Partnerships & NetworksWell connected with international partners

Regional and international – we cooperate with numerous and manifold networks and clusters. Have a look to our partnerships.

  • We work togther with the following international networks and clusters:
    • Allianz Industrie 4.0 Baden-Württemberg Website
    • A. SPIRE, European Association of Process Industries Website
    • ARTEMIS Industry Association Website
    • Bio-Based Industries Consortium Website
    • Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking Website
    • CEAGA Cluster de Empresas de Automoción en Galicia Website
    • Districts of Creativity Network Website
    • EFFRA, European Factories of the Future Research Association Website
    • ENRICH in China Website
    • ENRICH in Africa Website
    • European Construction, built environment and energy efficient building Technology Platform Website
    • European Cluster Alliance Website
    • European Cluster Collaboration Platform Website
    • Innovate UK Website
    • FUEL CELLS AND HYDROGEN JOINT UNDERTAKING Website
    • Key Enabling Technologies: KETGATE & KET4Cleanproduction Website
    • LITEK - Photonik Cluster Litauen Website
    • Mesap - Piedmont Innovation Cluster for Smart Products and Manufacturing Website
    • Optitec - Photonik Cluster Südfrankreich Website
    • Paris&Co Cluster Website
    • Photonics Austria Website
    • Pôle Véhicule du Futur Website
    • secpho - Southern European Cluster in Photonics and Optics Website
    • Silicon Alps Website
    • Smart Anything Everywhere Initiative Website
    • Smart Cities Market Place Website
    • Systematic Paris Région Website
    • TCI – The Global Practitioners Network for Competitiveness, Clusters and Innovation Website
    • TII – Technology Innovation International Website

Enterprise Europe Network

“Business Support on Your Doorstep" is the key statement of the Enterprise Europe Network that was launched in February 2008 by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry. Today, more than 600 business support organisations from more than 60 countries help small companies seize the unparalleled business opportunities presented by the EU Single Market. The services we provide:

  • Market Access for SMEs

    SMEs receive services relevant to understanding and navigating in the Single Market including access to finance, EU laws and regulation (current and future) as well as practical support in accessing new markets. Each client receives a targeted and individual support package. We search for European partners and we accompany the initiation of new partnerships. We offer this service in cooperation with our European Enterprise Europe Network counterparts making use of common databases or jointly organised matchmaking events. Have a look at the network’s database.

  • Innovation Services for SMEs

    We help SMEs to innovate. We provide information on relevant European innovation programmes and regulations and offer training courses on innovation topics including IPR, financing innovation etc. tailored to the specific needs of each individual client. International cooperations help clients to increase competitiveness and purchase technological solutions or allow innovation needs to be overcome through technology and know-how transfer. Our clients receive an individualised analysis of their innovation portfolio and suggestions for maximising their innovation potential. European partners are sourced, contacts are established and cooperation negotiations are accompanied. The EU funded network provides the necessary tools, i.e. common databases. Network partners jointly organise matchmaking events at which clients have the opportunity to meet selected partners from abroad in face-to-face meetings.

  • Research Cooperations

    We pave the way to EU funding for SMEs. They receive support during the project biding process and to find partners. Based on their requirements and current innovation level, we find the right funding instrument for SMEs and start-ups.

  • The Network in Baden-Württemberg

    Coordinated by Handwerk International, six Chambers of Commerce, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, Baden-Württemberg International and Steinbeis Europa Zentrum form the SME contact point in Baden-Württemberg.

Danube Transfer Centres

Established in 2012, the Danube Transfer Centre (DTC) network is a powerful transnational structure in the Danube Macro-Region dedicated to fostering innovation and knowledge transfer between academia and the economic environment. With currently 16 so-called “entry points” and 38 hubs in 11 countries of the Danube region, the DTC Network provides assistance and support to organisations seeking to improve their competitiveness and international dimension.

As the network is structured following the “Quadruple Helix Approach”, it actively involves key players from the entire economic ecosystem of the participating countries and can therefore contribute to the exploitation of new innovation potentials.

  • European Strategy for the Danube Region

    On a European level, the DTC network is embedded in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), the aim of which is to strengthen transnational cooperation between regional economic actors in selected thematic areas and thus counteract the heterogeneity and differentiation in Europe. In this regard, Danube Transfer Centres contribute to strengthening regional and international technology transfer and thus foster the entire Danube region. Related to these activities, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum leads the thematic pole 1 “Innovative ecosystems for SMEs” within the capitalisation strategy of the Interreg Program for the Danube Region. Pole 1 currently comprises 11 projects with a high thematic resemblance.

    As part of the European Commission’s Danube Strategy, the lighthouse project was embedded in the objectives of Priority Area 8 „Competitiveness“. Steinbeis Europa Zentrum manages the working group “Innovation and Technology Transfer” within the EUSDR Priority Area 8, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism Baden-Württemberg and by the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, Croatia. Initial financial support was provided by the State Ministry of Baden-Württemberg to support the establishment of the three first centres at universities in Romania, Slovakia and Serbia.

  • Technology Transfer in the Danube Region

    The main task of the Danube Transfer Centres is to create connections between local companies and European R&D stakeholders to support technology transfer in the Danube region and contribute to closing the gap between research and marketable innovations. The most important activities are the following:

    • supporting the competitiveness of companies through new product development in collaboration with universities and R&D organisations,
    • promoting co-operation and linking industry and universities,
    • fostering knowledge exchange on an inter-regional scope and create synergies between existing innovative activities in the region,
    • collaboration with clusters as well as with national and regional authorities.

    Following the Steinbeis model, the DTCs participate in EU funded research projects and other initiatives. The network also encourages cross-border research and technology cooperation and supports the training of staff in the Danube region. For companies and research institutions from Baden-Wurttemberg, the Danube Transfer Centres can act as competent, well-connected local contacts and thus facilitate their market entry or research activities in the respective regions. The establishment of the so-called "one-stop shops" has thus proven to be a model of success for the entire region.

    Are you looking for strong partners in the Danube region and would like to get in touch with the DTC network? Don’t hesitate to contact us!

Regional support point for Baden-WürttembergVanguard-Initiative

At the beginning of 2016, the Commissioner for Europe of the Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism Baden-Württemberg - with Steinbeis Europa Zentrum as the operational unit – became the regional support point for companies and (applied) research facilities in Baden-Württemberg for the Vanguard Initiative.

Since its launch in 2013, the Vanguard Initiative has been recognised as a strong and influential voice for the regional perspective on industrial transition. Our key message: that regions, smart specialisation and cluster-based interregional cooperation are key to new industrial growth, has been widely recognised and positively received by a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including the EU-institutions.

  • The Regions

    The geographic scope has extended significantly since then. Today, the Vanguard Initiative with more than 40 European regions cooperating to strengthen innovation and industrial growth within the EU, works on the principle of “Leading by example“ taking a place-based approach to boost regional innovation ecosystems.

    Member regions:

    • Austria: Lower Austria
    • Belgium: Flanders, Wallonia
    • Germany: Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony Anhalt
    • Finland: East and North Finland, Tampere region
    • France: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Grand Est, Pays de la Loire, Region Sud
    • Italy Emilia-Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Piemonte, Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Autonomous Province of Trentino
    • The Netherlands: Randstad, South Netherlands, East Netherlands, Randstad Region
    • Poland: Malopolska
    • Portugal: Norte
    • UK: Scotland, Wales
    • Slovenia: Western- and Eastern Slovenia
    • Spain: Asturias, Galicia, Cantabria, Catalunya, Navarra
    • Sweden: Dalarna, Gävleborg, Örebro County, Skåne, Värmland
  • Contact Point Baden-Württemberg

    Companies and research facilities who would like to learn more about the Vanguard Initiative or who aspire to get involved, are invited to contact Steinbeis Europa Zentrum.

    The regional support point, supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism Baden-Württemberg, aims to raise awareness for the initiative and its possibilities in regional industry and research organisations as well as to support the actors involved in the initiative together with the Ministry. This is done with the intention of demonstrating the opportunities that cooperating within this network offer individual partners from the region as well as the benefits for the region as a whole by taking part in European value-chains and interregional cooperation projects.

ENRICH in Africa Center

The ENRICH in Africa Center (EiA Center) was founded in November 2022 as part of the ENRICH in Africa project in Nairobi, Kenya. The centre brings together the European and African innovation ecosystems. It is a result of the Horizon 2020 ENRICH in Africa project.

Based in Cape Town, South Africa, and based on a digital platform, it provides support for innovation actors, including incubators, accelerators, innovation promoters, entrepreneurs, SMEs and investors. Steinbeis Europa Zentrum was the coordinator of the project and is cofounder of the Center.

  • 59 partners in over 38 countries in Africa and Europe
  • Around 500 active members in the online community, including start-ups, investors, incubators and accelerators
  • Services

    The network provides services to African and European incubators and accelerators through a Champions Membership Programme and targeted programmes for entrepreneurs, such as open innovation challenges and soft-landing opportunities. The network of incubators and accelerators from both continents offers services based on the principle ‘by the community for the community’ to strengthen internationalisation and collaboration in the field of innovation.

  • Achievements

    During the project, 163 start-ups were supported through accelerator services. 25 start-ups participated in soft landing programmes and strengthened their internationalisation. Since 2020, 45 African start-ups have been introduced to the best 35 African investors on the continent and pitched to more than 150 international investors from Europe, Africa, North America, the Middle East and Asia. There were 250 investor enquiries for start-ups. Five companies were able to secure up to 7.5 million US dollars.

    Are you looking for strong partners in Africa? Don’t hesitate to contact us!

Customer references

    • Search