Project description
Hatching successful EdTech disruptors for better education
The new generation of education is EdTech – a digital learning approach. It is efficient, involving, smart and economic, as well as personalised, but needs support to fit in with market realities. The EU-funded IMPACT EdTech project aims to install a hybrid incubator-accelerator and prepare for the market up to 43 EdTech selected prototypes of digital learning solutions. Candidates will be selected in three open calls. Two main open calls, launched in April 2020 and April 2021, target EdTech innovators that offer solutions which support personalised and inclusive educational models and the development of the skills relevant in today’s world. An emergency ‘Remote Schooling’ open call was launched in July 2020, targeting EdTech disruptors who offer solutions addressing common challenges faced by schools, teachers and learners during the COVID-19 crisis.
Objective
IMPACT EdTech will set up a hybrid incubator-accelerator to support 43 promising EdTech prototypes from digital learning disruptors in validating and testing Minimum Viable Products, in collaboration with education players, and prepare them to reach the market by providing early business and go-to-market support.
3 Open Calls will be launched to select Disruptors developing promising and innovative personalised digital learning solutions aiming to shape the education of the future. IMPACT EdTech will focus on: (A) K12 EdTech solutions; (B) B2C content-based solutions open to any age group and/or level of education. Personalisation implies a specific focus on adaptive & interactive solutions. Inclusion implies support of targeted/niche learning solutions for specific vulnerable or underserved groups, including children with special needs, but also of mainstream learning solutions, if they are accessible and inclusive-by-design.
Selected EdTech Trials will iterate MVP design engaging with targeted end-users and education experts, following a ‘pedagogy-first’ approach. The IMPACT EdTech innovation cycle will incorporate, for the most promising projects selected from two main open calls, pre-acceleration activities to test market interest and facilitate early deals, as well as short-cycle pilots to obtain preliminary impact assessment data that investors and clients require. An emergency 'Remote Schooling' open call will help identify solutions fit to address common challenges faced by schools during the COVID-19 crisis. These solutions will participate in a fast-track 5-months acceleration programme, during which they will be supported in piloting their solutions in schools and bringing them to market.
The backbone of the project is a small-sized consortium of 3 experienced partners: high Open Call Management expertise by FBA; proven Business Acceleration methodology by ISDI; Future Classroom Lab validation system and wide network of education stakeholders by EUN. Engagement of other relevant players will be secured via: Digital Learning Stakeholder Group consisting of key education players (knowledge, resources and data); a multidisciplinary pool of experts, mentors and practitioners working hand in hand with the selected EdTech Trials; agreements with schools across Europe participating in classroom pilots.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
1040 Bruxelles / Brussel
Belgium