X2.0 DRIVING DEEPTECH GROWTH
About the project
X2.0 Driving deeptech growth
X2.0 is a deeptech growth programme that seeks to ensure the scaling up of EU deeptech startups by providing custom, industry-focused, growth programme 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 project will distribute €1.5M in innovation and scaling up services to 50 deep-tech startups and will contribute to the offering of the EIC program. From November 2022 to November 2024 X2.0 will launch five open calls.
It will promote the growth and strengthening of relationships between moderately innovative and highly innovative regions by providing needs-based, custom, industry-focused, growth programs to deep-tech startups.
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.
Main figures
3
PARTNERS
€2 M
BUDGET
2
YEARS
€1,5M
INNOVATION VOUCHER
50
STARTUPS SELECTED
Context and impact
To compete in global markets, increasingly defined by new technologies, Europe needs to capitalise on its excellent research and start-up ecosystem. There exists an important investment gap for digital innovations and startups, especially in Central, SEE region and other Widening Countries.
X2.0 project will upscale and enable growth of promising deeptech startups, connect more and less innovative ecosystems, and establish a greater connection between the Startup Europe programme and that of the EIC.
Technology impact: boosting the skills of startups with needed technical knowledge and resources and enable partnering for R&D projects.
Social impact: boosting the deeptech ecosystems of widening countries ensuring equal opportunity for development, especially support of women-led SMEs.
Economic impact: offering opportunities, developing ecosystems and boosting local economies allow startups to receive funding and support, with a knock-on effect on the job market and wider economic vitality.
I am a Deeptech Startup!
Partners
F6S Network Limited – Ireland
F6S is the leading SME network and platform for application management for commercial, corporate, government, university and other accelerator programs, helping thousands of such initiatives worldwide. Every year F6S processes more than 100,000 applications and has delivered billions of Euros to startups and SMEs. F6S is experienced in creating effective recruitment campaigns, targeting the right SMEs/Startups, disseminating open calls far and wide and managing the selection process of the applicants.
Zabala Innovation – Spain
Zabala Innovation is a Spanish SME that has a wide experience in supporting entities in the management of their RTD and innovation activities, as well as in technology transfer projects and initiatives.
ICT Hub (ICTH) – Serbia
ICT Hub was created to fuel exchange among people who understand each other well. It started in 2014 as a center for innovation and technology entrepreneurship. Since then it brings together individuals, startup teams, companies and organizations and provide them with consulting, education and support. They quickly grew into one of the key players in the local and regional innovation ecosystem.
The team
Aleksandar Zobec
Coordinator of X2.0 – F6S
Guillermo Mateos
R&D and Innovation consultant – Zabala Innovation
Sara Mateo
Entrepreneurship Area Leader – Zabala Innovation
Nora Franco
Communication Project Manager – Zabala Innovation
Susana Garayoa
Institutional Relations – Zabala Innovation
Natasa Vujnovic Sedlar
Innovation and Business Development Manager – ICT HUB
Filip Ilic
Startup Community Developer – ICT HUB
Olga Arsenovic
Project assistant – ICT HUB
FAQs
What is X2.0?
X2.0 is an EU-funded deeptech growth programme that seeks to ensure the scaling up of EU deeptech startups by providing custom, industry-focused, 6 months growth programmes 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.
How can X2.0 help me?
X2.0 Consortium brings together 3 partners, namely F6S, Zabala and ICT Hub, all with vast experience in supporting and delivering ground-breaking innovation to cohesively deliver a pan European deeptech growth program.
F6S is bringing on its EU funded experience (65+ EU funded projects) and in particular X-Europe methodology and network of stakeholders in relevant EU areas while leveraging on the massive reach of its platform 4M startup profiles and a platform to lead charge and provide a coordination foundation to the project.
Complementary to the vision of the project, connections to the industry builders and corporations will also be ensured by innovation powerhouses ZABALA and ICT Hub, a leading venture builder and a VC in SEE Region) . The two innovation partners bring in their keen innovation management eyes to identify the scaling up needs by the deeptech startups and oversee that the service delivery is performed with excellence.
The partners will be joined by the impact industry builders, also known as ecosystem builders or service providers to deliver growth support services in the categories of financing/investment, technology, business development & scaling up, promotion and communication, internationalization & softlanding and commercialization & legal needs.
How does X2.0 work?
X2.0 will distribute €1.5M via innovation vouchers to the third parties (startups, SMEs and scaleups) to access the services provided according to their individual needs by the industry impact builders.
Where does the funding come from?
Funding is given by the X2.0 consortium under a Sub-Grantee Agreement signed by the selected proposers and X2.0 consortium. The funds are given by the European Commission (Horizon 2020 Framework Programme), which uses X2.0 Acceleration program as intermediary.
Where can I find information about the X2.0 cohorts, the services provided and the programme timeline?
You can find the information on the Open Call page and the Guidelines for applicants.
X2.0. Project. Funded by the European Union under GA No101073781. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.