Spain: BIND 4.0 SME Connection Initiative (3rd Edition)

Deadline: 10 January 2024

BIND 4.0 is looking for disruptive startups for the 3rd Edition of the BIND 4.0 SME Connection initiative to Solve Real Industry Challenges.

What is the BIND 4.0 SME Connection?

Through the BIND 4.0 SME Connection, innovative Startups discover current industry challenges and get immersed in the cooperative Basque Entrepreneurial and Innovation Ecosystem through Open Innovation. Participating Startups earn reputable reference customers while working on paid contracts implementing solutions in real environments for one or more leading local companies.
This public-private BIND 4.0 program is led by industry Cluster Management Organisations based in the Basque Country. The goal is twofold, to bring startups clients by presenting their disruptive solutions to SMEs in order to boost digital transformation and face their technological challenges.
The driving force of the SME Connection is to use the BIND 4.0 open innovation ecosystem and platform model to facilitate innovation projects between Basque SMEs and startups. BIND 4.0 SME Connection generates new opportunities for collaboration following the model of Cluster-led Challenges and the open innovation model of the BIND 4.0 platform.

Startup Benefits

Real Projects with Real Turnover
Facilitated Access to Market & SMEs
Rapid Implementation of Solutions
Reputable Reference Customer
Positioning and Visibility
Maintain Technology Ownership
BIND 4.0 Proven Success Model
Join the Basque Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Startups benefit from the active participation of innovative companies seeking targeted solutions to joint challenges defined by the SMEs and their Cluster Organisations.

What type of Startups should apply?

Startups that are no more than 8 years old, that present the use of new technologies to improve industrial processes and that are ready to accelerate their business development.
Startups with new technologies, that have already completed their technological development. In other words, Startups that have a product or solution that can be tested, proven, or is already available on the market.
Startups and Scale-ups with disruptive solutions that can be applied to the Clean Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, Environmental, Construction, Design, Automotive and Food industries, including: Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Computing, Cybersecurity, Artificial Vision, IoT, 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing, Collaborative Robotics, Nanotechnology, New Material, ARVR and so much more!

Criteria

Characteristics of participating SMEs
- SMEs associated with the ODCs that are members of the initiative.
- SMEs external to the ODCs that have been accepted by the corresponding sectoral ODC to be included in its application.
- SMEs linked to the BIND 4.0 verticals and/or to the areas of the Basque Country RIS 3 smart specialisation.
- SMEs with at least one centre of activity in the Basque Country.
- SMEs with less than 250 employees.
- SMEs with interest in and commitment to working with the startups and that have the resources to provide sufficient dedication and involvement in the different activities of the initiative.
- SMEs with sufficient technological maturity, or human resources trained for the process, who assign a person to be responsible for the programme and who commits to the different activities of the initiative.
Characteristics of the startup candidates
- BIND SME Connection is mainly focused on the following startup profiles:
  - Startups that develop new innovative technologies applied to the industrial sector and its related services, or that have direct application in the production processes and/or services of the participating SMEs that have already completed their technological development, and that are in a position to finalise the configuration of their service/product. That is, that have a product or service that can be seen, tested, proven, or that is already available on the market.
  - Startups no more than 8 years old, proposing the use of new technologies to improve business processes, and that need to accelerate their business development.
  - Startups with application in the challenges proposed by the SMEs, and that are a fit with the specialisation sectors and opportunity areas of the Basque Country Specialisation Strategy.