Paphos, Cyprus. Neapolis University Paphos will lead a three-year European research partnership with University College London, the University of Barcelona and Greece’s KMOP after securing Horizon Europe funding through a Twinning call.
The GENDRIVE project will focus on gender equality as a factor in research quality, institutional reform and careers in research and innovation institutions.
European partnership
According to Neapolis University Paphos, it will coordinate the international consortium under the Twinning action of Horizon Europe’s Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence programme, known as WIDERA.
The project, titled GENDRIVE – Gender Equality as a Driver of Research Excellence and Careers in Research and Innovation Institutions, is intended to strengthen the university’s research and innovation capacity.
Twinning call
The 2026 Twinning call received 1,905 proposals before its April 9 closing date. The EU work programme envisaged funding about 210 projects.
The call was allocated €223 million in 2026 and a further €41.5 million in 2027. Expected EU contributions ranged from €800,000 to €1.5 million per project, although applicants could request different amounts.
Neapolis University Paphos has not disclosed the value of the grant awarded to GENDRIVE. Cyprus is among the countries eligible to coordinate Widening projects under EU funding rules.
Project activities
Twinning aims to link institutions in countries with less advanced research systems with leading European counterparts, transferring expertise and improving their capacity to compete.
Under the call, research and innovation activities may account for no more than 30 per cent of the total grant. The main activities include staff exchanges, expert visits, training, workshops, research management and longer-term institutional links.
GENDRIVE will undertake joint research, staff exchanges, training and mentoring, while strengthening research management and international networking.
Scientific leadership
The project will run for 36 months under the scientific leadership of Neapolis University Paphos’ Department of History, Politics and International Studies, involving academic and administrative units across the university.
It is also linked to the objectives of EMERGE, the European university alliance of which Neapolis University Paphos is a full member.
