For the EU deep-tech startup scene to grow sustainably and achieve its potential impact, access to real market problems and test beds is required. Driven by real market needs, the project has built and facilitated an open and collaborative ecosystem to facilitate high-impact deep-tech innovation, and has acted as a cross-border/sectoral market-maker, with the main following objectives:
• to generate, take up, and ensure market penetration of deep-tech solutions, by providing high value startups with the 3-phase acceleration programme “UPTAKE-UPGRADE-UPSCALE”. The programme consisted in key mentoring services in the form of trainings, workshops, coaching sessions, which targeted the shaping of solutions tackling tangible market needs and users' requirements, the improvement of key soft skills and the preparation to fundraising.
• to connect the innovators with major market players, potential clients, investors, technological partners, and other kinds of startups' support organisations or initiatives. The aim was to mobilise the Consortium’s different ecosystems to facilitate links among stakeholders and create synergies across Europe. The catalysation has been achieved through several Ecosystem Discovery Missions and a regular dialog among the STARTUP3 Hub stakeholders all along the acceleration programme, with numerous pitches and networking events, raising awareness of the benefits of deep-tech solutions, and stimulating their uptake.
Relevant stakeholders (corporations, investors, research centres and other startup supports) were also invited to contribute as mentors and evaluators to the startups' acceleration - becoming members of the STARTUP3 Corporate Pool - but also external experts who provided Trainings and Coachings - with the final aim to share peer-experience, build partnerships and refine the solutions hand in hand with potential users.
The STARTUP3 consortium is a fusion between geographically scattered clusters (POLE SCS, LITC, ITC) international innovation and tech-transfer specialists (INO and EKT), an SME focused on upscaling research and technology (AGENSO), and a startup studio (HOLA-UP).
To ensure the EU companies' competitiveness worldwide, deep-techs must be included in research and development strategies as they are the keys towards the development of disruptive innovations. STARTUP3 supported promising startups developping high value and cutting-edge solutions. What's more, their solutions are tackling several of today and tomorrow challenges: respect of the environment and a smart and responsible agriculture and consumption, the digitalisation of our industries, and last but not least in the curent context, advances in health and medtechs.
