Great-ER - Call 4 Deep Tech Innovators
Grow your Deep Tech Startup with the advanced incubation program Great-ER
What is Great-ER?
Great-ER (Growing and Empowering Advanced Technologies in Emilia-Romagna) is the free advanced incubation program aimed at growing entrepreneurial projects, startups, and deep tech research spin-offs. It offers specialized support and facilitates collaborations between the research world, businesses, and investors.
The program is part of a partnership between Almacube and the universities of the Emilia-Romagna region: Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, University of Ferrara, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, University of Parma.
Great-ER is the only program that will give you access to a network where you can benefit from the expertise and possible access to the knowledge and laboratories of regional universities.
Great-ER creates a fertile ecosystem for innovation, combining the academic research capabilities of the universities in the Emilia-Romagna region with Almacube’s experience in incubating spin-offs and startups, and managing Open Innovation processes.
The project is made possible through the European Funds of the Emilia-Romagna Region.
Services offered
The Great-ER advanced incubation program lasts 11 months, starting in February 2025 and ending in December 2025.
Twelve deep tech projects will be selected. Each project will receive services worth approximately €20,000 for free.
Basic services offered
Personalized Coaching:
20 hours of one-on-one coaching focused on strengthening and structuring the business and team.
Mentorship with Experts:
10 hours of one-on-one sessions with a sector expert to help the startup define strategies.
Specialized Consultancy:
10 hours of one-on-one vertical consultations on key topics such as IP, marketing, finance.
Training:
Live workshops on essential topics to develop the team's skills.
Visibility and Networking:
Participation in ecosystem events and a final demo day where startups will have the opportunity to present themselves to investors, companies, institutions, and accelerators.
Other services available based on the needs and development stage of the startup/project:
Fundraising Support:
Preparation for fundraising and connection with the right investors.
Open Innovation and Commercial Support:
Matchmaking with companies for technological development and commercial acceleration.
Guidance and Support for Subsidized Finance Calls:
Assistance for accessing subsidized funding through public calls and other opportunities.
Proof of Concept Support:
Collaboration with industrial partners to develop potential Proofs of Concept with projects that meet partners' needs.
Venture Building:
Connections with managers and freelancers to build a high-level management team.
Talent Connection
Facilitating contact with qualified talents to enrich teams.
Additional €3.000 Package:
for each startup/project to spend on further services and consultations (e.g., Business Plan analysis, IP, fiscal/financial consultancy).
Who is it for?
Great-ER is dedicated to early-stage startups and research spin-offs already established, as well as entrepreneurial teams (not yet established as companies) in the deep tech field.
To apply, you must:
- Be an early-stage startup/spin-off already established, or an entrepreneurial project not yet established, with at least one member holding a VAT number within the core team;
- Propose solutions with high scientific and technological content;
- Establish a legal and/or operational headquarters in Emilia-Romagna by November 2024, if not already present;
- Operate in one of the following strategic sectors:
- Clean, Safe, and Accessible Energy
- Circular Economy
- Material Innovation
- Digitalization, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data
- Manufacturing 4.0 and Future Evolutions
- Future Cities and Communities
What you need to know
The services participants benefit from will be granted under the terms of Regulation (EU) 2023/2831 of 13.12.2023 “de minimis,” as indirect aid defined in paragraph 4.3 of the European Commission’s Communication on the notion of State aid pursuant to Article 107(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (2016/C 262/01). Therefore, candidates must ensure they have approximately €20,000 of available “de minimis” allowance, which must not exceed a total of €300,000.
Timeline
How to apply
To apply for the program, click on the APPLY button and complete the online application form by October 11, 2024, 11:59 PM CEST.
For any questions or doubts, you can check the FAQ or contact us at: startup@almacube.com
The program is also supported by an extensive network of companies, investment funds, and business angel clubs, including:
