Startup Europe

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Increasing the market footprint of European startups in strategic digital technologies and deep tech^[1] innovation, including but not limited to Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Computing, Cybersecurity, Next Generation Internet, Blockchain, Internet of Things, Metaverse, Energy, Greentech, AgriTech, and Fintech;
• Better connection of startups and scaleups, including European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and European Innovation Council (EIC)-supported startups and Seal of Excellence holders, to relevant local and/or European ecosystems, communities, and potential new markets;
• A scaling up of capabilities in matching technology solutions developed by highly innovative European Union (EU)-funded digital and deep tech startups with investment and growth opportunities in collaboration with other initiatives such as: the EIC, the EIT and the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), InvestEU, the Digital Europe Programme, Women TechEU, public and private buyers, or investors and corporate innovation ventures.

In pursuit of the above outcomes the projects are expected to prioritise:

• Startups and scaleups that have already achieved market-product fit or scale ups that have raised at least a round of financing (seed or later); and
• Startups and scaleups established in ‘moderate’ or ‘emerging’ innovator countries and/or regions; or
• Women-led startups and scaleups^[2].

Scope:

This action will connect local digital, deep tech, and manufacturing startup and scaleup ecosystems and support cross-border acceleration activities for startups and scaleups that demonstrate traction (i.e. market-product fit or at least a seed round raised). Among the startup and scaleup ecosystems to be connected, specific attention will be given to the inclusion of ecosystems in ‘moderate’ or ‘emerging’ innovator countries and/or regions.

While cross-border acceleration activities are open to all European startups and scaleups demonstrating traction, the action targets companies identified in Horizon Europe (e.g. though the EIC, including the EIC Scaleup 100 action, EIT-supported companies and companies supported through Regional Innovation Valleys) and the Digital Europe Programme (e.g. from European Digital Innovation Hubs), and the use of Innovation Radar intelligence^[3] and other relevant data set^[4]. Targeting of companies funded by national programmes, particularly those part of “Plug-in” certified programmes (see EIC Work Programme 2025 Annex 4) should also be considered.

In terms of outreach and amplification, actions should be publicised where relevant in the EIC Community^[5] and should actively engage with activities and events of the Europe Startup Nations Alliance^[6]. Special attention will be given to support European digital and deep tech startups and scaleups in accessing innovation procurement opportunities (public or corporate procurers).

The action may be implemented through financial support to third parties or directly by the consortium partners to allow companies to best benefit from the services described above. For consortia opting for the financial support to third parties scheme, the monitoring of the support to third parties provided for each action, as well as the management of the financial support to third parties, will be ensured by the coordinator.

The actions implemented must ensure that the companies that excel in technology get appropriate support to also thrive in product-market-fit, financial alignment, business model and revenue generation, team dynamics and leadership, and adaptability to external factors including regulatory challenges, industry trends, market changes and other factors to make them investment-ready.

The applicants should put in place proper communication and publicity of the actions engaged, including success stories of funded companies and case studies about the impact of the project.

The projects should monitor the development of supported startups and scaleups with relevant indicators. For this purpose, consortium partners should ensure the monitoring of supported companies for three years after the end of the project with a robust set of indicators including: (1) average percentage evolution in revenue of supported companies; (2) percentage of supported companies securing follow-on funding; (3) amount of follow-on funding secured; (4) average profitability of supported companies; (5) market share evolution of supported companies; (6) survival rate of supported companies (6, 12, 18 months after end of support for startups, and 1, 2, 3 years for scaleups).

[1] Deep tech is a technology that is based on cutting-edge scientific advances and discoveries and is characterised by the need to stay at the technological forefront by constant interaction with new ideas and results from the lab. Deep tech innovations are understood to be those that have the potential to deliver transformative solutions, rooted in cutting-edge science, technology and engineering, including innovation that combines advances in the physical, biological and digital spheres. Deep tech is distinct from ‘high tech’ which tends to refer only to R&D intensity.

[2] Startups founded, or co-founded by women, holding a top management position (chief executive officer (CEO), chief technology officer (CTO), or chief scientific officer (CSO) or equivalent).

[3] The EU Innovation Radar Platform (Actions can also have Application Programming Interface (API) access to the Innovation Radar data sets).More information under The EIC Community.

[4] Including the work of the Joint Research Centre in the areas of innovative Startups and scale-ups with high growth potential. More information under “New European Alliance to accelerate startups growth.”

[5] More information under The EIC Community.

[6] Including the work of the Joint Research Centre in the areas of innovative Startups and scale-ups with high growth potential. More information under New European Alliance to accelerate startups growth