Category: News

The main R+D+i event presented in Brussels its solidification in Spain as a tool for sharing scientific knowledge and promoting innovation

Juan Manuel Revuelta, CEO of Finnova Foundation, participated at the meeting talking about the European programs and fundings

The 9^th edition of the leading innovation event in Southern Europe will take place on 12 and 13 February 2020 in Málaga (Spain)

Transfiere, European Forum for Science, Technology and Innovation, calls for international bodies to take part in the ninth edition of the event on 12 and 13 February 2020. With a strong focus on Europe, the forum is a first-rate platform allowing participants access to the most advanced innovations in the following key economic sectors: aeronautics and aerospace, agri-food, energy, industry, infrastructure and transport, the environment, health, finance and services, and information and communication technologies (ICT).

Positioned as the most important Spanish event on innovation and the transfer of knowledge between research and business, it was presented to institutions and professionals today in the European Parliament (Brussels). Within the event’s framework, these parties have the opportunity to discover and acquire innovative products and ideas from high-tech fields such as industry 4.0, robotic and automation, blue and circular economy, artificial intelligence applied to 5G and IoT, biotechnology.

During the presentation, Juan Manuel Revuelta, CEO of Finnova Foundation, participated at the meeting talking about the European programs and fundings that allow a further and deeper development of innovation. He also emphasized the need of increasing Pilot internships and encouraged Transfiere to serve as a link for governments and universities with businesses and enterprises that could transform research to reality. “Transfiere can help to us to bring new consortium and ideas to the real market”, he said.

Transfiere participants can arrange meetings with potential collaborators, transfer scientific knowledge and technological research topics, introduce innovative products and services, learn about the technological needs of the public administration, obtain financing for their projects and acquire innovative products. It is aimed at representatives of public administrations, business associations, European business and R&D+I centres, technological centres, clusters, multinational companies, start-ups, SMEs and micro-companies, foundations, large scientific and technical facilities, technological institutes, public research bodies, science and technology parks, universities and investors. Furthermore, the forum has a specific entrepreneurial meet and greet space to foster collaboration and open innovation in the previously mentioned sectors.

Networking and generating business and partnerships opportunities is at the core of the Transfiere event. An online tool is allows participants to make appointments with prospective partners, such as researchers, companies or public administration representatives. Each year, the forum brings the most up-to-date innovations in these sectors to the forefront thanks to a programme packed with conferences, round tables and presentations by international experts—around 300 speakers in 2019. It also has an exhibition area where companies and public administrations present their innovative products and services. Last year’s edition was attended by more than 1,800 public and private entities and more than 20,000 research groups were also present.

Also noteworthy was that the last event closed with the participation of 4,500 professionals from twenty countries and active delegations from Japan (guest country), Argentina, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates, hosting more than 5,500 business meetings that took place over the course of 14 hours.On the other hand, more than thirty prototypes were exhibited in a call for proposals in which the part played by investors gained prominence—with nearly 40 funds and accelerators involved—, as well as start-ups and open innovative settings, with 165 solutions presented in response to the technological challenges raised by multinationals.

Opportunities for internationalisation

Transfiere addresses internationalisation opportunities for Spanish R+D+i, among other topics, through hosting a “Guest country”, focusing on the main success factors and models of relevant innovative systems. In 2019 it was Japan, following in the footsteps of other countries such as Israel, South Korea, Portugal and Argentina.

The conference also includes specialised content on new economies to analyse initiatives launched at a global level. It also combines collaborative models with international organisations and bodies. During 2018, the forum exported its brand for the first time in its eight-year history with the holding of Transfiere Argentina, the Ibero-American Forum on Technology and Innovation.

Support for the dissemination and communication of knowledge

The Transfiere Forum also highlights the role of communicators and disseminators responsible for transferring scientific knowledge to the society at large, as part of the knowledge transfer process. Thus, annually it convenes the ‘Transfiere Forum’ Journalism Awards to Support Scientific, Technological and Innovative Dissemination, which recognises the work of journalists and publicists in raising awareness for the technological innovation developed in Spain and its emergence in international circles. With this objective in mind, the forum also organises, in conjunction with the Spanish Association of Scientific Communication (AECC in its Spanish acronym), the Transfiere Forum Scientific Communication Conference: ‘Disseminate science, technology and innovation’.

As a new feature, last year’s event included the ‘Talent Woman by Transfer & Alastria‘ business brunch to discuss women’s status in STEM disciplines —science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Transfiere will bring together other cross-cutting issues, such as the achievement of Sustainable Development Objectives (SDOs) in the framework of the 2010 Agenda.

Transfiere 2019 is organised by FYCMA (Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga). Its promoters include the Malaga City Council, the Ministry of Knowledge, Research and the Universities of the Andalusian Regional Government and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and the Universities of the Spanish Government.

For more information on the forum, consult www.forotransfiere.com, our Facebook page and @ForoTransfiere on Twitter.

The main R+D+i event presented in Brussels its solidification in Spain as a tool for sharing scientific knowledge and promoting innovation

Juan Manuel Revuelta, CEO of Finnova Foundation, participated at the meeting talking about the European programs and fundings

The 9^th edition of the leading innovation event in Southern Europe will take place on 12 and 13 February 2020 in Málaga (Spain)

Transfiere, European Forum for Science, Technology and Innovation, calls for international bodies to take part in the ninth edition of the event on 12 and 13 February 2020. With a strong focus on Europe, the forum is a first-rate platform allowing participants access to the most advanced innovations in the following key economic sectors: aeronautics and aerospace, agri-food, energy, industry, infrastructure and transport, the environment, health, finance and services, and information and communication technologies (ICT).

Positioned as the most important Spanish event on innovation and the transfer of knowledge between research and business, it was presented to institutions and professionals today in the European Parliament (Brussels). Within the event’s framework, these parties have the opportunity to discover and acquire innovative products and ideas from high-tech fields such as industry 4.0, robotic and automation, blue and circular economy, artificial intelligence applied to 5G and IoT, biotechnology.

During the presentation, Juan Manuel Revuelta, CEO of Finnova Foundation, participated at the meeting talking about the European programs and fundings that allow a further and deeper development of innovation. He also emphasized the need of increasing Pilot internships and encouraged Transfiere to serve as a link for governments and universities with businesses and enterprises that could transform research to reality. “Transfiere can help to us to bring new consortium and ideas to the real market”, he said.

Transfiere participants can arrange meetings with potential collaborators, transfer scientific knowledge and technological research topics, introduce innovative products and services, learn about the technological needs of the public administration, obtain financing for their projects and acquire innovative products. It is aimed at representatives of public administrations, business associations, European business and R&D+I centres, technological centres, clusters, multinational companies, start-ups, SMEs and micro-companies, foundations, large scientific and technical facilities, technological institutes, public research bodies, science and technology parks, universities and investors. Furthermore, the forum has a specific entrepreneurial meet and greet space to foster collaboration and open innovation in the previously mentioned sectors.

Networking and generating business and partnerships opportunities is at the core of the Transfiere event. An online tool is allows participants to make appointments with prospective partners, such as researchers, companies or public administration representatives. Each year, the forum brings the most up-to-date innovations in these sectors to the forefront thanks to a programme packed with conferences, round tables and presentations by international experts—around 300 speakers in 2019. It also has an exhibition area where companies and public administrations present their innovative products and services. Last year’s edition was attended by more than 1,800 public and private entities and more than 20,000 research groups were also present.

Also noteworthy was that the last event closed with the participation of 4,500 professionals from twenty countries and active delegations from Japan (guest country), Argentina, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates, hosting more than 5,500 business meetings that took place over the course of 14 hours.On the other hand, more than thirty prototypes were exhibited in a call for proposals in which the part played by investors gained prominence—with nearly 40 funds and accelerators involved—, as well as start-ups and open innovative settings, with 165 solutions presented in response to the technological challenges raised by multinationals.

Opportunities for internationalisation

Transfiere addresses internationalisation opportunities for Spanish R+D+i, among other topics, through hosting a “Guest country”, focusing on the main success factors and models of relevant innovative systems. In 2019 it was Japan, following in the footsteps of other countries such as Israel, South Korea, Portugal and Argentina.

The conference also includes specialised content on new economies to analyse initiatives launched at a global level. It also combines collaborative models with international organisations and bodies. During 2018, the forum exported its brand for the first time in its eight-year history with the holding of Transfiere Argentina, the Ibero-American Forum on Technology and Innovation.

Support for the dissemination and communication of knowledge

The Transfiere Forum also highlights the role of communicators and disseminators responsible for transferring scientific knowledge to the society at large, as part of the knowledge transfer process. Thus, annually it convenes the ‘Transfiere Forum’ Journalism Awards to Support Scientific, Technological and Innovative Dissemination, which recognises the work of journalists and publicists in raising awareness for the technological innovation developed in Spain and its emergence in international circles. With this objective in mind, the forum also organises, in conjunction with the Spanish Association of Scientific Communication (AECC in its Spanish acronym), the Transfiere Forum Scientific Communication Conference: ‘Disseminate science, technology and innovation’.

As a new feature, last year’s event included the ‘Talent Woman by Transfer & Alastria‘ business brunch to discuss women’s status in STEM disciplines —science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Transfiere will bring together other cross-cutting issues, such as the achievement of Sustainable Development Objectives (SDOs) in the framework of the 2010 Agenda.

Transfiere 2019 is organised by FYCMA (Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga). Its promoters include the Malaga City Council, the Ministry of Knowledge, Research and the Universities of the Andalusian Regional Government and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and the Universities of the Spanish Government.

For more information on the forum, consult www.forotransfiere.com, our Facebook page and @ForoTransfiere on Twitter.

• The greatest event of innovation and entrepreneurship at the food industry will be held 20. and 21. June in Málaga (Spain)
• Finnova cooperates with this innitiative from the European Commission, created and implemented by INTEC, Startup Europe and FYCMA
• The aim of Smart Agrifood Summit is to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of technologies and in its integration into the agri-food chain

The Second edition of the Startup Europe Smart Agrifood Summit is around the corner: the Spanish city of Málaga will host the greatest event of innovation and entrepreneurship at the food industry. There, professionals from more than 19 countries will have the opportunity, between 20 and 21 June, to promote and improve the enterprise visibility and digital transformation. They will also have the chance to strength the agrifood ecosystem, attract inversion, facilitate financing in new projects and promote the use of technology to boost value added to agricultural products. For this reason, there will be an investors’ forum with more than 100 guest speakers, as well as working meetings.

The Summit will be also a great opportunity for the participants to know more about all the different programmes that the European Union provides for the 2020 – 2027 period in the field of agrifood innovation, such as Horizon Europe or LIFE Programme. With regard to this, our CEO, Juanma Revuelta, will give a talk on “How to stimulate the smart agrifood ecosystem for startups in Europe”, on 21 June at 11:00 a.m, in which he will not only explain all programmes in the frame of the the Common Agricultural Policy mentioned above, but also Fast Track to Innovation, which allows entrepreneurs to access subsidies up to 3 million euros. Besides, experts from Startup Europe Accelerator will solve all doubts about the programme.

Call For Start-ups

In order to boost the entrepreneurial Agrifood ecosystem, Smart Agrifood Summit launches a new Call For Start-ups until 27. May. 300 start-ups will be selected to participate in these 2 intensive days to boost, to dinamize and to choose the best innovative proyects for the digital transformation in the agrifood sector. The chosen ones will be assisted by an international team of succesful advisors, entrepreneurs and investors. They will opt as well for the following awards:

1. Best start-up at the event
2. Most innovative start-up
3. Greater scalability
4. RSC in gender equality
5. Best technological solution

In addition, IBM will provide 2 different awards through the “Startup with IMB” programme:

1. Builder Level: use of technology on IBM Cloud valued at $12,000 a year for the 30 finalist startups
   
2. Premium Level: use of technology on IBM Cloud valued at $120,000 a year for the 5 winner startups
   
3. Greater scalability
4. RSC in gender equality
5. Best technological solution

“Startup with IMB” allows start-ups to access to IBM Technology: Cloud infraestructure, Data, IoT, Blockchain and artificial intelligence technology with Watson, among other services.

Don’t miss the opportunity to participate and register here or visit www.smartagrifoodsummit.com
To see the provisional programme, click here

Organizers:

In cooperation with:

• The awards ceremony was chaired by the Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mariya Gabrieltogether with the Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Emil Boc and the Minister of Communication and Information Society of Romania, Alexandru Petrescu.
• StartUp Europe Awards is an initiative of the European Commission’s Startup Europe initiative and the Finnova Foundation.
• OKRA Technologies, Bolt, NorthQ, Kidibot and Mama Organa have been awarded as the best startups in the 5 different categories focused on social impact.
• The ceremony was celebrated in the frame of the Startup Europe Summit 2019, organized this year by the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Unionas part of the Presidency programme in Cluj-Napoca.

Cluj-Napoca, 21 March 2019. StartUp Europe Awards, an open innovation initiative of the European Commission’s Startup Europe initiative and the Finnova Foundation, recognizes the best startups in 5 categories focused on social impact. The ceremony was chaired by the European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mariya Gabriel, together with the Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Emil Boc and the Minister of Communication and Information Society of Romania, Alexandru Petrescu.

“Start-ups are essential for the future of Europe’s economy, its technological leadership and its capacity to deliver a human-centred and sustainable development. Four months after the Sofia Summit, we are together again to further strengthen the European network of start-ups, investors and policy makers and to foster cooperation across the whole continent, including in the Western Balkans. I am looking forward to inspiring discussions and would be happy to steer tangible solutions regarding the many challenges they fase”, states Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society.

The ceremony of StartUp Europe Awards Special Edition was celebrated in the frame of the Startup Europe Summit 2019, organized this year by the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union as part of the Presidency programme in Cluj-Napoca.

“Hosting such an event in the heart of Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca offers us the opportunity to celebrate the boldness and innovation of the brightest minds in Europe. The future belongs to those who can see that talents are the resource for a better society. Nurturing them and offering opportunities to test and try their ideas is the way go towards the Europe of tomorrow, where courage and curiosity are used to do good, and to become better”, declares Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca.

“Great to host under the Romanian Digital Presidency of the EU Council the StartUp Europe Awards Special Edition in Cluj-Napoca, a place that’s been gaining european recognition for encouraging  young entrepreneurs, innovative ideas, adoption of new technologies in a manner that has been proven beneficial not just for Romanians but for all European citizens and SMEs”, states Alexandru Petrescu, Minister of Communication and Information Society of Romania.

The most outstanding startups from the EU and neighbouring countries have been chosen out of 70 applicants through an open call for a special edition focused on social impact.  The honored startups are: OKRA Technologies (Female-led startup) from UK; Bolt (Founder under 30 startup) from Estonia; NorthQ (UN Sustainable Development Goals startup) from Denmark; Kidibot (Social inclusion startup) from Romania; and Mama Organa (Job growth startup) from North Macedonia.  Winning startups have been promoting their projects and approach customers and potential investors during the summit in a dedicated exposition space.

StartUp Europe Awards proposes a methodology of open innovation through the public – private partnership, “that works for the public entities to find a solution for its local challenges and for the startups to try its innovations in pilots supported with European funding, generating social impact for the benefit of the citizens”, declares Juanma Revuelta, Finnova Foundation CEO.

In total, 70 startups from Poland, Romania, Estonia, Cyprus, Ireland, Greece, North Macedonia, Italy, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Spain, UK, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany and Belgium, have opted for one of the 5 prizes.

All the winners of StartUp Europe Awards will obtain great visibility all around Europe thanks to the Media Partner Alliance of StartUp Europe Awards formed by 25 media partners from several countries in Europe (Spain, France, Belgium, Latvia, Luxembourg, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark).

The startups will also have access to specialized orientation in EU opportunities (in internationalization, European funds like SMEs Instrument of 50.000 € to 2,5 million € of non-refundable subsidy per project, international communication, etc.), through the StartUp Europe Accelerator by Finnova Foundation, which will allow them to boost their projects and to make them more viable worldwide.

StartUp Europe Accelerator is the unique accelerator specialized in European opportunities funding, which helps the entrepreneurs internationalize their business through European projects.

20 members of the European Parliament have come together in the StartUp Europe Awards as ambassadors, supporting the local events with their presence and following closely the progress of the startups.

The next general edition of StartUp Europe Awards will be launched in April 2019.

The Startup Europe Summit 2019 gathered 600 leaders from the European entrepreneurial ecosystem ranging from investors, CEOs, accelerators to European and local authorities and tech journalists in Cluj-Napoca.

“Romanian ICT sector has been delivering performance for years, constantly improving academia, offering better fiscal facility, attractive business environment, having a significant contribution to the European Union effort to achieve a higher competitiveness at the global stage”, concludes Minister Alexandru Petrescu.

About StartUp Europe Awards

StartUp Europe Awards of the European Commission’s Startup Europe initiative and Finnova is an open innovation methodology that encourages collaboration between the public sector and businesses in the promotion of innovative initiatives. Its aim is to help create alliances that allow entities and support programmes for entrepreneurs to be added to local partners and to be a communication tool for society.

StartUp Europe Awards is also supported by the President of the European Parliament, the President of the Committee of the Regions, the Vice-President of the Economic and Social Committee and several members from the European Parliament. StartUp Europe Awards is sponsored by StartUp Europe Accelerator

SEUA serves as a communication tool for society, encouraging collaboration between the public and business sectors and promoting innovative initiatives. Its aim is to promote the creation of alliances enabling in every region concerned to gather entities and the support programmes for entrepreneurs with local and international partners.

For more information:

www.finnova.eu

www.startupeuropeawards.eu

www.startupeuropeclub.eu

Press contact:

Catalina Valencia

eustartup@finnova.eu

INFORMATION ABOUT STARTUP EUROPE AWARDS SPECIAL WINNERS

Best Social Inclusion Startup

Kidibot (Romania)

CEO: Alina Ferseta

Website: https://www.kidibot.com/

Kidibot is an educational online platform for 6-18 years old, designed to motivate them to read and learn more, using fun, positive social pressure, contests with prizes, cognitive dissonance, local patriotism and many others.

Best Female-led Startup

OKRA Technologies (United Kingdom)

CEO: Loubna Bouarfa

Website: https://www.okra.ai/

OKRA is an AI analytics company for healthcare providing an online platform that allows healthcare professionals to combine all their data in one place and generate evidence-based insight in real time – including predictions of the future – to save and improve human lives.

Best Founder under 30 Startup

Bolt (formerly Taxify) (Estonia)

CEO and Cofounder: Markus Villig

Receive the award his brother and cofounder Martin Villig

Website: www.bolt.eu

Bolt (formerly Taxify) is a transportation platform from Estonia, which has become one of the leading ridehailing platforms in Europe and Africa in five years. They are focused on making urban travel easier, quicker and more reliable.

Best UN Social Development Goals Startup

NorthQ (Denmark)

CEO: Christian von Scholten

Website: https://www.northq.com/

Empowering consumer-led energy efficiency through intelligent data management. The one-stop IoT Platform transforms and enriches data from energy usage into complex analysis enabling operational and resource savings. Machine learning and AI continues to reinvent energy management.

Best Job Growth Startup

Production of organic fertilizers Mama Organa (North Macedonia)

CEO: Natalija Burgieva

Website: https://ceedhub.mk/social-entrepreneurship/mama-organa/

Mama Organa is a company formed to collect food waste and by adding value to it, to produce organic fertilizers in order to help farmers in growing healthy and clean food. They also provide jobs for socially excluded single mothers.