Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ACCELERO (Accelerating Local Innovation Ecosystems in Europe)
Período documentado: 2022-09-01 hasta 2024-08-31
The ACCELERO project strengthened regional innovation ecosystems across Europe by improving business acceleration services, particularly in emerging and moderate innovator regions. The project directly addressed the uneven distribution of innovation resources in Europe by supporting Local Ecosystem Builders (LEBs), enhancing their capacities to foster partnerships, and increasing local economic impacts. With over 110 applications received, ACCELERO’s rigorous selection process identified 10 high-potential LEBs—seven from Emerging Innovator Regions and three from Moderate Innovator Regions. These selected LEBs were poised to offering robust acceleration services and building connections among these LEBS but also with most innovative regions through the 5 selected EU Hubs. ACCELERO has also established a thriving community on the EuroQuity platform, expanding from an initial onboarding of 40 LEBs to 111 active members by Month 24, including 70 LEBs, 34 companies, and 6 investors. This network has become a hub for knowledge sharing, partnership development, and broader access to business support services, thereby fostering a collaborative and innovative ecosystem throughout Europe.
Through other project initiatives, ACCELERO has supported SMEs entering global markets by providing strategic guidance, mentorship, and networking. Additionally, a twinning program facilitates collaboration between LEBs and EU Hubs, strengthening LEB capabilities to deliver impactful, region-specific services. The project’s consortium network acted as a multiplier of impact, allowing the replication of successful models across various regions. ACCELERO’s workshops and events further contributed to knowledge transfer, collaboration, and capacity-building throughout Europe, ultimately fostering a more balanced and inclusive innovation landscape that enhances the global competitiveness of Europe.
Through other project initiatives, ACCELERO has supported SMEs entering global markets by providing strategic guidance, mentorship, and networking. Additionally, a twinning program facilitates collaboration between LEBs and EU Hubs, strengthening LEB capabilities to deliver impactful, region-specific services. The project’s consortium network acted as a multiplier of impact, allowing the replication of successful models across various regions. ACCELERO’s workshops and events further contributed to knowledge transfer, collaboration, and capacity-building throughout Europe, ultimately fostering a more balanced and inclusive innovation landscape that enhances the global competitiveness of Europe.
- Selection of Local Ecosystem Builders (LEBs) and Needs Assessment (WP1): An open call targeted LEBs in emerging and moderate innovator regions, resulting in 110 expressions of interest. Following a rigorous evaluation process, 10 LEBs were selected, with 3 placed on a reserve list. Additionally, 5 European innovation hubs were engaged to provide mentorship and foster knowledge exchange.
- Delivery of Proven Services (WP2): ACCELERO delivered four established service modules along with individualized mentoring to the 10 selected LEBs. This aimed to enhance their service quality by replicating practices from leader and strong innovator hubs, also capitalizing on the consortium partners knowledge and experience in the EU innovation landscape, to facilitate connections, access to funding and programmes, interaction with corporates and other address other LEBs needs.
- Co-Creation of Locally Adapted Services (WP3): Ten services were collaboratively developed with selected LEBs to address specific local needs within emerging and moderate innovator regions, tailoring support based on regional contexts to improve relevance and impact. The EU Hubs have also provided support to fine tune the services.
- Pilot-Testing and Mentoring Support (WP4): The project provided comprehensive mentorship to the selected LEBs, with over 100 SMEs actively participating in pilot tests, benefiting from improved LEB services. Additionally, 20 SMEs were supported in a “Go Global” programme, providing advisory on international market entry. The twinning programme successfully fostered collaborations between LEBs and EU hubs, and two LEBs received EU/BIC certification, further validating their capacity and service quality.
- Delivery of Proven Services (WP2): ACCELERO delivered four established service modules along with individualized mentoring to the 10 selected LEBs. This aimed to enhance their service quality by replicating practices from leader and strong innovator hubs, also capitalizing on the consortium partners knowledge and experience in the EU innovation landscape, to facilitate connections, access to funding and programmes, interaction with corporates and other address other LEBs needs.
- Co-Creation of Locally Adapted Services (WP3): Ten services were collaboratively developed with selected LEBs to address specific local needs within emerging and moderate innovator regions, tailoring support based on regional contexts to improve relevance and impact. The EU Hubs have also provided support to fine tune the services.
- Pilot-Testing and Mentoring Support (WP4): The project provided comprehensive mentorship to the selected LEBs, with over 100 SMEs actively participating in pilot tests, benefiting from improved LEB services. Additionally, 20 SMEs were supported in a “Go Global” programme, providing advisory on international market entry. The twinning programme successfully fostered collaborations between LEBs and EU hubs, and two LEBs received EU/BIC certification, further validating their capacity and service quality.
- Service Quality and Sustainability: The pilot-testing phase demonstrated the value of ACCELERO’s 10 newly co-created services. This phase, following tailored development and innovative tools, improved LEB support services for startups and SMEs, particularly in areas of sustainability, internationalization, and innovation. Feedback from participants highlighted the ongoing need for service adaptation to meet local ecosystem demands, emphasizing the importance of tools and frameworks for continuous improvement.
- Certification and Standards: The path to EU|BIC Certification has become a cornerstone of ACCELERO, raising the standards for LEBs across Europe. Certification, achieved by the Entrepreneurial Center of Krapina-Zagorje County Ltd. and Teknopark Izmir, enhances both credibility and service delivery while offering access to an established network of certified EU|BICs. The continued promotion of EU|BIC certification is essential to maintain high standards across the European innovation support network.
- Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building: ACCELERO workshops offered participants valuable insights, including from the EBN Innovation Ecosystem Building Playbook, with actionable strategies for fostering local innovation ecosystems. These workshops have highlighted best practices and practical solutions that participants can apply in their regions. Future support is needed to help LEBs implement and also monitor these practices effectively.
Therefore, ACCELERO consortium has laid a robust foundation for sustained ecosystem development and cross-regional collaboration, reinforcing the critical role of Local Ecosystem Builders (LEBs) in the EU innovation landscape.
- Certification and Standards: The path to EU|BIC Certification has become a cornerstone of ACCELERO, raising the standards for LEBs across Europe. Certification, achieved by the Entrepreneurial Center of Krapina-Zagorje County Ltd. and Teknopark Izmir, enhances both credibility and service delivery while offering access to an established network of certified EU|BICs. The continued promotion of EU|BIC certification is essential to maintain high standards across the European innovation support network.
- Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building: ACCELERO workshops offered participants valuable insights, including from the EBN Innovation Ecosystem Building Playbook, with actionable strategies for fostering local innovation ecosystems. These workshops have highlighted best practices and practical solutions that participants can apply in their regions. Future support is needed to help LEBs implement and also monitor these practices effectively.
Therefore, ACCELERO consortium has laid a robust foundation for sustained ecosystem development and cross-regional collaboration, reinforcing the critical role of Local Ecosystem Builders (LEBs) in the EU innovation landscape.