor connections both in Cyprus and abroad.

In addition, it is a partner in two flagship initiatives supported by the European Commission and the Cyprus government: the PHAETHON Teaming Project and DiGiNN.

Cyprus Seeds has also received a number of national and international awards, with the most recent recognition being its ranking by the Financial Times in 2025 as one of Europe’s Leading Start-up Hubs.

“We have an amazing network of partners in the USA and Europe,” it said, referring to collaborations with The Hellenic Initiative, The MIT Deshpande Centre for Technology Innovation, the egg accelerator, Conception X, DTU Skylab, and The Hellenic Innovation Network of the Greeks and Cypriots of the Diaspora in Boston.

Finally, Cyprus Seeds said it sees the new partnership with Conception X as a step that will, in turn, strengthens the innovation landscape in Cyprus and pave the way for a more research-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem.