Upcoming B2B Meetings and Current Investment and Growth Opportunities
Bulgarian startups and SMEs will now have easy access to contacts, training programmes and capital from Germany and around the world through the newly signed partnership agreement between Deutsche Börse Venture Network and the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE). The Deutsche Börse Venture Network was founded in 2015 and is to date an ecosystem of 460 risky investors in 32 countries, which has managed to raise a total of 4.6 billion euros of funding for nearly 200 of its members. BSE will assist Bulgarian companies to access the network through free consultations and evaluation of enterprises with potential to become members of the German network. More information about this opportunity is available here.
The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry maintains a large online database of business opportunities and puts interested parties in touch. The announcements cover all sectors and companies from all countries in the world. Bulgarian entrepreneurs can search for business or academic partners to manufacture, distribute, co-develop and supply products, ideas and services. The list of current offers is here.
By June 6, applications are submitted to the EIC Accelerator, which will support innovations building on scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs (‘deep tech’). The initiative is under Horizon Europe 2021-2027. Companies and organisations in the above mentioned ares often need significant funding over a long timeframe before returns can be generated and the risks involved are too high (the so called ‘patient capital’). The programme is open to support the later stages of technology developments as well as scaleups. The technology must have been tested and validated in a laboratory or other relevant environment to a stage of high technological readiness for deployment. For further information, please visit the EIC Accelerator’s page here.
Yet another programme under Horizon Europe 2021-2027 is currently open to support early stage companies. This is EIC Pathfinder, open for applications until May 19th. Ambitious ideas for radically new technology and projects at low technological readiness for deployment are eligible. The proposals should meet the following characteristics: a radically new technology that has the potential to have a transformative positive effect on the economy and society, based on a radically new approach or scientific and technological breakthrough, as well as demonstration of a high-risk/high-gain research approach and methodology, with clear objectives. Detailed information is published on the website of the European Commission here.
If you are interested in more initiatives within Horizon Europe 2021-2027 – the EU’s research and innovation programme with a total budget of EUR 95.5 billion, you can also review the full list of ongoing or upcoming EIC programmes here.
