EMPOWERED by NEIA brings together a team of stakeholders from 7 EU countries (2 Regional Innovation/Development Agencies and 5 Business Support Organizations - incubators and accelerators) with he ambition to engage in a process of peer mutual learning and cooperation and support Clean Tech for Sustainable Development. Based on an in-depth analysis of strengths, weaknesses, challenges and gaps in the ecosystems they represent, the EMPOWERED by NEIA team members strive to bring together the members of the innovation ecosystems they represent as active stakeholders in bottom-up policy-making activities tailored to their needs. Through an Entrepreneurial Discovery process, we aim to stimulate a participative process that will allow to identify the best innovation opportunities in each ecosystem and align them with the ones of the peers. The results of the Entrepreneurial Discovery run locally by each partner will represent the foundation of Action Plans, elaborated according to the European Entrepreneurial Region approach, to strengthen the collaboration between the Regional European Innovation Ecosystems. These plans will be back up with collaboration and project ideas for which public and private funding will be sought. Through the involvement of the EMPOWERED by NEIA consortium partners in landmark initiatives such as the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA), the Vanguard Initiative or the activities of the European Entrepreneurial Region initiative, we will connect with external peers to expand the learning and cooperation process, disseminate our activities and increase their impacts.

HARD2SCALE aims to initiate a cross-fertilization process as the foundation of a cross border accelerator leveraging the disruptive potential of digital and deep-tech solutions from promising startups to enable green transformation pathways for Energy Intensive and Hard to Abate Industries (EEIs and HtA). HARD2SCALE is a joint effort of 8 expert organizations (4 from emerging/moderate ecosystems and 4 counterparts from leading/strong innovator ones) offering a complete set of services as a gateway to funding and markets. The HARD2SCALE cross border accelerator integrates the specific needs and challenges of emerging EU ecosystems by engaging local quadruple helix stakeholders in a consultation and co-design process leading to long-term, mutually beneficial collaborations. Building on the expertise, assets and networks of the consortium partners (including the EIC Community & BAS and Startup Europe), the HARD2SCALE support services aim to holistically enable startups align their technology development and IPR roadmap with the market deployment and funding needs. By drawing inspiration from the growth journeys of “hyperscalers” (startups with significant fundraising or commercial achievements in a short time period) from the consortium partners’ portfolios, the HARD2SCALE accelerator aims to enhance the investor and market readiness of 40 digital and deep-tech startups targeting 4 EEIs and HtA sectors before introducing them to relevant contacts. HARD2SCALE offers the 40 startups the possibility to join 2 leading ecosystems – Finland and France – where they will be introduced to relevant corporate business partners and investors. HARD2SCALE initiates an open innovation process where the connection between emerging and leading ecosystems will bring forward collaboration opportunities unleashing access to public and private funding and procurement opportunities, enabling digital and deep-tech startups to increase their footprint on the Single Market.