Time is running out for entrepreneurs across the island of Ireland to apply for the 2026 North–South Business Cooperation Awards on the island of Ireland!
Established by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, and delivered in partnership with Co-operation Ireland, the Awards recognise and reward entrepreneurs who are building stronger business links across the island of Ireland while contributing to lasting peace, economic cooperation and shared prosperity.
This year, €500,000 in prize funding will be shared between 18 entrepreneurs, with a top prize of €150,000.
The Awards are open to businesses that demonstrate successful cross-border collaboration and the positive impact that entrepreneurship can have in strengthening relationships and creating opportunities across the island.
Recent coverage in The Irish Times (https://www.irishtimes.com/sponsored/2026/08/17/entries-open-for-500k-awards-fund-for-cross-border-irish-businesses/) highlights the Awards and the opportunity they present for ambitious businesses. Prospective applicants can also hear first-hand from 2025 Silver Award winners Barry Sherry of Acel Energy and Gráinne Mullins of Grá Chocolates, who recently spoke with Conall O’Moráin on That Great Business Show (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPB3dQeU9r8 and https://youtu.be/OT0VWZey8e4) about their businesses and the impact of winning a Stelios Award.
With just over two weeks remaining until the deadline, eligible entrepreneurs are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.
Applications close on 7 September 2026 – find out more: https://stelios.foundation | https://stelios.ie