atTRACTION Report: Strengthening Deep-Tech Ecosystems Through Startup Scouting and Cross-Regional Collaboration

One of the key objectives of the Horizon Europe-funded atTRACTION project is to strengthen deep-tech innovation ecosystems by connecting emerging regions with more mature European innovation hubs. As part of this effort, project partners carried out extensive scouting activities to identify promising start-ups and scale-ups, foster collaboration with local accelerators and incubators, and support companies on their journey towards international growth and investment readiness.

The newly published report, “Report on the scouting activities and results of start-ups and scale-up recruitment and collaboration with local accelerators and incubators”, provides an overview of the scouting methodology, regional activities, and results achieved across Lithuania, Wielkopolska (Poland), and Andalusia (Spain).

Key highlights

🔹 More than 200 deep-tech start-ups and scale-ups were identified across the three target regions.

🔹 Lithuania leveraged its strong innovation ecosystem and collaboration between academia, industry, and support organizations, scouting 59 start-ups, with 15 selected for further engagement.

🔹 Wielkopolska (Poland) identified 48 innovative start-ups, with 25 shortlisted for deeper collaboration and investment-readiness activities.

🔹 Andalusia (Spain) mapped more than 100 start-ups, with 36 joining the atTRACTION community and 10 selected for further engagement.

🔹 The report highlights the crucial role of accelerators, incubators, universities, venture capital investors, and regional innovation stakeholders in supporting the growth of deep-tech companies.

Building stronger innovation ecosystems

The findings demonstrate that while each region has unique strengths and challenges, cross-regional cooperation and access to international networks remain essential for accelerating innovation and attracting investment. The report also outlines lessons learned from the scouting process and identifies opportunities for strengthening long-term support mechanisms for deep-tech entrepreneurs across Europe.

By connecting innovation ecosystem actors and facilitating international collaboration, atTRACTION contributes to creating stronger pathways for deep-tech companies to scale, attract investment, and address major societal challenges.

Read the full report

📄 atTRACTION_D6.1_Scouting_report