As part of the EIC Business Acceleration Services, the EIC Scaling Club offers an exclusive, curated community that brings together over 120 European companies with the potential to become world-class businesses and tackle major global challenges. The EIC Scaling Club provides its members access to a powerful network of investors, business partners, and tailored mentoring coaching, and invaluable peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
“Deep tech advancements are happening at an exponential rate. From developing sustainable energy sources to revolutionizing transportation and health care, deep tech is key to a brighter future. To fully harness this potential, we need to empower the scale-up companies that will help innovation flourish in Europe. The European Innovation Council provides 10 billion euros of support for breakthrough deep tech innovations. Building upon this success, we launched the EIC Scaling Club to propel Europe's future tech champions.” – Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
There is no open call for applications. Members are proposed by Club stakeholders and selected based on their maturity and needs.
What's in it for scale-ups?
By joining the Club, member companies gain access to a powerful network of investors, corporate innovators, and other key stakeholders who can help them unlock new opportunities for growth.
Equally important is the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers and share experiences. The Club engages and regularly brings together the innovative minds behind fast-scaling companies across Europe, allowing them to learn from each other's successes and challenges. This peer-to-peer learning is invaluable for companies looking to navigate the complex landscape of scaling a deep tech business.
Apart from networking opportunities, the EIC Scaling Club also provides companies with tailored mentoring and coaching. Expert advisors work closely with each company to help them identify and overcome barriers to growth, develop effective scaling strategies, and maximize their unique strengths and capabilities.
The Club also offers companies exposure, helping to attract the attention of potential partners and investors. This exposure is particularly valuable for deep tech companies, which often operate in niche markets and may struggle to gain visibility beyond their local ecosystems.
"Europe's tech landscape is widespread and diverse, presenting both opportunities and challenges. By leveraging the unique capabilities of each country and fostering collaboration, the EIC Scaling Club plays a transformative role in advancing European tech maturity and strategic autonomy. Connecting deep-tech innovators with critical resources and a powerful network of investors, the Club accelerates growth and fosters an inclusive ecosystem that drives innovation and economic resilience across the continent." – Victoria Hernandez-Valcarcel, EIC Scaling Club Council Member
The first cohort of companies in four market opportunity groups has already joined the EIC Scaling Club – get to know them here.
What's in it for stakeholders, mentors, and other partners?
The EIC Scaling Club stakeholders consist of investors, corporations, and public agencies. These entities can significantly advance the growth of deep tech companies by providing investment, mentoring, support for corporate partnerships, or enhancing their visibility through extensive networks.
The main benefit of becoming a stakeholder is access to a platform that connects them to Europe's top deep tech innovators and influencers across various industries and sectors. This exclusive network enables Club stakeholders to build strong connections with leading technology investors, deep tech entrepreneurs, operators, and corporate innovators.
There are more benefits, including:
- Recognition and visibility through featured Club reports
- Opportunities to collaborate with over 170 Club Members, including VC, CVC, government and innovation agencies, experts, EU policymakers, and selected companies
- Access to online and onsite Club events with feature networking opportunities and company pitching sessions
- And more.
A game-changing initiative
EIC Scaling Club is poised to transform the landscape of deep tech entrepreneurship in Europe. The Club's overarching goal is perfectly aligned with the broader goals of the EIC – to support the development of deep tech innovations that can have a positive impact on society and the environment.
At the moment, Club members are gearing up for the Scale 100 Forum, which will take place in Athens, Greece on October 21-22, 2024. There, Club members will meet with each other, investors, media partners, and more, to discuss the challenges facing deep-tech scaleups, and opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Want to become a part of this initiative? Follow the EIC Scaling Club on LinkedIn and X, and help us spread the word about our region's championing deep tech innovations!
Learn more about the program at https://eicscalingclub.eu/.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.