FRancia Italia START2 - The specialized services of the network of cross-border incubators in the space of the Maritime OP
The experience developed as part of the FRI_Start project forms the basis for this project. FRI_Start created a network of incubators (six operators covering all the Programme territories) with ‘Quality Label Marittime IT_FR’ certification, which will now form the basis of a fertile context to establish innovative, cross-border start-ups that are able to firmly position themselves in the area, favouring a focus on innovation and cross-border and global collaboration. The aim is to provide the selected start-ups with a series of specialised services, chosen from among the services tested with the first project; these services will be in addition to the standard ones provided by the incubators. This specialist assistance will be dedicated to key aspects (IPR, digitalisation, seed and early stage financing, risk finance, identification of foreign markets/customers, etc.) and will be integrated with a series of business opportunities (trade fairs, mobility). The PO Marittimo area constitutes an ecosystem with average dynamics in terms of innovation (EU reports classify France as an Innovation Follower and Italy as a Modest Innovator); in order to achieve growth, new common/shared policies are needed among innovation facilitators, to improve the innovative standards of start-ups and SMEs (92% of companies in the area) and make them more competitive on the global market. The project will be implemented by a cross-border partnership made up of important players in terms of innovation/business creation and will extend to companies across the entire PO Marittimo area, based on the collaborations established when the Fristart incubator network was set up (this network is open to new incubators that wish to join). The level of competitiveness achieved by the start-ups being supported with specialised services will be tested at the end of the project, through a cross-border business plan competition.