EBN Techcamp 2024 Recap

Lebanon Innovate’s Soft-Landing Exchange

EBN and EU|BIC Berytech co-hosted a hybrid soft-Landing exchange kickstarting the pre-programme of Techcamp. The programme connected Lebanese innovation actors with six EU|BICs. EU|BIC Furthr leaded showcasing their initiatives, followed by presentations from the Lebanese American University, Saint Joseph University, and Lebanese University, focusing on innovation and business support programmes. EU|BICs shared insights on scouting, mentorship, and thematic incubation programmes. The session concluded with participants identifying mutual interests for further exploration through peer-to-peer learning meetings.

EU|BIC Essentials Deep Dive: Incubation Services
for Open Innovation

Under the experienced guidance of Paco Prieto (Tecnalia), in a dynamic setting, incubation and acceleration experts learned the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator methodology to identify and shape corporate digital transformation challenges, which startups will solve. The workshop provided the opportunity to learn in a dialogic and role-play setting how to work on the definition of digital transformation challenges, as well as introducing new facilitation tools to run open innovation sessions.

Martin Murray, CEO of EU|BIC Furthr, highlighted three key pillars for EU|BIC success: acceleration, funding mechanisms, and venture capital. He emphasised the importance of stakeholder management, securing funding, and driving strategic transformation to remain relevant. Murray shared valuable lessons, urging leaders to focus on simplicity (“less is more”) and their core strengths. EU|BIC Furthr’s success was showcased, with half of Enterprise Ireland’s grants benefiting its clients and an impactful acceleration model supporting startups through structured journeys, recurrent pitching sessions, and investor readiness tool

Marjella Murphy detailed their scalable acceleration model, moving from 1:1 support to group sessions that assist 20 startups in a day, complemented by online resources and pre-work tools like a 96-question investor-readiness test.

John Phelan of Furthr Investor Network shared their role in facilitating funding for startups, having supported 770 deals worth €177M since 2007, with a goal of 15-25 deals annually, likening their process to a “dating agency with a planned divorce.”

Richard Watson discussed the evolution of early-stage VC funds, highlighting patience in investments and the importance of understanding founders, with their current €32M fund supporting 24 companies in SaaS and Medtech, set to grow to €50M by 2025.

Digitalising EU|BIC Processes and Tools

Emphasising the necessity of digital transformation to enhance efficiency and empower startups and consultants. A blended approach combining AI-driven tools like JIC Hub, Mentoris, and Ideomap with personal consulting ensures tailored support while streamlining processes. Speakers highlighted the importance of stage-based maturity tracking, scalable solutions, and balancing startup quantity with quality through human oversight. Resistance to change was addressed by adopting client-led models and gradual integration of tools into workflows. The session showcased practical examples of digital transformation, such as JIC’s paperless shift, task management systems, and AI-driven resources, fostering scalable community building and long-term ecosystem development.

Building Talent in Entrepreneurial ecosystems

The session focused on addressing skills development and digitalisation challenges, particularly for SMEs, highlighting the urgent need to bridge gaps in both technical and management roles. Soft and domain-specific skills remain vital, and industry-specific research, co-designed training programmes, and hands-on experience in technical environments like gaming studios were emphasised as critical for career success. Speakers stressed the importance of government incentives, simplifying startup access to foster innovation, and involving women in STEM from an early age. With Europe lagging in digital skills adoption, particularly in southern regions, collaborative efforts between academia, industry, and governments are essential to drive progress and attract and retain talent.

AI from Start up to Scale up

Highlighting Evercam’s pivotal role in transforming the industry through real-time feedback loops, Founder & CEO Marco Herbst showcased how his company is integrating hardware, software, and services to enhance predictability, productivity, and transparency in the construction sector. Emerging markets like insurance are driving growth by recognising Evercam’s value in reducing claims and improving resolution times. While global expansion has bolstered credibility, scaling operations and quantifying ROI remain challenges. Evercam’s long-term focus on construction, despite external pressures to diversify, reinforces its niche leadership. However, rising AI-driven competitors underscore the need for continuous innovation and leveraging unique data insights for a sustained competitive edge.

A spotlight on the Adapt Centre, Trinity College

Overviewing the EU AI Act, the first comprehensive AI regulation globally, professor Dave Lewis highlighted its risk-based approach to safeguarding health, safety, and fundamental rights. Key discussions with the panel included understanding roles (provider or deployer), navigating risk classifications, and addressing human rights concerns through harmonised standards and certifications. Start-ups face challenges such as accessing ethical and commercially viable data, requiring support from academic institutions and local associations. Tools like the “Ethics Canvas” and commercial validation through pilots with industry partners were emphasised as critical for success. The Act is poised to set a global benchmark for AI regulation.

Public Sector Collaboration in Digital Transformation

Exploring innovative strategies to bridge the gap between startups and public sector organisations, with a focus on the BIND GovTech Initiative. The initiative’s structured eight-step methodology, from problem identification to piloting, has engaged over 300 startups and delivered 14 impactful projects, such as SPRELU’s industrial land management system. Speakers highlighted the cultural and operational challenges of aligning the distinct ecosystems of startups and public entities, emphasising the need for training and clear communication. Conclusions on the panel highlighted the importance of realistic project design, adapting procurement practices, and fostering cultural change to enhance public-private collaboration.

Corporate Collaboration in Digital Transformation

The Innovation Exchange is a vital bridge connecting corporates facing digital challenges with SMEs offering innovative solutions, fostering trust and collaboration through proof-of-concept projects and tailored matchmaking. With 120 pitches leading to 25 successful deals in 2.5 years, the Exchange helps SMEs rehearse and pitch effectively, while corporates gain access to a filtered innovation ecosystem. Presentations by Brian Kennedy (Expleo) and Matthew McCann (Access Earth) highlighted the mutual benefits of these partnerships—corporates addressing gaps through SME technologies and startups gaining credibility and scaling opportunities. Key takeaways included the importance of trust, adaptability, and long-term collaboration for sustained market success.

AI in Creative Industries

Exploring AI’s transformative impact on gaming and creative industries, alongside its legal and ethical implications. Elaine Reynolds (Black Shamrock) and Emmet O’Neill (StoryToys) highlighted AI’s role in enhancing game development, from procedural content generation to creating interactive experiences, while addressing challenges in predictability and IP protection. Barry Scannell (William Fry) emphasised the complexities of copyright law for AI-generated content, noting that such outputs often lack legal protection and present risks tied to data usage in model training. Key takeaways included the need for ethical compensation frameworks, AI’s potential to streamline tedious tasks, and its role as a tool to augment rather than replace human creativity, despite limitations in current legal and creative applications.

How digital transformation & AI are advancing the health care sector

In this session sponsored by EU-funded EIC Communities and moderated by Health Innovation Lead Dr. Paul Anglim (GEC), the session delved into the transformative role of AI and digitalisation in healthcare, scaling trajectories, funding opportunities, and regulatory challenges. John Ward (EY) highlighted Ireland’s tightly connected ecosystem as ideal for healthcare innovation, while Chris Murphy (Bluedrop Medical) emphasised the US market’s appeal for scaling medtech companies due to its regulatory environment. Mary O’Riordan (HaPPE Earth) discussed circular business models and the importance of sustainability in entering EU and UK markets. Key takeaways included AI’s role in automating processes, proving impact through data analytics, and balancing efficiency with patient-centred care, enabling more meaningful human interaction in an evolving sector.

How to build a BIC based VC network?

Moyses Moyseos (EU|BIC CyRIC) and Richard Watson (Furthr VC) highlighted the synergies between venture capital funds and incubators in fostering startup growth. Moyseos emphasised the hands-on, inclusive approach required in smaller markets like Cyprus, where diverse sector coverage, access to high-quality resources, and global networking are essential for scaling startups. He showcased government incentives and EU funding as critical enablers of a favourable VC environment. Watson outlined key steps in setting up a VC fund within a BIC, focusing on aligning fund size, management processes, and stakeholder interests. He highlighted the advantages of shared synergies, such as cost-sharing and expertise exchange, and stressed the importance of risk mitigation and long-term impact measurement for sustainable success. Together, they underscored the role of collaborative ecosystems in driving innovation and scaling startups effectively.

Investment for AI-powered healthcare solutions

Moderated by Anna Torz representing Ready2Scale EU-funded accelerator, the panel built on the analysis EY is performing on the economic impact AI has on the healthcare sector, highlighting the transformative potential of AI in healthcare while addressing key challenges such as infrastructure disparities or data integration. Speakers emphasised that regulation is essential for building trust among medical professionals and patients. Proactive collaboration between startups, hospitals, regulators, and organisations like EU|BICs is critical for scaling AI solutions, supported by funding and EU-level strategies. Hybrid AI-human models, such as robotic nurses and AI-assisted diagnostics, are gaining acceptance, enhancing efficiency while preserving the human element in healthcare. The overall conclusion reached underscored the importance of trust-building, stakeholder engagement, and strategic investment in advancing AI adoption across the sector.