The European Commission (EC) launches the FIWARE Accelerator Programme, which is about to destine 80 million euros to businesses and entrepreneurs to help them develop projects based on FIWARE technologies (www.fiware.org). FIWARE is a standard and open platform that has been developed during 3 years by the EC and the key ICT actors, investing a total amount of more than 400 million euros.
More of 1,000 enterprises, which can present their projects through open calls, are about to benefit from this funding phase being announced today, each one of them receiving between 50,000 and 150,000 euros. “Our goal is to have at least 300 successful start-ups at the end of the programme”, explained Mario Campolargo at the ECFI’s press conference.
Mario Campolargo, director of “Net Futures”, CE’s area dedicated to the Internet of the Future, defines investment on this project as the best way to fight the economic crisis. “We believe that the best tool of all to combat the crisis IS innovation” explained Mario Campolargo. The programme’s goal is to promote 1,300 start-ups and SMEs. “The ambition of this programme is precisely to build a European accelerator’s success story, to invest into entrepreneurial skills of young Europeans”. Thanks to the accelerators, SMEs and start-ups will benefit from a more direct access to European funds, as these entities will be in charge of managing the process. The other strength of the programme is its internationalization.
Candidates must submit their project to the accelerator that best suits it, as they focus on different domains of digital economy: Smart Cities, eHealth, transports, energy & environment, AgriFood, Media & Content, Manufacturing & Logistics, and Social & Learning. Apart from defining their business potential and the impact on the area, SMEs and entrepreneurs must use FIWARE technologies. “FIWARE is an excellent example of pooling resources between the private and public sectors”, explains Ilkka Lakaniemi, chairman of the Future Internet PPP (FIWARE PPP) Programme.