EXCELLING DEEP TECH THROUGH PLACE-BASED INNOVATION AND CONNECTED ECOSYSTEMS FOR WOMEN LED STARTUPS
EPIC-X aims to transform the European innovation ecosystem by empowering women-led deep tech startups. As part of this mission, the project will support 20 female-led deep tech startups from countries classified as “moderate” and “emerging” innovators, distributing a total of €1.2M to accelerate their growth and impact.
The project in numbers
women-led startup
Third Parties
innovator countries
covered
aBout the programme
The 20 selected deep tech women-led startups will gain exclusive access to the EPIC-X Acceleration+ Programme, designed to address key challenges and fast-track growth.
Over six months, startups will engage in a structured programme featuring personalized roadmaps, monthly operational support sessions, and dedicated mentoring from a pool of 100+ experienced experts. Meetups, masterclasses, and networking opportunities will help refine strategies and boost market readiness.
Each startup will receive €60,000 in grant funding.
Participants will connect with investors and innovation ecosystems, culminating in a high-profile Demo Day offering the perfect platform to pitch and scale their ventures.
OBJECTIVES
Activate and expand an interregional interconnected ecosystem to support
local-placed innovations and accelerate women-led deep tech startups.
Increase the market footprint of European women-led startups in strategic digital technologies and deep tech innovation in ‘moderate’ and ‘emerging’ innovator countries, supporting cross-border interconnected acceleration activities for startups that demonstrate traction and scale-up potential as well as opportunities for investment and growth.
Improve connectivity within and between deep tech innovation ecosystems, encouraging innovators and ecosystem builders, less well-represented stakeholders and less advanced innovation territories, to take forward a uniquely inclusive European innovation.
Strengthen and expand cooperation to better support the next generation of deep tech innovators leading the shift towards a more competitive EU and a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient world.
THE CONSORTIUM
INOVA+ is an expert provider of consultancy services in the fields of innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. Created in 1997, INOVA+ operates from Portugal (Porto and Lisbon) and has offices in Belgium (Brussels), Germany (Heidelberg) and Poland (Warsaw). With a highly qualified team of more than 90 consultants, with a multidisciplinary background and different nationalities, INOVA+ is also linked to a wide network of partners, which include public administration entities at the local, county, and regional levels, research centres, industry, education & training providers, NGOs, brokerage Institutions and European bodies. INOVA+’s consultants and project managers deliver effective and sustainable solutions in various areas of innovation, including Management & Innovation; Education & Training; Communities and Networks; Activation and Management; Entrepreneurship and Business Development; Internationalization; Science & Technology; Regional Development and Transnational Cooperation. Over the years, INOVA has contributed to the promotion of European and national policies and to the achievement of its priorities, by supporting the design of strategies and projects financed by the European Union. The company has taken part in more than 100 European projects, having coordinated over 50 of them, in a large range of programs.
VTT is a state owned and controlled non-profit limited liability company established by law and operating under the ownership steering of the Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy. We are a Research and Technology Organisation whose activities are focused on three areas: carbon neutral solutions, sustainable products and materials, and digital technologies. VTT is impact-driven and takes advantage from its wide multitechnological knowledge base to strengthen Finnish and European industrial competitiveness. VTT’s actions in innovation policy and innovation ecosystems provide solutions to challenges relating to smart energy, bioeconomy, synthetic biology, future food production, preventive health care, autonomous systems, industrial renewal and the electronics industry.
Specialising in Women’s Enterprise Support, we empower female entrepreneurs. Engaging in European and international projects, we apply EntreComp to enhance entrepreneurial learning and skills development across diverse sectors.
Enterprise Evolution is a dynamic social enterprise operating nationally and internationally to drive sustainable business growth, economic development, and social change. We offer research, business development, and social impact services, helping clients adapt to future challenges.
Our Social Impact support includes Value Measurement, Reporting, and Verification, using Social Score to assess real-world benefits. We provide Enterprise Education programs and resources for business growth.
SERN, a non-profit AISBL based in Brussels, supports startups by mapping and promoting regional support activities across Europe. It focuses on addressing barriers to startup growth, such as regulatory harmonization, access to talent, and research infrastructure. Rather than duplicating existing networks, SERN aims to fill the gap in startup funding and assess regional measures to foster startup growth. It provides an annual overview, highlighting best practices and case studies. The Startup Europe Regions Network connects EU regions, local authorities, and stakeholders to help startups scale up and leverage private and regional investments to create critical mass.
Start:up Slovenia is an independent open platform of the Slovene startup ecosystem that supports innovative entrepreneurship in Slovenia.
Beta-i is a collaborative innovation consultancy with global reach, based in Lisbon, São Paulo,Brussels, and Boston, with 15 years’ experience in 5 continents supporting companies in their innovation challenges and startups in their development challenges. It’s composed by a team of experts with its own methodology, in designing and managing projects from strategy to implementation. Beta-i is the biggest reference in entrepreneurship and innovation in Portugal, a pioneer in launching the first acceleration programs in the country, the first open innovation programs, the first startups events, being a European and global reference in this area. Member of several international organisations, and of consortia of reference, author of several reports on the Portuguese and European startup ecosystem, having among its co-founders opinion leaders and reference experts in innovation.
Startup Hungary is an independent, entrepreneur-led organization launched to supercharge the startup community and to support the birth and development of more high-growth potential tech companies in Hungary. It is founded by proven entrepreneurs and supported by key players of the startup ecosystem, who share a belief in Hungary’s potential as a regional hub and want to join forces to fuel its growth.
SAPIE is an independent and non-profit platform whose mission is to empower the Slovak innovation ecosystem. It’s the largest professional association representing almost 200 member companies and organizations.
SAPIE is a leading platform for policy debate on digital economy and innovation in Slovakia aspiring to unite leaders within the CEE region. It is active in forming collaborative networks of private and public actors, supporting the startup scene and community and enhancing digital transformation of SMEs within the CEE region.
Romanian Tech Startups Association is a non-profit, apolitical and non-governmental organization. We are an umbrella organization that aims to promote, support and represent the interests of tech startups in Romania.
ROTSA brings together the main actors of the national ecosystem of tech startups, facilitating their communication and creating connections and partnerships between them.
Make More is a dynamic network for makers, creators, and innovators, bridging art, design, and technology. What we do:
– organizes 12 Maker Faires across different regions in the Czech Republic, which serves as an effective tool to identify potential for deep-tech startups,
– provides hands-on expertise in rapid prototyping, digital fabrication, community engagement, and localized support, helping projects evolve from concept to reality,
– connects diverse stakeholders—from makers and startups to governmental bodies—to encourage collaboration and exchange,
– founded the Czech Association of Open Workshops, uniting fab labs, makerspaces, and open workshops across the country,
– organizes annual Forum of Creativity and Innovation—designed for representatives of government, innovation centers, and open workshops—Make More sparks dialogue and fosters partnerships, empowering the integration of forward-thinking ideas into nationaland regional strategies.
The most important technology think-tank in Central Europe.
We represent Polish startups in dialogue with the Polish government and parliament,
The European Commission and local governments. We connect startups with clients and investors. Startup Poland is the largest non-governmental organisation in Poland representing the startup ecosystem. Our mission is to represent the interests of the innovation sector in front of public authorities and to strengthen Poland’s position as a competitive hub for startups within the European Union. We collaborate with key stakeholders, including government bodies, investors, academia, and international partners, creating an environment where tech-driven ideas can thrive.
InnovUp is the non-profit and super partes association that represents and unites the Italian innovation chain: startups, scaleups, innovative SMEs, innovation centers, incubators, accelerators, science and technology parks, professional firms, consulting companies and corporates.
InnovUp works to strengthen and foster the Italian innovative entrepreneurship system through 3 main areas of activity: Advocacy, Networking, Knowledge.
InnovUp is member of AFS (Allied for Startups), ESNA (European Startup Nation Alliance), IASP (International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation), ESN (European Startup Network), EBN (European Business and Innovation Centre Network), EBAN (European Business Angels Network).
Powered by Innovation Agency Lithuania, under the Ministry of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania, Startup Lithuania supports startups through key growth initiatives, connecting international resources with local talents. The organization leads initiatives such as the Startup Guide, Startup Visa Lithuania program, organizes Startup Fair, and actively represents the ecosystem at international tech conferences, putting Lithuaniaʼs startups on the global map.
Ecosystem builders
The seven new ecosystem builders are officially part of the EPIC-X network. The new countries include Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, Malta, Latvia, Spain, and Greece.
Tartu Science Park fosters collaboration between academia and industry. We support startups and established companies by providing resources, expertise, and networking opportunities. Our mission is to drive economic growth and technological advancement through research and entrepreneurship, creating a sustainable ecosystem for businesses to thrive.
AcrossLimits is a dynamic company primarily based in Malta, offering European solutions for technology, innovation, funding, networking, commercialisation and more. Their experience with helping start-ups access EU funding across Europe has helped them to build a large ecosystem of industry stakeholders and experts. AcrossLimits has also participated in multiple European Projects aimed towards helping start-ups scale up, including projects targeting research commercialisation and female entrepreneurship.
Found.ation is an innovation management consulting firm that passionately transforms organizations and teams by activating new skills and disruptive methodologies.
Originally established in 2011 as one of the first tech incubators in SE Europe, it has since developed to a fully-fledged consultancy for the evolving business world, uniquely positioned at the heart of the innovation landscape in Greece. We connect brands, startups, business leaders and young talent in order to create successful, future-ready companies in the tech space and across various industries.
BESCO – The Bulgarian Entrepreneurial Association is a leading organization representing over 900 innovative, fast-growing, and startup companies in Bulgaria. Our mission is to create a better business environment through real legislative reforms and by connecting entrepreneurs with institutions, investors, and expert communities. We advocate for a sustainable economy that supports innovation, talent, and long-term growth. BESCO believes entrepreneurs don’t just build companies – they build culture. We are here to make sure their voices are heard where it matters most.
At the Spanish Startup Association, we represent more than 2,000 startups. We aim to make Spain the best country for innovation and entrepreneurship, and we are committed to driving the intelligent transformation of sectors through open innovation and public-private collaboration.
On November 19th, AES organize the #WomenStartupAwards, which recognize and highlight the incredible talent of innovative women in Spain so that they can continue to inspire future generations, promoting a more inclusive and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem, and closing the gender gap in the innovation ecosystem.
CRO STARTUP was founded in April 2022 as NGO with ambitious tasks to: (i) strengthen the startup community, connect and coordinate all the stakeholders, as well as all the existing local, regional, and sector-based initiatives, organize events that will allow networking and exchange of experiences, (ii) showcase Croatian startups to the general public, both local, regional, and international, (iii) create a pool of knowledge and resources as a single platform that brings together all resources needed by startups in one place, such as industry-standard legal documents in Croatia so startups and investors can focus on company and deal specific matters, and (iv) eliminate regulatory barriers and make the regulatory framework startup-friendly, by simplifying the processes of opening and operating a startup, investing or raising funds in Croatia, and attracting and retaining talent.
UniLab is a mission-driven accelerator founded and co-owned by leading Latvian universities to unlock the innovation potential of science and research. Operating at the intersection of academia and entrepreneurship, UniLab empowers researchers, students, and early-stage founders to turn breakthrough ideas into real-world impact. With a strong focus on deep tech, sustainability, and knowledge transfer, UniLab supports the development of high-growth ventures grounded in university research and aligned with national smart specialization priorities (RIS3). Through tailored training, mentorship, and cross-sector collaboration, UniLab strengthens the regional innovation ecosystem and fosters science-based entrepreneurship with global potential.
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