Foundation for the Management of European Lifelong Learning Programmes

What Foundation for the Management of European Lifelong Learning Programmes does

IDEP (Foundation for the Management of European Lifelong Learning Programmes) is a semi-governmental foundation headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus, operating as the country's designated National Agency for managing EU-funded educational and youth programmes. Founded in 2007 and employing 23 staff, the foundation administers Erasmus+ strands covering Vocational Education and Training, School Education, and Adult Education, alongside eTwinning, Eurodesk, and — following a November 2023 mandate expansion — Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps. Its board is appointed by the Council of Ministers and it operates under the supervision of Cyprus's Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth.

The foundation operates a non-commercial, grant-funded model: rather than generating revenue, it receives EU programme allocations to manage application cycles, compliance, payments, and stakeholder dissemination on behalf of the European Commission in Cyprus. It serves Cypriot educational institutions — schools, universities, VET providers, adult learning organisations — and, post-2023, youth organisations and individual young people participating in Solidarity Corps and DiscoverEU mobility schemes. Pricing and customer economics are not applicable in the conventional sense, as beneficiaries receive grants rather than purchase services.

Strategic activity through 2024-2025 has centred on institutionalising the expanded mandate: a new Board of Directors was seated in November 2023, followed by Memoranda of Cooperation with the Council of Rectors of Cyprus Universities (April 2025), the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (December 2021, renewed activity through 2025), and multiple youth organisations (October 2025). The eTwinning 20th anniversary programme in January 2025 reflects continued investment in programme visibility and stakeholder engagement rather than commercial product development.

Name

Foundation for the Management of European Lifelong Learning Programmes

Legal name

Foundation for the Management of European Lifelong Learning Programmes (Ίδρυμα Διαχείρισης Ευρωπαϊκών Προγραμμάτων Διά Βίου Μάθησης)

Website

https://idep.org.cy

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IDEP is Cyprus's semi-governmental National Agency managing EU educational and youth programmes including Erasmus+, eTwinning, Eurodesk, and the European Solidarity Corps. Founded in 2007, it serves Cypriot schools, universities, VET providers, and youth organisations through EU grant funding with 23 employees in Nicosia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Programme Management (EU National Agency)

NAICS

Administration of Education Programs (92311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Transnational Education Authorities (e.g., cross-border recognition) (EDADAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Regulatory Authorities & Commissions (Cross-Sector) (EDADAAAD), Erasmus+ and Government-Sponsored Exchange Partnerships (EDAIABAJ), Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs (BPADABAN)

Keywords

• EU programme management
• Educational mobility programmes
• Erasmus+ programme administration
• European Solidarity Corps
• School collaboration platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Nicosia (Λευκωσία)

HQ country

Cyprus

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IDEP functions as Cyprus's National Agency, decentralised by the European Commission to manage Erasmus+ programme actions (School Education, Higher Education, Vocational Education and Training, Adult Education, Sport, and Youth), the European Solidarity Corps, eTwinning (school collaboration), and Eurodesk (youth information). It provides applicant guidance, accreditation and quality-label assessment, training and contact seminars (TCA), and monitors funded projects within Cyprus. Programme participation and grants are funded by the EU; IDEP does not charge beneficiaries for participation.

Product overview

IDEP (Foundation for the Management of European Lifelong Learning Programmes) is the National Agency in Cyprus responsible for managing EU educational programmes. The portfolio consists of four core programmes: Erasmus+ (the main EU programme covering education, training, youth and sport through mobility and partnership actions), eTwinning (a pan-European school collaboration platform enabling cross-border school partnerships), Eurodesk (youth information network), and the European Solidarity Corps (voluntary activities and solidarity projects for young people). These programmes are supported by related initiatives including Erasmus Days, DiscoverEU travel passes, Quality Labels, and accreditations (Erasmus Accreditation, ECHE). IDEP functions as a programme management and support organization rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Erasmus+: EU program for education, training, youth and sport providing opportunities for mobility and cooperation across Europe.
• eTwinning
• Eurodesk
• European Solidarity Corps

Products and services

• Erasmus+ Programme Management (Cyprus) The main EU programme for education, training, youth and sport, managed by IDEP as Cyprus's National Agency. It covers School Education, Higher Education, Vocational Education and Training, Adult Education, Sport, and Youth sectors through Key Actions 1 (mobility), 2 (cooperation partnerships), and 3 (policy and youth dialogue). Eligible Cypriot organisations apply for grants via IDEP.
• eTwinning (Cyprus National Support Service) European online platform for schools to collaborate, share, and develop joint educational projects across borders, operating under the Erasmus+ programme framework. IDEP acts as Cyprus's National Support Service, providing guidance, training, and Quality Label assessment to participating schools.
• Eurodesk Cyprus European youth information network providing resources and opportunities for young people across Europe. IDEP runs Eurodesk Cyprus to inform young people about European learning, mobility, and youth opportunities.
• European Solidarity Corps (Cyprus) EU programme creating opportunities for young people aged 18-30 to participate in voluntary activities and implement solidarity projects that benefit communities throughout Europe. Managed by IDEP in Cyprus since November 2023.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Παγκύπριο Συντονιστικό Συμβούλιο Εθελοντισμού (Pancyprian Coordinating Council for Volunteering)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2025Memorandum of Cooperation signed for coordination on volunteering and youth initiatives under European programmes.
• Συμβούλιο Νεολαίας Κύπρου (Youth Board of Cyprus)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2025Memorandum of Cooperation signed for joint initiatives in youth sector under European Solidarity Corps.
• Κυπριακός Οργανισμός Κέντρων Νεότητας (Cyprus Youth Clubs Organization - ΚΟΚΕΝ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2025Memorandum of Cooperation signed for collaboration on youth activities and programmes.
• Σύνοδος Πρυτάνεων των Κυπριακών Πανεπιστημίων (Council of Rectors of Cyprus Universities)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2025Memorandum of Cooperation signed for collaboration on higher education mobility and Erasmus+ participation. New page for tertiary education cooperation.
• ΡΙΚ (Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 December 2021Memorandum of Cooperation signed for media collaboration and programme promotion.
• ΙΚΥ (State Scholarships Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking meeting held for cooperation on Erasmus+ programme implementation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• European Commission DG EAC (Education, Audio-visual and Culture Executive Agency): The European Commission executive agency that manages Erasmus+ at the central EU level and sets the framework within which National Agencies like IDEP operate. Indirect upstream counterpart shaping IDEP's mandate and funding.
• Eurodesk Brussels Link: Coordinating hub of the Eurodesk youth information network, of which IDEP is the Cyprus multiplier. Comparable mission of providing young people with information on European mobility and learning opportunities.
• SALTO – European Commission Resource Centres for Youth: European Commission-supported thematic resource centres providing training and resources for Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps — adjacent infrastructure that IDEP coordinates with but does not compete against.

Direct peers

• IKY – State Scholarships Foundation (Greece): Greece's National Agency for Erasmus+, managing the same portfolio of EU educational and youth programmes in a neighbouring country with a comparable institutional structure. Direct counterpart role and similar scope (Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps).
• OeAD – Österreichischer Austauschdienst: Austria's agency for international cooperation in education and research, acting as National Agency for Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. Closely comparable mandate, governance model, and programme portfolio to IDEP.
• INDIRE – Istituto Nazionale di Documentazione, Innovazione e Ricerca Educativa: Italy's National Agency for Erasmus+ in school, vocational, and adult education, and the operator of the eTwinning Central Support Service. Directly comparable mandate covering programme management, accreditation, and eTwinning support.
• FRSE – Foundation for the Development of the Education System (Poland): Poland's National Agency for Erasmus+ education and training programmes, operating a foundation-based structure similar to IDEP. Directly comparable scope across school, vocational, adult, and higher education programme management.
• DAAD – Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst: Germany's National Agency for the higher-education strand of Erasmus+, managing EU-funded academic mobility and partnerships. Comparable role as a National Agency administering EU programme funds in education.
• SEPIE – Servicio Español para la Internacionalización de la Educación: Spain's National Agency for the EU's Erasmus+ programme in education and training, performing the same programme management, accreditation, and quality label functions as IDEP at a larger national scale.

Broad incumbents

• British Council: Long-standing UK organisation managing international educational and cultural exchange programmes. While the UK is no longer an Erasmus+ member state, the British Council is a broad incumbent in European education programme management and a comparable institutional peer in mission and scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Erasmus_CY
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-sZY3zluW7EpkQqGkZSyBw
• Facebookfacebook.com/IDEP.ErasmusPlus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%CE%AF%CE%B4%CF%81%CF%85%CE%BC%CE%B1-%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%87%CE%B5%CE%AF%CF%81%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%81%CF%89%CF%80%CE%B1%CF%8A%CE%BA%CF%8E%CE%BD-%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%BC%CE%BC%CE%AC%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%B5%CF%80-%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%AC-%CE%B2%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%BC%CE%AC%CE%B8%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82
• Instagraminstagram.com/idep_erasmusplus/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Foundation for the Management of European Lifelong Learning Programmes