Between 2020-2021, our local initiative CyprusInno (powered by our organization SocialTech Lab) moved into a historic 4-unit container located within Cyprus’ UN Buffer Zone between both sides of the island, which it transformed from a military unit into The Base by CyprusInno – the world’s first Social Impact Generator™ – uniting divided communities of Cyprus amidst 50 years of division.

The Base by CyprusInno combines the elements of a accelerator/incubator, innovation center, and multimedia studio located on the grounds of the historic Ledra Palace in Cyprus’ UN Buffer Zone in the city of Nicosia, the last divided capital in Europe. It is the first space of its kind in the world situated in a military Buffer Zone, positioning Cyprus as a potential model for other countries and regions. It is an ever-evolving, multi-purpose space that enables the co-creation of social and economic impact in various fields of focus by bringing together both the private and public sectors, as well as civil society, via a hybrid platform of digital and physical tools.

The Base by CyprusInno was a peace-keeping military container that was transformed by hand and with the help of local producers and volunteers into a welcoming, peaceful, and innovative space. Through The Base by CyprusInno, we foster entrepreneurship, sustainability, and social cohesion, turning a space of division into a beacon of collaboration. By reimagining a military container as a vibrant learning and innovation space, we empower youth, marginalized communities, and entrepreneurs to co-create a more inclusive and sustainable future. The transformation of a site within the Buffer Zone into a place of unity and shared growth underscores the power of design in reshaping narratives and reinforcing a collective sense of belonging. 

Our Guiding Principles

• Establish a peaceful, stable, engaging, and interactive space in the Buffer Zone that maximizes dialogue and cooperation via entrepreneurship and innovation
• Facilitate the formation, launch, and scale of inter-communal startups and ideation for products and/or services that create social impact and contribute positively to the Cypriot reality and/or the peace process of the divided island
• Align with global strategies (i.e., YOUTH2030), regional values (i.e., NEB), and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by accelerating businesses with social impact embedded into their models and/or who tackle one or more of the SDGs