EU-LAC Digital Accelerator launches its first open call for European, Latin American and Caribbean business partnerships

• Business partnerships must include at least two partners focused on digital challenges in Smart Production from the following regions: European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Each business partnership will have the opportunity to access the accelerator services, valued at up to €30,000, to meet their objective. 

EU-LAC Digital Accelerator supports the generation of cross-regional business partnerships between Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to develop digital business. Through its Matching Platform, it connects digital challenges presented by corporates with solutions proposed by innovative startups and SMEs based in other regions.

Through this first call for business partnerships, EU-LAC Digital Accelerator invites business partnerships generated through the Matching Platform and other external partnerships to apply for acceleration services valued up to €30,000. These services, funded by the accelerator, will be tailored to the needs of each business partnership.

This accelerator, promoted by the European Union, is led by TECNALIA and involves the participation of major international benchmarks in entrepreneurship and innovation, such as IESE Business School, WAYRA-Telefónica, European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN), European Business Angels Network (EBAN), Expertise France, TECNALIA-Ventures, Inter-American Development Bank BID-Lab, TECNALIA-Colombia and Caribbean Export.

Tailor-made acceleration for collaborative business generation

The EU-LAC Digital Accelerator Matching Platform has brought together 55 corporates and 200 startups looking for synergies over the past months. With 43 challenges published in the field of Smart Production, the digital and innovative solutions proposed by the startups are generating the first EU-LAC business partnerships eligible to receive acceleration services.

Each eligible business partnership can apply to the call and access acceleration services funded by the accelerator for up to €30,000. The services provided fall into the following categories:

• Development of a tailor-made acceleration roadmap.
• Design and implementation of proof-of-concepts.
• Validation of business cases.
• Specific advice and support for growth and access to investment.

The deadline for interested partnerships to apply for this first call is 30 April 2024.

EU-LAC partnerships: how to apply?

EU-LAC Digital Accelerator encourages business partnerships from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to address digital challenges related to Smart Production through Open Innovation by benefiting from the acceleration services it offers.

To qualify for the EU-LAC partnership acceleration services, such a partnership must consist of at least one corporate entity and one innovative startup or SME, both from different eligible regions (European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean). To demonstrate their partnership, the partners must have signed a formal agreement.

Interested EU-LAC partnerships can submit their application form via the ‘Open Call’ website, where they will find the Guidelines for Applicants with all the necessary documentation.

For more information, contact the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator team.