EU|BIC Knowledge Exchange Visit Programme

Building Bridges Across Innovation Ecosystems

The Knowledge Exchange Visit Programme strengthens collaboration within the EU|BIC community by promoting knowledge sharing, best practices, and innovation capacity building. It offers a unique opportunity for EU|BICs and EU|BIC Associate Members to engage as either Visiting Organisations or Host Organisations, facilitating mutual learning, practical exposure, and impact-driven partnerships.

This programme enables participants to benefit from a diverse range of exchange formats tailored to their needs, including:

Workshops on specialised topics, led by peer industry experts.

Site visits to startups, innovation hubs, research centres, corporate partners, and investors.

Networking sessions, allowing participants to build valuable relationships across the EU|BIC community.

Knowledge-sharing activities, such as roundtable discussions, case study presentations, and ecosystem mapping exercises.

Staff Exchange & Co-working Opportunity, where Visiting Organisations can work alongside their hosts within the same office space, engaging in informal exchanges, operational insights, and collaborative projects.

Hands-on innovation sessions, including joint prototyping, design sprints, or pilot project collaborations.

Tailored mentoring and coaching, providing Visiting Organisations with direct access to local expertise.

By participating, organisations can engage in immersive learning experiences, gaining both strategic and operational insights to enhance their innovation support services.

Please note that this is a self-funded initiative. Host and Visiting Organisations are expected to allocate a budget to support their participation, covering logistics, travel, and related expenses. The programme is facilitated by EBN but requires a financial commitment from participating organisations.

For Host Organisations:

Must be a member of the EU|BIC Community (certified EU|BIC or an EU|BIC Associate Member).

Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the priority thematic areas, including:

Green innovation (e.g., renewable energy, sustainable production).

Digital transformation and Industry 4.0.

Inclusive and impact-driven entrepreneurship.

Access to finance and scaling innovation.

Capacity to host visiting organisations, including space, logistics, and workshop facilitation.

Be open to staff exchange and co-working, allowing Visiting Organisations to integrate into their office environment for hands-on learning.

For Visiting Organisations:

Must be a member of the EU|BIC Community (certified EU|BIC or an EU|BIC Associate Member) looking to:

Address specific challenges within their ecosystem.

Benchmark best practices.

Develop international partnerships.

Possibility to engage in staff exchange and co-working for an immersive learning experience.

Priority will be given to organisations demonstrating clear goals aligned with the programme’s thematic focus.

Why Participate?

This programme aligns with the EU|BIC community’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through peer learning, international collaboration, and ecosystem development. By taking part in the Knowledge Exchange Visit Programme, your organisation will gain unique opportunities to:

Strengthen Innovation Capacity – Gain first-hand insights from leading EU|BICs, benchmark best practices, and enhance the quality of your business support services.
Expand Your Network – Build lasting relationships with key innovation leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers across Europe, opening doors to future collaborations.
Experience Hands-on Learning – Move beyond theoretical discussions by participating in workshops, site visits, and co-working opportunities, enabling practical exposure to operational best practices.
Enhance Internationalisation & Scaling – Explore new markets, engage with international partners, and leverage global opportunities to support the growth of startups and SMEs in your ecosystem.
Co-create and Innovate – Engage in joint problem-solving, pilot projects, and innovation sprints with other EU|BICs, driving the development of new solutions in the green transition, digital transformation, and impact-driven entrepreneurship.
Gain Recognition & Visibility – Position your organisation as an innovation leader within the EU|BIC community, showcasing your expertise and impact on a European stage.
Foster Long-term Impact – Take away actionable insights and strategies that can be directly applied to improve your regional innovation ecosystem, strengthening both local and international partnerships.