Delivering quality at scale: How EBN and Startup Portugal are Professionalising Incubation Excellence

In 2025, EBN partnered with Startup Portugal to deliver a specialised capacity-building programme designed to strengthen the quality, strategic maturity, and impact of Portugal’s national incubation network. Commissioned by Startup Portugal, the “General Course in Incubation Management – Level 2: Science, Technology and Impact” combined the EU|BIC Innovation Model with practical tools and peer‑driven methodologies drawn from leading European ecosystems.

This mission illustrates how national innovation agencies can use structured technical assistance to translate strategic priorities into measurable improvements in incubation performance.

A Practice-Driven Programme Grounded in European Standards

Delivered across six interconnected online sessions, the programme focused on three pillars central to modern innovation systems:

Impact measurement as a strategic management tool,
knowledge valorisation and university engagement,
deep‑tech incubation and scaling pathways.

Each session was designed to move beyond theory. Participants engaged in expert walkthroughs, peer discussion, operational templates, and case studies from accredited EU|BICs. This ensured that learning could be immediately translated into organisational practice.

High-Quality Content and Strong Engagement

The programme attracted a carefully selected cohort of incubation professionals from the Startup Portugal RNI network. Participation remained high throughout all sessions. A significant proportion of attendees completed the full training pathway and qualified for certification. This reflects not only interest but sustained engagement.

Participants particularly valued:

the clarity and structure of the EU|BIC Innovation Model,
the relevance of real operational case studies,
and the opportunity to benchmark their practices against European peers from the EU|BIC Community.

What Participants Valued Most – In Their Own Words

Feedback collected by EBN highlights the practical and strategic value of the programme:

“The training helped me better understand aspects associated with impact management and measurement… the references were very good.“

“It is important to hear about best practices and gather information from different organisations.“

“Valuable to reflect on the type of impact that is important to observe and the measurable indicators.“

“Sharing insights about other cases. the testimonials.“

“The programme helped participants better understand how impact, incubation models and ecosystem positioning fit together in practice.“

Many participants emphasised:

The usefulness of case studies and EU|BIC testimonials,
peer learning moments,
clear guidance on KPIs and mission-aligned impact reporting.

Notably, most respondents indicated they will definitely or partially implement elements of the EU|BIC Impact Framework. This demonstrates that the programme triggered concrete institutional action rather than passive learning.

Strengthening Startup Portugal’s Quality Agenda

For Startup Portugal, the programme directly supported its strategic objective of enhancing the quality, cohesion, and credibility of national incubation services.

By grounding the training in European standards and tested EU|BIC practices, the collaboration helped:

Professionalise incubation management practices,
reinforce the credibility of incubators with funders and partners,
and strengthen their role as key actors within Portugal’s innovation ecosystem.

As the final assessment concluded, the mission contributed to building “a more cohesive, informed, and impact-oriented incubation community in Portugal”.

The training clearly went beyond theory and triggered concrete follow-up actions from several participating organisations. The collaboration opened broader discussions around impact standards, ecosystem development, and how international experience can be translated into national implementation. This makes the partnership both complementary and strategically valuable for us.
Marília Santos, Head of Growth & Acceleration, Startup Portugal

A Solid Foundation for Continued Collaboration

The EBN–Startup Portugal partnership illustrates how high-quality, evidence-based training can deliver measurable value for ecosystem actors. By combining strategic validated methodologies and practitioner testimonials, the programme has created strong foundations for continued collaboration, deeper benchmarking, and long-term ecosystem development.

For national innovation agencies and development partners, this experience demonstrates how structured technical assistance can:

accelerate institutional capability,
align actors around shared standards,
and generate system-level improvements that endure beyond a single intervention.