Periodic Reporting for period 2 - GAEA (Green Alternatives for European Autonomy Challenge)
Reporting period: 2024-12-01 to 2025-12-31
Contemporary entrepreneurial ecosystems in the RIS (EIT Regional Innovation Scheme) countries largely remain underdeveloped with moderate innovation capacity, a fact often evidenced by the “brain drain” of local talents. The numbers of entrepreneurial student teams, and consequently the innovation development level in RIS Countries are still relatively low. The operation of 7 Incubators of EIT RawMaterials since 2019 in RIS Countries has validated this insufficiency and the lack of uniformity of the national entrepreneurial ecosystems indicating the need for enrichment and support for organic growth.
The proposed project, Green Alternatives for European Autonomy (GAEA) Challenge, outlines the implementation of a coherent program for youth employability to reinforce regional entrepreneurial ecosystems by engaging students and local talents in regional and interregional idea competitions. Building on the successful experience of the Greentech Challenge in Greece, GAEA will go beyond the current state-of-the-art a) by widening the conceptual scope of challenges to address to include the dimension of the European autonomy reinforcement within an international context influenced by the war in Ukraine and b) by interconnecting regional ecosystems in a cross-cultural initiative designed to last beyond the 28 months period of the project. GAEA's ambition is to enhance entrepreneurial skills of youth in moderate innovation ecosystems by bringing together educational institutions & private companies in a mutually beneficial way, ultimately boosting entrepreneurial ecosystems growth in EU countries that mostly need it. The project will unfold in two stages, regional & interregional, mobilizing and connecting regional entrepreneurial ecosystems around student ideas and projects that will reach to the market in eight countries (EL, LT, SK, LV, HU, CZ, SE, RS and PL), improving innovation flows among the regions and consolidating this knowledge through accelerated projects.
The proposed project, Green Alternatives for European Autonomy (GAEA) Challenge, outlines the implementation of a coherent program for youth employability to reinforce regional entrepreneurial ecosystems by engaging students and local talents in regional and interregional idea competitions. Building on the successful experience of the Greentech Challenge in Greece, GAEA will go beyond the current state-of-the-art a) by widening the conceptual scope of challenges to address to include the dimension of the European autonomy reinforcement within an international context influenced by the war in Ukraine and b) by interconnecting regional ecosystems in a cross-cultural initiative designed to last beyond the 28 months period of the project. GAEA's ambition is to enhance entrepreneurial skills of youth in moderate innovation ecosystems by bringing together educational institutions & private companies in a mutually beneficial way, ultimately boosting entrepreneurial ecosystems growth in EU countries that mostly need it. The project will unfold in two stages, regional & interregional, mobilizing and connecting regional entrepreneurial ecosystems around student ideas and projects that will reach to the market in eight countries (EL, LT, SK, LV, HU, CZ, SE, RS and PL), improving innovation flows among the regions and consolidating this knowledge through accelerated projects.
The GAEA project carried out its most intensive technical and scientific activities within the acceleration and interregional collaboration phases. A total of 24 virtual business acceleration modules were delivered to 15 teams (55 students) between June and July 2025. These modules covered key technical and scientific aspects of startup development, including product feasibility and validation, financial modeling, legal structuring and intellectual property strategy, operational planning, go-to-market design, and performance metrics. Each module combined theoretical frameworks, case studies, and interactive exercises to strengthen investment readiness, analytical skills, and strategic decision-making. The acceleration phase was complemented by twelve interregional sessions and twelve international mentorships, which provided structured, cross-border scientific guidance on business modeling, resource planning, and technical validation of innovative solutions. This facilitated rigorous evaluation of prototypes, proof-of-concept development, and refinement of business models according to European market and technical standards. Outcomes of these technical and scientific activities include the establishment of five legally incorporated startups, the development of 40 MVPs, the advancement of 26 projects to the interregional finals in Athens and the creation of 5 startups. Teams demonstrated improved scientific rigor in product feasibility studies, financial and operational planning, and strategic execution, while the interregional collaboration fostered knowledge transfer across regional innovation ecosystems, promoting reproducibility, technical validation, and methodological advancement in the management of idea competitions.
GAEA project successfully implemented its acceleration phase, providing participating teams with structured workshops, mentoring, and practical guidance to transform early-stage ideas into market-ready solutions. A total of 24 business acceleration modules were delivered, covering key areas such as product feasibility, financial modeling, legal and corporate structuring, operational planning, branding, and marketing strategy. This comprehensive approach enabled 15 teams, comprising 55 students, to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills, refine their business models, and achieve investment readiness. The acceleration activities culminated in two Demo Days, held on 25 July 2025 and 10 December 2025, where teams presented their solutions to investors, strategic partners, and early adopters. These events allowed participants to test their value propositions, receive structured feedback, and establish connections with the European innovation ecosystem. Complementing this, the final GAEA Workshop brought together startups, students, industry representatives, policymakers, and EU stakeholders for eight knowledge- and idea-sharing sessions, consolidating project outcomes and fostering cross-regional collaboration. As a tangible outcome of these efforts, five startups were formally established, each legally incorporated and positioned for engagement in the European market. In total, 40 MVPs were developed, reflecting the effectiveness of the structured training, mentoring, and interregional collaboration provided by the project. The scientific and technical impact includes the validation of acceleration methodologies, open innovation practices, and interregional knowledge-sharing approaches, supported by the IMS platform to track progress and ensure reproducibility of results. These outcomes provide a strong foundation for commercialization, market uptake, and further international scaling of the innovations, while fostering a robust, inclusive, and collaborative European green innovation ecosystem.