Ecosys4you designs and implements a cross-country educational programme for young people with passion for entrepreneurship. We mobilise the flow of innovation resources in four dimensions: education, networking, market expansion, and people. Private, public and educational actors of three entrepreneurial ecosystems in the Ruhr (DE), Varna (BG), and Maribor (SI) regions co-create the programme. The activities add value to existing entrepreneurship education of the regional higher education institutions: based on our common competence, we establish and set up high quality cross-ecosystem activities for future entrepreneurs. The main activities are joint classes, mentoring, real-world challenges and internships at start-ups. Experience of founders and established entrepreneurs drive the programme’s design. Their benefit is the opportunity to enter new markets opened up by Ecosys4you. The programme is open to students and young alumni from higher education institutions, professional schools, graduates who wish to found a company, and other young people who want to discover entrepreneurial spirit. We expect to reach 200 young people, among them at least 80 women in 2 cohorts (2024-2025), and stimulate foundation of about 5-10 start-ups and innovations as a major outcome. Due to close collaboration with lecturers as well as organisational and financial measures designed in Ecosys4you, we assure a self-sustaining programme to continue after project finalisation.

INNO-MOB will focus on the opportunities that initiatives & networks offer to innovative and dynamic businesses through an inclusive mobility innovation European ecosystem business support framework. The emerging sustainable mobility market will be used as the vehicle to examine the opportunities provided and develop mechanisms to support the deployment potential of companies in bringing innovations to the market quickly. The project will use the services offered by the seven partner institutions but also through an enlarged network of initiatives and clusters run in the respective countries. The specific objectives include: To define the needs of the innovation’s stakeholders in the mobility sector, to support the mobility networks & initiatives apply an ‘opening up’ strategy, to create interconnected innovation networks on mobility and to implement joint awareness raising and communication campaigns to reach out to more stakeholders in different territories. INNO-MOB will deliver a Mobility Innovation Network ( MIN) platform that will incorporate a Stakeholder Chain Map Intelligent Platform function that will provide a holistic picture of the networks, initiatives and their offer. A search engine, offer-demand /marketplace space and communication exchange forum will be incorporated too. The initiatives and networks will be able to offer their services through the platform with the aim to create more inclusive and diverse mobility ecosystems.

EMPOWERED by NEIA brings together a team of stakeholders from 7 EU countries (2 Regional Innovation/Development Agencies and 5 Business Support Organizations - incubators and accelerators) with he ambition to engage in a process of peer mutual learning and cooperation and support Clean Tech for Sustainable Development. Based on an in-depth analysis of strengths, weaknesses, challenges and gaps in the ecosystems they represent, the EMPOWERED by NEIA team members strive to bring together the members of the innovation ecosystems they represent as active stakeholders in bottom-up policy-making activities tailored to their needs. Through an Entrepreneurial Discovery process, we aim to stimulate a participative process that will allow to identify the best innovation opportunities in each ecosystem and align them with the ones of the peers. The results of the Entrepreneurial Discovery run locally by each partner will represent the foundation of Action Plans, elaborated according to the European Entrepreneurial Region approach, to strengthen the collaboration between the Regional European Innovation Ecosystems. These plans will be back up with collaboration and project ideas for which public and private funding will be sought. Through the involvement of the EMPOWERED by NEIA consortium partners in landmark initiatives such as the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA), the Vanguard Initiative or the activities of the European Entrepreneurial Region initiative, we will connect with external peers to expand the learning and cooperation process, disseminate our activities and increase their impacts.

The INSIGHT project aims to establish and operationalise a network of interconnected talent ecosystems that foster attractive, inclusive, and sustainable research careers for early-stage researchers across academia, industry, and the public sector. It addresses systemic challenges in developing structured talent ecosystems and aims to bridge the gap between the skills acquired in academic settings and those required in the labour market, particularly in areas related to the Green Deal, digital transformation, and deep tech. The project brings together a consortium of 11 European partners, including universities, research institutions, industry representatives, and public authorities, to implement the principles of the new Charter for Researchers. It focuses on creating sustainable organisational change and providing tailored training pathways, mentorship programmes, and career support services that enhance the employability and mobility of early-stage researchers. INSIGHT aims to establish a pilot talent ecosystem, emphasising human factors in technology acceptance within the automotive and manufacturing sectors, thus ensuring that researchers develop practical, market-relevant skills. Through collaboration, capacity building, and policy feedback, INSIGHT will provide actionable recommendations for establishing sustainable talent ecosystems across Europe, supporting career development, and promoting diversity and inclusivity in research careers. The project is expected to create a lasting impact by fostering a dynamic, interconnected European Research Area, where early-stage researchers have access to attractive and meaningful career opportunities.

The main objective of ST(R)E(A)M IT is to initiate change about the persisting gender inequalities in STEM education, research, and innovation to contribute to the implementation of the ‘The European Manifesto for gender-inclusive STE(A)M education and careers.’ The envisioned aim of the project will be achieved by 1) empowering underrepresented groups in STEM, 2) piloting and fostering the integration of STEAM approaches in STEM education by synthesising previous knowledge and networks, 3) promoting gender-inclusive career paths and increasing the talent pipeline in the STEM fields together with the attractiveness of STEM careers, 4) supporting STEM education providers through knowledge sharing, capacity building to remove gender-based barriers including gender stereotypes in STEM education. By encouraging sustainable collaboration of STEM-oriented businesses, secondary and higher education institutions, research organisations, as well as informal science education establishments, NGOs, and civil society organisations, ST(R)E(A)M IT provides several tools for closing the existing gender gap in STEM education and career.