Good news for deep-tech SMEs: Eureka signs open innovation agreement with major corporates
New relationship will offer opportunities for SMEs to establish partnerships with corporate venturing teams.
New relationship will offer opportunities for SMEs to establish partnerships with corporate venturing teams.
Brussels, 28 January 2021 - 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 five 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 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 five 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:
Speaking of the partnerships, Ulrich Schuh, Chairman of the Eureka network added:
‘Eureka welcomes these five corporates into its family with open arms. We are delighted to have 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?