Project description
Supporting underrepresented start-ups
Innovation has accelerated significantly in recent years, with an increasing number of start-ups and solutions emerging across the EU, delivering substantial benefits to research, development, and competitiveness in various sectors. However, a clear divide persists, with women-led start-ups and those from EU countries with weaker innovation ecosystems receiving disproportionately less support and funding. The EU-funded EPIC-X project seeks to address this disparity by establishing a multi-actor, inter-regional ecosystem network in collaboration with diverse innovation ecosystems and builders. This network will enhance support for deep-tech, women-led start-ups and other innovative specialisation strategies, while promoting sustainable, locally driven innovation and growth across the EU.
Objective
EPIC-X aims to accelerate and unlock excellence by connecting regional innovation ecosystems across the EU, building on strategic areas of regional strength and specialisation, and addressing the innovation divide and underrepresentation of talents within the European Union.
The project enlists a diverse and strong multi-actor interregional ecosystem network that resonates in a Pan-European alliance of interconnected ecosystems. Comprising 16 ecosystem builders hailing from the16 moderate and innovator countries, the basis of this network is set to widely expand to all regions and engage quadruple helix players in collaborative efforts of co-creation, co-implementation, and co-assessment of pioneering acceleration+ programme, which encompasses a FSTP scheme to support deep tech women-led start-ups. Embedded within this comprehensive programme are cross-fertilisation activities and an innovative mobility scheme aimed at the selected start-ups. Ecosystem builders and members of the network will have dedicated opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange through tailored actions. With a wealth of experience, the consortium, comprising 13 entities, will spearhead efforts to develop and disseminate materials that underpin a comprehensive communication, dissemination, and exploitation strategy aimed at amplifying the impact of the EPIC-X. This includes the production of a white paper containing policy recommendations and an article/paper to highlight key insights. Built around the three pillars of deep tech, women-led start-ups, and smart specialisation strategies, the project activities and synergies fostered by a multi-layer glocal approach will create a favourable environment for local-placed innovation and sustainable and inclusive growth.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.2 - European innovation ecosystems
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.3.2.3 - Joint programmes close to innovators
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIE-2024-CONNECT-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
4450-309 Matosinhos
Portugal
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.