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INNOVATE-EU Project Kick-off in Stuttgart, Germany – February 4-5, 2025

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The INNOVATE-EU project, funded by Horizon Europe, officially launched with a successful kick-off meeting held on February 4-5, 2025, in Stuttgart, Germany. The event gathered eight project partners from five European countries and regions—Germany, Lithuania, Spain, Latvia, and Romania—along with Project Officer Oliver Kozak.

The European Union faces several societal challenges, including the need for a sustainable green and digital transition. To overcome these challenges and maintain the EU's competitiveness and strategic autonomy, innovative and disruptive solutions are crucial. Start-ups and Scale-ups, particularly in the deep tech sector, are key drivers for these solutions. However, the EU lags behind innovation leaders like the US in terms of start-up ecosystems and deep tech investments. As a result, improving the EU's innovation performance has become a top priority, leading to the creation of the "New European Innovation Agenda."

To address these challenges, the INNOVATE-EU project will strengthen and connect five local innovation ecosystems: the innovation leader region of Baden-Württemberg (BW) in Germany, the moderate innovator regions of Lithuania and Aragon in Spain, and the emerging innovation regions of Latvia and Northeast Romania. The goal is to reduce the innovation gap between these regions, link them to a broader EU network of innovation ecosystems, and support deep tech start-ups and scale-ups by focusing on three key pillars:

  •  A comprehensive analysis of the target groups and needs within the local innovation ecosystems, followed by knowledge exchange and the development of an action plan to address disparities.
  •  The establishment of the INNOVATE-EU innovation support community, which will foster interconnectedness and inclusivity, linking local ecosystems with broader European communities.
  •  Direct support and training for promising deep tech start-ups and scale-ups, providing them with the essential knowledge, tools, and contacts to scale their business models and successfully bring products to market.

The two-day meeting included interactive workshops, keynote speeches, and networking sessions, setting the stage for impactful collaboration over the project’s 24-month duration. Moving forward, the consortium will implement targeted actions to enhance regional innovation capabilities and create a lasting impact on Europe’s innovation landscape.

About INNOVATE-EU:

  • Project title: Strengthening European Start Ups through interconnected and inclusive Innovation Ecosystems (INNOVATE-EU), Project ID: 101193439.
  • Funding: European Commission, Horizon Europe – European Innovation Ecosystems
  • Project funding for all partners: 1.46 Mio €
  • Participating countries: Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Spain
  • Project duration: 01/2025 – 12/2027
  • Media Contact: Dr. Nadja Schlichenmaier, Steinbeis 2i GmbH
    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Stuttgart