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 106 Certified EU|BICs and over 43 Associate members and 20 satellites 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

170+
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 Deep Dive in Dublin: Incubation Services for Open Innovation   
Practical workshop on how to build Corporate Open Innovation Challenges
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Building growth: 2024 Impact Stories
The EU|BIC community’s pan-European nature stands as one of its most formidable assets, bolstering the expansion potential of startups, scaleups, and innovative SMEs. This intrinsic diversity fosters a unique environment where innovation can thrive, creating a robust ecosystem for entrepreneurial growth. EU|BICs facilitate access to both domestic and international markets through strategic partnerships and extensive networks, helping startups overcome market entry barriers and navigate complex regulatory landscapes.
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Sustainability at the Core: 2024 Impact Stories
Across Europe, innovation ecosystems are shaping a future where sustainability is fundamental to every stage of business development. Driving towards long-term success, European Business and Innovation Centres (EU|BICs) embed core social and environmental principles into their daily entrepreneurial support operations and their innovation ecosystems as a whole.
Read more
Connect and Innovate: Startup Greece Week 2024 is Almost Here!
Join EU|BIC Associate ena Development Consultants on 23 October 2024, from 9:30 to 17:00, at ENA Hub for Startup Greece Week 2024! This free event covers Artificial Intelligence (AI), Design Thinking, and more. Network and gain insights.
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Navigating the Circular Transition - by Ander Eizaguirre, OECD
The transition to a circular economy is pivotal for sustainable development, requiring businesses to adopt innovative models that redefine traditional resource usage. At the forefront of this transformation are several key approaches that businesses can integrate into their operations.
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The Value of Innovation for Sustainability - by Mikel Landabaso, EU Joint Research Centre
As we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of EBN, it is essential to reflect on the evolution and future direction of regional innovation policies in Europe. Over the decades, the approach to fostering innovation has significantly transformed from a top-down model to a more inclusive, partnership-driven strategy that actively involves the private sector. This shift is crucial in addressing the dual digital and green transitions and ensuring that regions do not fall into new layers of disparity
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EU|BIC Community’s Impact 2023/2024 - the statistical picture of our community
A growing innovation community that puts people, regions, and the planet at the heart its actions.
Read more
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