Scale-EUp2 (ecoSystems Connected to AcceLerate and Encourage European Union start-uPs Potential) is a market driven action which ambitions to identify a portfolio of a minimum 200 high potential start-ups through the 4 connected hubs and to help them scale-up and to become leaders in the emerging Internet of Things (IoT) applications markets. The 4 Ecosystems will join their efforts to scout-out for the high potential start-ups in need of resources, the hubs regional markets making it like a European spider-web. The ecosystems’ scouting will extend to the overall European IoT markets by exploiting value chain analyses and the mobilization of European market stakeholders from the hubs and beyond. The partners from the hubs will also provide support, once the different facets of scouting has been completed, to organize match-making, to help the selected start-ups to join innovation projects and thus establish partnerships, alliances allowing to reinforce the valuation of the start-ups. At the same time, the partners will develop and set up tools for the start-ups to gain access more easily to financing as well as to the human resources market. .

RespiceSME will reinforce the innovative capacity of Europe’s photonics SMEs, clusters and national platforms by stimulating increased collaborations in and beyond photonics. RespiceSME proposes new approaches for stronger innovative effectiveness using a 3-dimensional approach, led by an experienced, representative, interdisciplinary team. In the 1st dimension, the project will develop a measure of the innovative potential for Photonics SMEs; the index will be integrated with a methodology for auditing innovative SMEs. Coaching on these tools will lead to their diverse application; enhancing the innovative capacity of 30+ photonics SMEs is targeted in the project. In the 2nd dimension, RespiceSME will develop new approaches for analysing value chains in close collaboration with clusters and national platforms. Empowering photonics SMEs and cluster managers to undertake early stage analyses of value chains, in the 3 separate domains of commercial intensity, technology readiness and innovative potential, will lead to more effective penetration by European photonics SMEs in global non-photonics sectors. Approaches will be demonstrated by new business collaborations in photonics, and using photonics, in manufacturing, energy and transport sectors. Harnessing the full innovative capacity of the European photonics infrastructure is the objective of the 3rd RespiceSME dimension. Best practices for enabling photonics SMEs access European and regional infrastructures, harness educational and training programmes aligned with their specific needs, determine next generation regional innovative smart specialisation strategies, and be better resourced by efficient public and private financial supports, can be transformative. RespiceSME will disseminate results using face to face and multimedia tools. 6 events, spanning cluster/national platform, inter-sectoral meetings, and B2B brokerage events and multimedia tools will lead to an intensification of research collaborations.