Cyprus biotech innovator Marianna Prokopi-Demetriades wins global Study UK Alumni Award

Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus-based biotech entrepreneur Marianna Prokopi-Demetriades has been named the 2026 Study UK Alumni Awards global winner for Business and Innovation, one of four people worldwide to receive the British Council distinction this year.

She advanced from winning the Cyprus award to representing Europe among seven international finalists in the category before being selected as the global winner.

Global competition

Now in its 12th year, the Study UK Alumni Awards received more than 1,800 applications from over 120 countries, representing more than 140 UK universities.

Twenty-eight candidates reached the global final, with one winner selected in each of four categories.

“Absolutely ecstatic and still trying to take this all in,” Prokopi-Demetriades said in announcing the news on her personal platform.

Cyprus award and future plans

The recognition follows her national Business and Innovation award at the Cyprus awards in April, presented during a ceremony at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Nicosia.

“Recognition brings responsibility to keep building, to keep pushing boundaries in science and entrepreneurship, to create opportunities for others, and to show that meaningful biotech innovation can grow from a small country and reach far beyond its borders,” she said, while also acknowledging “how incredibly difficult that journey can be”.

Biotech ventures

The British Council described Prokopi-Demetriades as a biotech entrepreneur and oncology innovator “driving global impact from Cyprus”.

After returning to Cyprus during the financial crisis, she co-founded Theramir, Promed Bioscience and RSL Revolutionary Labs, which work on cancer therapeutics, medical biomaterials and patient recovery.

Her ventures have raised more than €8 million, secured international commercial agreements and contributed to the development of a Cyprus-based biotech cluster employing and training scientists.