Startup-corporate partnerships in Europe: Interview with Michiel Scheffer, President of the European Innovation Council Board
The European Innovation Council (EIC) is fostering collaboration between deep-tech startups and major corporations through its Corporate Partnership Programme (CPP) to accelerate commercial partnerships. This initiative, highlighted by a recently released report, aims to facilitate innovation and the adoption of new technologies across various sectors within Europe. The program also has an international dimension, including a recent mission to Japan, expanding its global reach. The EIC CPP has facilitated over 1,600 engagements between EIC-backed startups and more than 120 corporations since 2017. These engagements have resulted in over 130 business deals, with over 600 structured follow-ups. The program has organized 87 Corporate business activities across 15 Member States and Japan, involving over 5,500 participants. The EIC CPP has a 92% satisfaction rate among participants. The program's focus on disruptive technologies and its structured, multi-phase approach differentiates it from other initiatives. Only startups that have passed the competitive EIC selection process can join, ensuring a high potential for success. The program goes beyond networking, providing curated interactions, targeted training for startups, and a data-driven matchmaking process. This supports long-term strategic collaboration. The EIC CPP provides a framework for effective corporate-startup collaboration, as demonstrated in the report. This approach offers a roadmap for companies seeking to foster innovation through partnerships. The upcoming "Corporates Network" will further enhance these collaborative opportunities.
Curated and translated by Europe Digital for our multilingual European audience.
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