AKTI Project and Research Centre

What AKTI Project and Research Centre does

AKTI Project and Research Centre is a non-governmental, non-profit environmental research and sustainability organization founded in 2000 and headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. The organization operates three core programme lines: the Tiganokinisi school-based used cooking oil collection programme (reaching 500+ schools, approximately 98% of Cypriot schools, with over EUR 500,000 distributed to schools since inception); the Zero Waste HoReCa Information Hub serving 350+ hospitality businesses in Cyprus and Malta; and the #Potavristou annual coastal cleanup campaign (17,000+ volunteers, 110 tons of waste collected across 2,095 locations in 20+ countries over 7 years). AKTI also conducts applied environmental research including Cyprus's first systematic microplastics monitoring programme across 10 beaches.

The organization is structured around a Board of Directors chaired by Dr. Xenia I. Loizidou with 13 named team members handling project management, research, education, and operations. AKTI delivers multiple concurrent EU-funded research and capacity-building projects under Horizon Europe (TERRASAFE on desertification, NURISH on rural resilience, SeaTecHub on marine technology) and Creative Europe (CoRES on cultural sector climate resilience), alongside projects like RESIsles, All4Compost, RegenSoil, and Green Enough. Core methodologies include sediment sampling with laboratory analysis, citizen-science data collection via the Ocean Conservancy Clean Swell app, and participatory stakeholder engagement models including the SeaTecHub quadruple-helix framework.

The revenue model is grant-dependent: AKTI is funded primarily through competitively awarded EU research and development project grants (Horizon Europe, Creative Europe), corporate social responsibility grants from foundations and corporates including The Coca-Cola Foundation, Chevron, Lidl Cyprus, and Columbia Shipmanagement, and self-generated proceeds from the Tiganokinisi used cooking oil collection programme. All services are provided free of charge to participants — schools, HoReCa businesses, and volunteers — with funding flowing through grant allocations rather than user fees. Distribution occurs through the Zero Waste HoReCa digital Information Hub, the Tiganokinisi mobile Caravan unit visiting schools, EU project consortium partnerships, and the Ministry of Education's institutional endorsement.

Name

AKTI Project and Research Centre

Legal name

AKTI PROJECT AND RESEARCH CENTRE

Website

https://akti.org.cy

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AKTI Project and Research Centre is a Cyprus-based non-profit environmental research organization founded in 2000 that delivers school-based sustainability education, hospitality sector sustainability programmes, coastal cleanup campaigns, and applied marine research funded primarily through EU grants and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Research and Sustainability Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Pollution Prevention, Chemicals & Waste (incl. Plastics) (BPADALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) (BPADAEAB)

Keywords

• Environmental research services
• Marine conservation programmes
• Sustainability education
• Coastal zone management
• Circular economy projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Nicosia

HQ country

Cyprus

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. EU Research and Development Project Funding: AKTI generates revenue through competitively awarded EU-funded research projects including Horizon Europe, Creative Europe, and other European Commission programmes. Examples include TERRASAFE (60-month Horizon project), NURISH (54-month Horizon project), RESIsles, CoRES, SeaTecHub, and All4Compost.
2. Used Cooking Oil Collection and Biodiesel Revenue Sharing: The Tiganokinisi programme collects used cooking oil from households via school networks. The collected UCO is sold and proceeds are distributed to participating schools, with over €500,000 distributed to Cypriot schools to date. This creates a self-sustaining revenue model that funds school environmental projects.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: AKTI receives funding from corporate social responsibility (CSR) grants and foundations including The Coca-Cola Foundation (supporting Zero Waste HoReCa), Chevron (fire restoration project), Columbia Shipmanagement (microplastics research), and Lidl Cyprus (Project Zero environmental education).
4. Vocational Training and Educational Services: AKTI offers internships, volunteer programmes, and educational training services for students and professionals in environmental research, sustainability, and community engagement. Internships are available across research, fieldwork, awareness campaigns, and policy activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AKTI Project and Research Centre is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation that delivers environmental research, sustainability education, and community engagement programmes focused on Cyprus's coastal and marine ecosystems. Core offerings include the Tiganokinisi used cooking oil collection programme (reaching 98% of Cypriot schools), the Zero Waste HoReCa Information Hub and Network for hospitality businesses, the #Potavristou coastal cleanup campaign, and applied environmental research including microplastics detection on Cyprus beaches.

Product overview

AKTI Project and Research Centre is a non-governmental, non-profit environmental research organization (not a technology product company) offering a portfolio of sustainability programmes, educational initiatives, and research services. The core offerings include: the Tiganokinisi Programme (used cooking oil collection and recycling), the Zero Waste HoReCa Information Hub (sustainability platform for hospitality businesses), the #Potavristou beach cleanup campaign, microplastics research, and multiple EU-funded environmental projects (CoRES, TERRASAFE, NURISH, RESisles, All4Compost, SeaTecHub). The organization also provides the Green Enough AR-based educational programme and conducts applied environmental research with scientific publications. These programmes operate as standalone initiatives rather than a unified platform architecture, serving schools, HoReCa businesses, communities, and policymakers across Cyprus and the Mediterranean.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tiganokinisi: An educational-environmental program that promotes sustainability through collection of used cooking oil (UCO) from schools. The program educates students on converting UCO into biodiesel and provides funds to schools through sale of collected oil.
• Zero Waste HoReCa
• #Potavristou
• SeaTecHub

Products and services

• Tiganokinisi Programme Educational-environmental programme that promotes sustainability through the collection of used cooking oil (UCO) from schools across Cyprus. The programme educates students on converting UCO into biodiesel via a mobile caravan visiting schools, and shares revenue from collected UCO back with participating schools.
• Zero Waste HoReCa Information Hub Online platform supporting hospitality and catering businesses in Cyprus and Malta on their sustainability journey. Provides practical guidance, digital tools, training videos, an interactive HoReCa Guide, and success stories, and supports the Sustainable HoReCa Communities network.
• #Potavristou Campaign Annual beach and coastal cleanup campaign mobilising volunteers to collect, count, and record litter data using the Clean Swell app. Held every September on World Coastal Cleanup Day with global participation, including partnerships with Ocean Conservancy and MIO-ECSDE.
• Microplastics Detection on Cyprus Beaches Applied scientific research service conducting qualitative and quantitative detection of microplastics on Cyprus beaches, creating the island's first microplastics database through systematic sediment sampling and laboratory analysis (including sieving, suspension, and electronic microscope visual analysis).
• Green Enough Educational Programme Inclusive educational programme using Augmented Reality technology to raise ecological behaviour among adults and adolescents with developmental and intellectual disabilities, with training materials for professionals.
• TERRASAFE 60-month Horizon Europe Innovation Action empowering local communities in southern Europe and northern Africa to address desertification through nature-based, social, and technological innovations across 5 pilot areas.
• NURISH 54-month Horizon Europe project enhancing climate resilience and sustainable development in rural communities through nature-based solutions and Regenerative Rural Resilience Frameworks across Greece, Cyprus, Finland, and the UK.
• SeaTecHub Croatia-Cyprus Excellence Hub on eco-innovative technologies for healthy and productive seas, advancing blue economy innovation through Citizen Clubs, Blue Cafes, and quadruple-helix stakeholder engagement across research, public authorities, business, and NGOs.
• CoRES (Creativity, Resilience, Environment, Sustainability) Creative Europe-funded project supporting the cultural and creative sector's responsiveness and resilience towards the climate crisis through cross-disciplinary collaborations, training, and sustainability in art.
• RESisles EACEA-funded project promoting civic participation on Mediterranean islands (Cyprus, Malta, Crete) in democratic processes concerning climate change and the environment.
• All4Compost EU Aid Programme-funded project for circular utilisation of agricultural prunings and livestock waste, creating the Lefke Compost Community through participatory workshops and farmer training in the Turkish Cypriot community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 17,000+ volunteers collected 110 tons of waste across 2,095 locations over 7 years through #Potavristou
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SeaTecHub Consortium Partners (Croatia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024SeaTecHub is a Horizon Europe project pairing AKTI with Croatian partners to create an Excellence Hub on eco-innovative technologies for healthy and productive seas. The consortium includes 2 research organizations, 4 public authorities, 5 business actors, 3 NGOs, and 49 institutions across Croatia and Cyprus. AKTI leads the cross-border R&I strategy and the knowledge transfer work package.
• RUNONARTminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024RUNONART is a project partner in the CoRES (Creativity, Resilience, Environment, Sustainability) Creative Europe project, working with AKTI to promote environmental awareness in the cultural and creative sector across Europe.
• Studio 18 MaltaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Studio 18 Malta is a project partner in the CoRES Creative Europe project, collaborating with AKTI on promoting sustainability in the cultural and creative sectors across Malta and Cyprus.
• NURISH Consortium (Horizon Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024NURISH is a 54-month Horizon Europe project led by ETHNICON METSOVION POLYTECHNION, with AKTI as a partner. The project develops Regenerative Rural Resilience Frameworks and Resilience Hubs in Greece, Cyprus, Finland, and the UK, implementing nature-based solutions for climate resilience in rural communities.
• TERRASAFE Consortium (Horizon Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023TERRASAFE is a 60-month Horizon Europe Innovation Action led by UAveiro, with AKTI as a partner. The project addresses desertification in southern Europe and northern Africa through nature-based, social, and technological innovations across 5 pilot areas. AKTI contributes its expertise in co-management of green waste and bicommunal cooperation.
• Lidl CypruscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Lidl Cyprus partners with AKTI through Project Zero, supporting environmental education in schools. From 2021 to 2026, the partnership educated 55,000+ students on plastic pollution and marine literacy, conducted 49 school visits and beach cleanups, and collected 872 kg of waste. In 2026, the partnership celebrated its 5th anniversary.
• Ministry of Education (Cyprus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tiganokinisi programme operates under the auspices of the Cyprus Ministry of Education. The ministry endorses AKTI's environmental education activities in schools, providing institutional support for the programme's expansion to 98% of Cypriot schools.
• Unit for Education for the Environment and Sustainable Development (EESD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEESD collaborates with AKTI on the development and implementation of the Tiganokinisi programme, contributing to curriculum design and educational content for schools across Cyprus.
• Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCMR is a project partner in the RESIsles project alongside AKTI and Nature Trust FEE Malta, working to promote democratic participation on climate change and the environment on Mediterranean islands.
• Nature Trust - FEE MaltaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature Trust FEE Malta is a project partner in the RESIsles project, collaborating with AKTI and HCMR on civic engagement for climate and environmental decision-making in Cyprus, Malta, and Crete.
• Ocean ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAKTI is the national coordinator of the International Coastal Cleanup in Cyprus for Ocean Conservancy. The partnership uses the Clean Swell app for data collection and contributes data to the Regional Marine Litter Database.
• Chamber of Agricultural Engineers (Turkish Cypriot)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chamber of Agricultural Engineers is the lead partner in the All4Compost project funded by the EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community. AKTI contributes its expertise in green waste co-management and bicommunal cooperation.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WWF Mediterranean: WWF Mediterranean is the regional arm of a global environmental NGO operating across marine, freshwater, and species conservation in the Mediterranean. Operates in the same broad environmental space with overlapping marine and biodiversity priorities, though at vastly larger scale.
• Ocean Conservancy: Ocean Conservancy is a large US-based marine conservation NGO that runs the International Coastal Cleanup in which AKTI serves as Cyprus national coordinator. Closely comparable in marine litter mission and Clean Swell citizen science platform, but at much larger global scale.

Others

• Earthwatch Europe: Earthwatch Europe is a research and citizen-science NGO focused on environmental monitoring and public engagement. Comparable in citizen science and environmental education methodologies, complementary rather than competitive.

Regional players

• The Cyprus Institute (CyI): CyI is a Cyprus-based research and graduate education institution with energy, environment, and climate research centers. Comparable as a Cyprus-headquartered applied environmental research organization, though larger and academic in nature.

Direct peers

• MIO-ECSDE: MIO-ECSDE (Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development) is a federation of ~130 Mediterranean environmental NGOs that has directly awarded AKTI for #Potavristou. Highly comparable as a regional NGO network operating in the same Mediterranean environmental advocacy space.
• Nature Trust FEE Malta: Nature Trust FEE Malta is a direct project partner in the RESIsles consortium alongside AKTI. Comparable as a small national environmental NGO delivering EU-funded environmental education and civic engagement projects in a small island state.
• Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association (CYMEPA): CYMEPA is a Cyprus-based NGO focused on marine environment protection and shipping-related pollution. Operates in the same Cyprus geography with overlapping coastal/marine pollution mandate.
• MEDSEA Foundation: MEDSEA is a Malta-based Mediterranean marine and coastal foundation that promotes marine protection, sustainable fisheries, and blue economy initiatives. Closely comparable mission to AKTI's SeaTecHub and #Potavristou work, with overlapping Mediterranean geographic footprint.

Emerging players

• Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR): HCMR is a Greek public marine research center that is a direct RESIsles consortium partner with AKTI. Comparable as a regional marine research institution focused on Mediterranean marine science and microplastics, though significantly larger and government-funded.
• Surfrider Foundation Europe: Surfrider Europe is a grassroots marine and coastal protection NGO active across European beaches with volunteer-driven beach cleanup campaigns and citizen science. Comparable to AKTI's #Potavristou model and Mediterranean coastal focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/akti_ngo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@coastakti
• Facebookfacebook.com/akti.cy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akti-project-and-research-centre
• Instagraminstagram.com/akti_ngo

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AKTI Project and Research Centre