Networks and Associations

European association representing more than 240 organizations active in supporting business creation and innovative entrepreneurship in Europe and beyond. Created in 1984 as a joint initiative of the European Commission, a number of leading industry representatives, and the first European Business and Innovation Centers (BICs), the EBN association brings together business incubators that have been awarded the European Business Innovation Centre (BIC) label, other incubators also present in areas outside Europe, and organizations that promote innovation and entrepreneurship. EBN carries out technical assistance activities in the definition and implementation of new policies for entrepreneurship development, promotes networking actions and implements special initiatives of interest to members.

EIT HEALTH has the ambition to enable people in Europe to live longer and healthier lives.  An aging population, rising chronic diseases and increasing multi-morbidity put pressure on health care systems across Europe. Some 130 world-class organizations partnering with EIT HEALTH are working across borders to connect the three worlds of business, research, and education ("knowledge triangle").EIT HEALTH initiates projects to address problems with solutions-whether it is a new type of diagnostic, a device or therapy that can help better manage a disease, or infrastructure to improve the organization of care. It brings together the right people to turn ideas into commercially viable products and services. Since 2016, EIT HEALTH has supported more than 2,500 start-ups and scale-ups, trained more than 49,000 students and professionals, and launched 113 products and services to solve unmet healthcare needs.

in-ER was born to improve the regional offer of services to startups and develop relationships with national and foreign institutions

The Invitalia Startup System is a network that involves entities supporting Italian innovative companies and their growth with services, on-the-ground initiatives and joint projects. The network has activated a community, the meeting place for all partners of the Invitalia Startup System composed of more than 90 of the best Italian incubators, accelerators, associations and business angels

The SERN network was officially launched in Brussels in October 2015 as a nonprofit organization, supported by a number of European local authorities, including Baden-Württemberg, Lisbon, Nice/Cote d'Azur, Emilia-Romagna, and Extremadura. Objectives of the network:

• Strengthen links between regional authorities, development agencies, universities and associations that constitute ecosystems for innovative business creation;
• Provide information and policy papers on measures taken by regions to support startups, highlighting best practices