5th Open Call for Proposals: X2.0 – Driving DeepTech Growth (Data & A.I Cohort)

X2.0 – Driving Deep Tech Growth is an EU-funded deeptech growth program that seeks to ensure the scaling up of EU deeptech startups by providing custom, industry-focused, 5 months growth programs that will act as a catalyst in delivering market-ready applications and technology solutions in 5 key impact areas: Manufacturing & Circular Economy, AgriTech, HealthTech & BioTech, Smart Cities and Sustainability, and Data & A.I.

The X2.0 is a sustainable legacy project of X-Europe and aims to leverage its predecessors’ established ecosystem, network, proven innovation action/Startup Europe methodology, and learnings, to generate a next-gen coordination action mechanism. X2.0 main objectives are to:

• To upskill and upscale deeptech startups
• Connect and nurture EU deeptech ecosystems
• Reinforce the European Innovation Council offer

The focus of the program are startups, scaleups and SMEs, operating in the deeptech domain (innovations with significant scientific advances or high-tech innovations coming from the Digital Agenda technologies, with a particular focus on A.I. and its adjacent technologies).

Join they dynamic and online accelerator programme tailored for startups pushing the boundaries of technology in AI and Big Data, focusing on cutting-edge areas including, but not limited to Generative Models, Quantum Computing in AI, Explainable AI (XAI), Machine Learning, Distributed and Federated Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Edge Computing, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Language technologies, Computer vision and IoT Integration.

They are interested in supporting teams and their potential to leverage these Big Data & AI transformative technologies across domains and maturities. If your innovative solution aligns with the program’s focus but is not explicitly listed in sub-domains, do not shy away from applying. They are a curious bunch! Seize the opportunity to be part of they vibrant community driving innovation in the tech landscape. Apply now and embark on a journey of discovery and growth!

Categories

• Financing/Investment seeking
  • 1on1 mentorship w/ investor
  • Consultancy Services for proposal writing, innovation structuring, investment readiness, consortium building
  • Investment readiness trainings, & coaching
• Technical/deeptech aspects
  • 1on1 Mentorship w/ tech expert from the relevant deeptech field
  • Access to DIHs, R&D centers, test laboratories and promo in their regions
  • Tech consulting
  • Knowledge and innovation transfer
  • Infrastructure and Software
• Biz dev. & scaling up
  • 1on1 mentorship w/business expert
  • Acceleration/incubation program
  • Group training on specific topics
• Promotion & Communication
  • 1on1 mentorship w/Digital Marketing Expert
  • Growth Hacking Training
  • Paid Promotional Campaigns
• Internationalization/Soft-landing
  • 1on1 mentorship w/internationalization expert
  • Soft-landing missions or boot camps
  • Support on finding local partners
• Commercialization & Legal aspects
  • 1on1 mentorship w/Lawyer or commercialization expert
  • Certification consultancy
  • Patent consultancy
  • Training on Market, IPR, Tech surveillance

Benefits to the Startups

• The X2.0 program brings the following benefits to the selected beneficiaries:
  • 30,000€ in Innovation Vouchers to be used in for growth services, mentorship and event attendance
  • Access and collaboration with industry impact builders
  • Matchmaking with EU corporations
  • Assistance with private fundraising
  • Custom EU funding and public procurement ecosystem
  • Jobs promotion
  • General promotion
• Selected beneficiaries will embark on a 5-month custom deeptech program, leveraging the most needed services that will ensure growth, impact and cross border connections. In particular, validated industry experts (impact builders) will be matched with the startups to provide a longer and more impactful mentorship based on the needs assessment performed by the projects Venture Capital and Innovation Experts partners (ICT Hub and Zabala).

Innovation Vouchers

• Travel Voucher 5,000 EUR
• Growth services coming Innovation Hub Matrix Max 20,000 EUR
• 1-on-1 specific mentorship At least 5,000 EUR

Types of Applicants

• The accepted applicants are individual legally established entities under the category of start-ups in the form of SMEs or small mid-cups. A SME will be considered as such if accomplishing with the Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC. As a summary, it consists of enterprises that employ fewer than 250 persons and have either an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million, or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million. Small mid-cap means an enterprise employing up to 499 employees. The following additional conditions apply:
  • The participating organisations should not have been declared bankrupt or have initiated bankruptcy procedures.
  • The organisations or individuals applying should not have convictions for fraudulent behavior, other financial irregularities, and unethical or illegal business practices.
  • The participants must have a 9-number Personal Identification Code (PIC).
  • Please be aware that Startups can apply to sister projects of X2.0 (SynergistEIC or Ventures Thrive) as long as their cumulated amount received/granted is not above 60,000 EUR.

Eligible Countries

Single legal entities established in any of the following countries are eligible to participate in the X2.0 – Open Call 4:

• The Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU), including their outermost regions.
• The Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) linked to the Member States.
• Horizon Europe associated countries.

Eligibility Criteria

• The startups need to clearly indicate that they fall under the criteria of deep tech startups. Deep tech, or deep technology, refers to those startups whose business model is based on high tech innovation in engineering, or significant scientific advances.
• Eligible applicants to participate and receive funding are SMEs according to the Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC.
• The applicant has not been selected to participate in previous X2.0 cohorts.

For more information, visit X2.0.