Eureka, the world’s biggest network for R&D and innovation, has signed memoranda of understanding with the open innovation and corporate venturing arms of six major European companies. These agreements will create new opportunities for participating SMEs to establish contacts and partnerships with the open innovation and corporate venturing teams of major corporates.
The first corporates participating in the programme will be Agbar (part of the Suez Group), AVL List, Enel, Metsä Group, Solvay and Telefonica-Wayra.
The Eureka network, founded in 1985, has as its main role the promotion and funding of applied R&D and innovation projects through its network of research and innovation agencies from 45 member countries. More recently, Eureka has expanded its offer to investment- readiness activities, providing expert coaching and support, through partnerships with experts in the field, to SMEs and start-ups seeking to improve their appeal for inward private investment.
The six corporate partners involved will work together with a select pool of innovative SMEs and start-ups from their sectors, engaging with them in a close dialogue around specific industry themes.
The scope of the Eureka corporate activities will include:
- Prospecting and selecting SMEs aligned with the individual corporate’s business
- Online events to connect the corporate with companies in its sector, entitled ‘how to build successful partnerships’ and ‘current challenges’
- One-to-one matchmaking between the corporate and selected companies
Speaking of the partnerships, Ulrich Schuh, Chairman of the Eureka network added:
‘Eureka welcomes these six corporates into its family with open arms. We are delighted tohave such major players from different European technology sectors onboard to support our SMEs and start-ups in their bid for growth and economic success.’
Are you a deep-tech SME or start-up interested in getting involved in investment readiness activities?
Eureka is hosting a free introductory webinar on 10 February 2021 at 10 CET, where the corporate venturing partnerships will be launched and explained.
Ready to apply to be a participant in the programme?
This article was first published on 28 January by Eureka.
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