The European Innovation Council (EIC) has recently launched the third edition of its Corporate Partnership Programme. Since its establishment in 2017, this initiative has emerged as one of the EIC’s most successful business ventures. It aids EIC-supported companies in their expansion efforts by facilitating connections with new clients and business associates.
Assisting the EIC in this endeavor is a consortium of partners, spearheaded by Hello Tomorrow, which includes Dealflow.eu and EU-Startups. This consortium was chosen through an open call for tenders.
To date, over 1,200 start-ups and scale-ups supported by the EIC have participated in the programme, along with more than 2,500 representatives from over 100 large companies. This collaboration has yielded significant organizational impacts, progress monitoring, and deal closures, often within a span of six months.
The latest edition aims to host 31 business acceleration activities over the next two and a half years. The focus is on boosting participation and enhancing the success rate of collaborations between EIC-funded companies and major European enterprises.
Notable improvements in the programme include the expansion of corporate partnerships and dedicated support for deal-making, both pre-event and post-event. Additionally, the programme incorporates best practices in project, task, and data management.
The European Innovation Council is presently seeking applications from Europe’s largest and most innovative corporations. They should be keen on joining its dynamic ecosystem and collaborating with top-tier start-ups and scale-ups funded by the EIC. Largely, participants in the programme stand to gain access to disruptive ideas and emerging technologies that guide their business strategies.
Overview of the Corporate Partnership Programme
Through the Corporate Partnership Programme, the EIC facilitates collaboration between the innovative companies it supports and large corporations. The aim is to drive European innovation and facilitate partnerships and business deals between EIC start-ups, scale-ups, and corporations.
The Corporate Partnership Programme was established in 2017. Since then, it has enabled EIC companies to expand their networks and interact with key decision-makers from prominent European firms.
From October 2017 to June 2023, the EIC organised 69 initiatives, including EIC Corporate Days, EIC Multi Corporate Days, and Enhanced Cooperation Initiatives such as Planet.Tech and Energy4Planet, involving over 100 corporate partners, including ABB, Airbus, BMW, CaixaBank, CommerzBank, Enel, Ferrovial, L’Oreal, Medtronic, Neste, Novo Nordisk, Roche, Saint-Gobain, Shell, Siemens Energy, Solvay, and Telefonica.
From October 2017 to June 2023, the EIC orchestrated a total of 69 initiatives. These initiatives comprised various events such as EIC Corporate Days and EIC Multi Corporate Days. Additionally, they included Enhanced Cooperation Initiatives like Planet.Tech and Energy4Planet. These activities engaged over 100 corporate partners, among them ABB, Airbus, BMW, CaixaBank, CommerzBank, Enel, Ferrovial, L’Oreal, Medtronic, Neste, Novo Nordisk, Roche, Saint-Gobain, Shell, Siemens Energy, Solvay, and Telefonica. More than 1,200 EIC-funded start-ups and scale-ups, along with over 2,500 high-level corporate representatives, participated. This resulted in significant business impacts, follow-ups, and deals.
The satisfaction rate among corporate representatives has reached 100%. This demonstrates the effectiveness of connecting innovative SMEs and large companies as a vital strategy for business acceleration and growth.
The Offer
The European Innovation Council plans to organize an additional 31 activities between 2024 and 2026. It is open to new collaborations with Europe’s largest and most innovative corporations.
Corporations will have the opportunity to:
– Access a pipeline of over 6,000 pre-selected and EU-funded SMEs in Europe, covering all verticals including health, energy, green, digital, and deep tech;
– Present their challenges and select EIC companies to collaborate with.
Moreover, there are three different activity formats for the European Corporate Partnership Programme:
- EIC Corporate Days
An exclusive curated business acceleration service bridging the gap between EIC-funded innovators and large firms.
- EIC Multi Corporate Days
Corporate Days involving several corporations focusing on sector-specific challenges and opportunities.
- Corporate Clients Capitalisation
A business acceleration service where corporations act as intermediaries, facilitating access for EIC beneficiaries to their commercial networks.
Essentially, the EIC seeks large corporations with an open innovation spirit, interested in integrating innovations from start-ups and scale-ups directly into their business offerings.
Criteria for the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme
To achieve the highest impact for EIC awardees, the EIC specifically looks for:
– Size and Reach:
The largest corporations in Europe (cumulative criteria), with over €1 billion turnover, more than 1,000 employees worldwide, presence in at least 10 EU27 Member States, and investment in start-ups and scale-ups.
– Alignment with EIC Portfolio:
Focus on the EIC portfolio needs. The main topics include Health and Biotech, Energy and Sustainability, and Digital and ICT.
– Innovation and Investment:
Corporate investment and experience in “Open innovation” and Corporate Venture Capital (CVC).
Before initiating a collaboration, the EIC requires corporations to agree with the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme Declaration of Intent.
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