Europe’s leading innovation partner network, fast-tracking your connectivity and certifying your value

We believe that, in a world seeking to solve our global challenges, innovative entrepreneurs are the force for sustainable, economic development and greater wellbeing in our local regions.

 

Becoming a certified EU|BIC or joining the community as an Associate Member means responding to our mission with the best possible actions to create vibrant, thriving startups and SMEs. In other words, EU|BICs take real steps to ensure that their services are best advantageous to their client companies and best advantageous to their regions.

 

There are now more than 110 Certified EU|BICs and over 60 Associate members shaping our global community.

 

EBN (European Business and Innovation Centre Network) is the non-profit that facilitates this pan-European, global community of people using innovative business as a driver for regional (economic, sustainable, and social) development. EBN grants and manages the EU|BIC certification and many other innovation solutions for excellent business support actors like the EU|BICs.

© European Union, 2022

EU | BIC community

175+
members
Operating in over 35 countries, covering the full spectrum of innovation sectors, and collaborating for continuous improvement and increased impact.
630+
business experts & partners
Committed to the development and growth of entrepreneurial innovators, providing high-quality services to startups, spin-offs and SMEs.
36,000+
startups
Receive support from our members. Benefiting from expertise and programmes critical to their growth.
1
official certificate
Uniquely granted by EBN to mission-aligned organisations as the only certification of quality for business support organisations originated by the European Commission.
Build New Relationships
Fast-track your connectivity. When your organisation certifies as an EU|BIC you join a powerful community of business leaders, support practitioners and innovation partners expanding your reach within your local and international innovation ecosystems.
Improve Your Results
Getting certified and taking the yearly assessment is a powerful mechanism to help your company set goals for improvement, deliver more value to your clients and your ecosystem, and track performance over time. Members gain access to training, peers, technical assistance and funding opportunities.
Engage Trusted Partners
More than ever, people want to do engage with people and organisations they trust. The EU|BIC Certification and its trusted community are among the smartest ways to attract best-of-class clients, investment partners and to participate in revenue-generating projects that help you deliver on your mission.
Amplify Your Voice
The EU|BIC label communicates that your organisation is a verified business innovation leader when it comes to delivering quality business support and empowering entrepreneurial innovators. The third-party validation helps your organisation to stand out, and stand by your mission.

Smart solutions for all your innovation needs

News & events

EU|BIC Essentials Training Track 2025
Valorisation of R&I results through incubation and acceleration pathways
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2025 EU|BIC Award finalist: Circular Makerspaces
Circular Makerspaces for Sustainable Business Support is a pioneering programme advancing circular economy principles for SMEs, start-ups, and creators across the Baltic Sea. The programme transforms makerspaces into circularity-driven hubs that support sustainable innovation and business development.
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2025 EU|BIC Award finalist: LAZIO ABITARE GREEN
LAZIO ABITARE GREEN is a living lab focused on the Green Transition challenges in the Construction value & supply chains. It supports Operators and Communities with new methodologies, advisory services, and best practices for developing and testing sustainable market solutions. The lab promotes the transition towards sustainability by enhancing the quality of living through replicable experiences and projects.
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2025 EU|BIC Award finalist: Clean Futures Innovation Accelerator
The Clean Futures Accelerator brings together the world-class research, facilities and expertise of Coventry University, the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation, and the Connected Places Catapult to support SMEs in the transport sector as they develop and scale sustainable technologies.
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Incibe Emprende, Emprendedoras de Burgos at EBN: a day of inspiration and connection
This week, we had the pleasure of welcoming the inspiring women from the Emprendedoras de Burgos programme, organised by #EUBIC CEEI Burgos. It was an energising event full of ideas, entrepreneurial spirit, and valuable connections
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A Modernised Cohesion Policy: 2025 Mid-Term Review
EBN is pleased to share with its members the mid-term review of the EU Cohesion Policy, which addresses the new challenges facing European regions and reassesses the EU’s strategic autonomy, resilience, and future preparedness.
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2025 EU|BIC Award finalist: ID2GREEN
ID2Green helps SMEs and start-ups in Walloon Brabant, Belgium, to adopt eco-responsible practices and turn sustainability into a genuine driver of growth. Since 2021, it has created a vibrant ecosystem, pooling resources, offering themed events, collective workshops, and personalised coaching.
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Empowering SMEs Through IP: EBN’s Strategic Partnership with EUIPO
EBN is proud to strengthen its collaboration with the EUIPO, supporting EU|BICs and entrepreneurs across Europe in unlocking the value of intellectual property. As a key contributor to the Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund, EBN promotes strategic IP use to boost SME innovation, competitiveness, and growth.
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Laura Lecci
CEO, EBN
The pan-European EU|BIC business innovation community and the Certified EU|BIC quality label were designed as pioneering models for economic growth, facilitated by the EBN Secretariat. Throughout the pandemic, we have witnessed how the model of supporting entrepreneurial innovation continues to be the accelerator for recovery and a solution-driver for global challenges.
Our members, who we serve via the EU|BIC community, partners and the EBN team remain committed to co-design our desired future supported by innovation: creating greater wellbeing to European citizens – and beyond.

Services

EU|BIC quality certification label
Industry
best-practices
Project
participation
Skills
building training
Dedicated
expert team

Our Missions Commitments

Regional
Economic
Development

Quality Business Support

Access to
Finance

Scaling
European
Innovation