Our Partners
The Cámara de Comercio e Industria de la Provincia de Cáceres (CCIC)
The Cámara de Comercio e Industria de la Provincia de Cáceres (CCIC), located in the Extremadura Region of Spain, is a Public Authority dedicated to supporting the commercial and industrial interests of businesses. As an active Spanish High Council of Chambers and Eurochambres member, CCIC leverages its extensive network and expertise in Business Support, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Internationalisation, and Training.
CCIC is involved in the DRIVEN project, which enhances the application of Open Innovation among SMEs. The CCIC High-Performance Center for Entrepreneurs, ‘C-LAB’, guides startups from inception to exit. It is integrated with the Cáceres Investor HUB, an investment vehicle to support startups that align with regional development goals.
CCIC leads the EDIH T4E: Tech for Efficiency, a one-stop-shop for digitalisation specialised on the use of energy; tech for ecology, promoting greening and sustainability in SMEs; industry 4.0 and tech for equality.
CCIC is a key facilitator of digital transformation and Deep Tech startup acceleration in the region and well placed to activate startups and coordinate resources. CCIC services 50 startups/year, growing to 100 by 2030.
CodeBase
CodeBase Ltd (CodeBase) is responsible for coordinating, quality, and delivering Global Growth Coaching services and advisory services. It has run many acceleration cohorts with over 500+ startups and scale-ups supported and with over 40+ global corporations in its programmes and is well positioned for the global corporate and industrial value chain and startup collaboration.
CodeBase is the largest technology ecosystem builder in the UK and ranks among the fastest-growing in Europe. Its startups have raised over $5 Billion of funding. CodeBase supports a dynamic networked community of tech startups in 43 hubs across the UK and nationwide online. It offers comprehensive support from mentorship to funding and international connectivity, including its San Francisco hub.
CodeBase facilitates rapid growth, with the winning model of integrating cutting-edge technology with business acumen, an exemplary blueprint for ecosystem builders. It will leverage its network and expertise to replicate the growth model across the European landscape.
Demokritos
Demokritos, founded in July 1961 as a Research Centre for Nuclear Research, is today Greece’s largest multidisciplinary Research Centre with approximately 1000 researchers and an incubator (Lefkippos). Demokritos also provides incubation and acceleration services to researchers and collaborating organisations nationwide.
Demokritos also participates in two EDIHs SmartAttica-AtHeNAI and Smart Health. It delivers and connects to several startup, scale-up and SME incubation activities, such as NATO DIANA Accelerators, which can open up dual-use customer opportunities for some of the ACCEND startups (*defence sector work is out outside of ACCEND activities). It is the possible partner from Greece to conduct the ACCEND activities in Greece and in Athens region (Attica).
EdTechHub
EdTechHub, under the umbrella of the Polish Digital Knowledge Observatory Foundation, has been a leader in digital transformation in Poland since 2005. As a prominent deep tech startup accelerator, EdTechHub operates the TECHHUB. It supports digital tech companies by managing private and public capital through its venture builder model and the Digital Knowledge Village infrastructure.
Key initiatives include the “Pioneer – Digital Competence of Society” program and Measure 3.3 “e-Pioneer” organised under GovTech and the National Centre for R&D. EdTechHub has cultivated a robust digital innovation ecosystem, engaging with the local government sector, IT community, research organisations, startups, and SMEs. It boasts strong connections with regional and national government units, including the Ministry of Education and Science and the Dept. of the Labour Market.
EdTechHub is also a main partner of the EDIH WaMa Innovation Hub, for digital transformation in SMEs and the public sector. The primary aim is to boost the competitiveness of local companies and enhance service quality through increased digital capabilities. EdTechHub currently services 30 startups yearly, wishing to grow by number and geography.
EIT Digital Finland
EIT Digital Finland (EITD-Finland) serves as the Nordic Node of the EIT Digital KIC, playing a critical role in supporting startups across the Nordic countries. EIT Digital (EITD) is a pan-European ecosystem of top European corporations, SMEs, startups, universities, and research institutes.
It operates Europe's largest digital startup acceleration program, the EIT Digital Venture Acceleration Programme. This program connects EIC Accelerator companies and Seal-of-Excellence recipients with a broad range of services, facilitating their growth and expansion. EITD-Finland's involvement ensures that Nordic startups receive tailored support to foster their development and enhance their ability to expand across Europe, integrating them into a dynamic European innovation ecosystem.
While all partners have substantial experience and connections to regional and global investors, EIT Digital is a crucial partner to widen up and build trust to many global investors already investing in the deep tech. Thus, it is well placed to lead the work on Access to Finance.
Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC)
OASC is a global network of over 160 cities and communities in more than 30 countries to shape and create a market for smart city data and services. OASC connects cities & communities worldwide to learn from each other and exchange digital, data-driven solutions based on Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms (MIMs), a set of practical capabilities based on open technical specifications that allow cities and communities to replicate and scale solutions globally.
Unlike any other city network, OASC and its member cities are driven by experimentation and implementation. OASC is responsible for leading PPI work (public procurement of innovation) and brings active, direct access to its member cities via digital communication channels, events and match-making activities.
Regional Development Fund of the Region of Western Greece (RDFW)
Regional Development Fund of the Region of Western Greece (RDFW) is a Private Legal Entity managed by a Board of Directors and the Regional Governor of Western Greece as chairman of the Board, with key mission the scientific and technical support of the regional authority in regional development planning and programmes implementation, as well as for the financial administration of the regional public investment programme (PIP).
As a value-added development agency, RDFW plans and implements interventions for the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation in all Smart Specialisation priority areas of the Region of Western Greece and the acceleration of regional strategies implementation, monitoring and evaluation, with openness, inclusion and extroversion towards sustainable growth and job creation. It is well placed to conduct activation and support for the startups from Western Greece region.
The Startup Poland Foundation (Startup-Poland) is the voice of the startup ecosystem in Poland, the largest and most influential organisation for startups in the country. It is a member of the Europe Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA), pivotal in fostering cross-border collaboration and advocating for startup-friendly policies throughout Europe.
This leading technology think tank in Central Europe is proactive in representing the interests of Polish startups at discussions with significant stakeholders, including the Polish government, the EC, and local governments.
Startup Poland promotes an environment that nurtures innovation and growth by ensuring that startups are well-represented in regulatory dialogues. It also connects startups with potential clients and investors, significantly enhancing their domestic and international growth prospects. In ACCEND it also activates Polish startups beyond the regional barriers of EdTechHub.
Due to its national coverage and experience in policy work and policy-maker interactions, it is well placed to lead the ACCEND work on policy recommendations, impact assessment, and coordinating the consortia towards the long-term joint business plan.
The Startup Poland Foundation
The University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh (UEDIN) is the project coordinator, via Edinburgh Innovations (EI) and Data-Driven Innovation (DDI) departments.
The University of Edinburgh is the leading university in Scotland, ranked #5 in the world for UN SDG9 industry, innovation and infrastructure by Times HE.
Edinburgh Innovations is the commercialisation service of the University, providing a range of start-up services from early-stage support to venture funding.
DDI is a 15-year investment and data innovation programme. With a budget of £660m, DDI has launched 6 new innovation hubs, open for external partners, aiming to launch or scale up 400 startups across 10 industry sectors. DDI Hub, the Bayes Centre, is the home base for EIT Digital Scotland hub. U
EDIN is well positioned to lead the consortium due to its long experience in deep tech acceleration, and the ambition to grow. The number of startups supported currently by DDI is 443 (goal 2030: 700). The funding raised by the startups supported by DDI is at £308m (2018-2023) (goal 2030: £1100m). The number of global startups using its AI Accelerator is 78 (2017-2014) (goal 2023: 180). 23% of these are women-led (goal 2030: 35%).
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) located in the heart of Europe, plays a crucial role in the Brussels and Flanders deep tech entrepreneurship community.
It hosts the AI Experience Centre and the FARI AI for the Common Good Institute , pivotal platforms that foster cutting-edge research and development in artificial intelligence and other high-tech fields. It hosts the Brussels CLAIRE office as well . The university's StartLab.Brussels, sustain.brussels and Flanders AI EDIH significantly contribute to nurturing startup ecosystems by providing young entrepreneurs and startups with the tools, mentorship, and connections to thrive.
VUB's integrated approach combines academic rigor with practical application, enhancing the region's technological innovation and commercialisation capacity. VUB has a long experience in user and open innovation services and methodologies, engaging with deep tech spin-outs and startups, and is well positioned to lead the Piloting WG.