Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)

What is the Enterprise Europe Network?

BayFOR Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is the largest business support network for start-ups, scale-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe. The EEN provides comprehensive support to SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups on EU-related topics such as EU funding, technology transfer, internationalisation (international business and research partnerships), EU certification and regulations in the European single market.

As an EEN partner, BayFOR supports small and medium-sized enterprises

As partner of the Enterprise Europe Network, BayFOR supports highly innovative start-ups, scale-ups, and SMEs in Bavaria in preparing EU funding applications for research, development, and innovation, including the EIC Accelerator. As a bridge between business and science, BayFOR also promotes networking between companies and universities at the European level.

Benefits for start-ups, scale-ups, and SMEs

Access to top-level EU funding experts providing free services such as:

Funding coaching – from initial orientation and online consultation to identifying suitable funding programmes and assisting with applications and project implementation.
Partnering - matching businesses with technology or business partners.
Pitch training – onsite trainings to improve investor and funding application pitches.
General information on European strategies, initiatives, and policy decisions affecting businesses.

Benefits for universities

Support in designing the commercialisation strategy of research results into market-ready products and services.
Identification and facilitation of suitable partners for collaborative projects.

EU funding for innovation & internationalisation

The Enterprise Europe Network Bavaria supports small and medium-sized enterprises in Bavaria with funding for internationalisation and innovation. The focus is on the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe (2021-2027), with particular emphasis on:

The European Innovation Council (EIC)
Cascade Funding (small calls within EU projects)
European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE)

Other alternative funding programmes include:

The European initiative EUREKA (Eurostars, Innowwide)
Innovation Fund
ZIM International

Click here for the funding programmes for SMEs

Regional Networking and Innovation Support in Bavaria

BayFOR attaches great importance to regional networking. In cooperation with organisations that support start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs in Bavaria, companies benefit from:

Information events and workshops
Start-up coaching, including pitch training
Insights into European funding programmes

In addition, BayFOR is involved in transregional and transnational projects that promote strategic topics such as the circular economy, eco-design, and stakeholder networking. Examples include projects such as CIRCOTRONIC, S3-4AlpClusters, and MOVECO.

To find out more about BayFOR's services and the Enterprise Europe Network, please contact een-partnersuche@no-spam-pleasebayfor.org.

Search for project partners for Bavarian companies

BayFOR helps SMEs to find suitable cooperation partners for joint research and innovation projects. The EEN database can be used to:

identify suitable project partners from different research fields,
create and publish Europe-wide cooperation requests (or company profiles).

For assistance in finding project partners, please contact us by e-mail at een-partnersuche@no-spam-pleasebayfor.org.

Active Participation in Internal EEN Experts Groups

BayFOR takes an active role in the internal committees of the Enterprise Europe Network. Currently, BayFOR holds the following positions in international EEN working groups:

Co-Chair of the Thematic Group ‚Research and Innovation‘
Co-Chair of the Thematic Group ‚Sustainability‘
Active participation in the Thematic Groups ‚Start-Up and Scale-Up‘ and ‚Sector Group Renewable Energy‘

This involvement contributes significantly of knowledge and experience at European level.