Companies that are committed to sustainability and digitalisation are more likely to lead the transformation the European economy towards a greener future. What can we do to support them?
“Europe has so far managed to create and grow startups at similar level to other dynamic ecosystems such as the United States, but it continues to fail when we talk about scaling startups at a sufficient rate.This is why programs like Scale-up Champions are so important”, explains Carmen Adán, Innovation Manager at La Salle Technova.
The expert presented the results of paper "Supporting Digital Deep-tech Startups by Scale-up Champions Pan-European Accelerator" were presented in the framework of the IASP World Conference held in Seville. The paper was written together with Dr Anna Tórz, International Cooperation Officer at Poznan Science and Technology Park of Adam Mickiewicz University Foundation (PPNT).
The initiative was born to standardize path of growth for European startups, and has shared methodologies among all its partners to work together to support deep tech ecosystems.
Funded by the European Commission, it has managed more than 340 projects in its portfolio, of which it has supported 159 deep tech with programs like Investment Readiness, Startup-corporate collaboration or Market Discovery Mission accompany them in opening new markets in the five participating countries.
Expansion of the international network, for example, science and technology parks, mentors’ and experts’ networks was a great catalyst to establish relationships of true between ecosystems for collaboration.
“The network of trust and shared knowled helps to spin and accelerate scaling capacity for those really progressive and active startups. Because having a potential or setting the right goals is not enough. As a founder you have to sustain your potential and growth”, remarks Carmen Adán.
The project was presented at the Plenary session "Startup and Scaleups supporting green and digital transformation" as an example of an accelerator that supports the scalability of deep tech that are helping Europe's digital and green transition.