EIC invites funded green tech companies to apply for a free booth at ECOMONDO 2022
- ›The European Innovation Council invites EIC-funded companies to apply for a free booth at the European Commission pavilion at ECOMONDO 2022 in Rimini from 8 to 11 November 2022.
- ›Applications were open until 16 August 2022 and required EU Login credentials and an online form submission.
- ›Selected companies received a free booth in a 10-stand EC pavilion, networking opportunities, workshop access and the chance to pitch to investors, but travel and accommodation costs were not covered.
- ›Selection criteria included EIC funding status, internationalisation plan, expected impact of participation and fit with the fair.
- ›Attendance was organised jointly with CINEA and REA and additional selection could allow companies to join the Start-Up & Scale-up Innovation initiative.
Open call: showcase EIC-backed green technologies at ECOMONDO 2022
The European Innovation Council issued an open call on 23 June 2022 inviting companies it has funded to apply for exhibition space in the European Commission pavilion at ECOMONDO 2022. The call targeted projects in sectors relevant to the circular economy and renewable energy. ECOMONDO is held annually in Rimini, Italy and markets itself as a leading Euro-Mediterranean trade fair for green technology where companies, researchers and sector stakeholders converge to spot trends and business opportunities.
Who is organising and who should apply
The initiative was presented by the European Innovation Council in cooperation with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency and the European Research Executive Agency. The offer was limited to organisations that had received support from the EIC and were developing innovations in specific environmental and energy fields.
What selected companies were offered
The selected EIC-funded companies would be hosted at the European Commission pavilion and offered a package of visibility and engagement opportunities. The offer balanced exhibition exposure and curated networking with the usual caveat that the EIC did not cover travel or accommodation costs.
| Feature | Details |
| Dates of fair | 8 to 11 November 2022 in Rimini, Italy |
| Booth | Free booth at the European Commission pavilion. The pavilion had 10 booths available and hosting days depended on application numbers. |
| Networking and events | Access to networking areas, workshops and events on circular economy and renewable energies with international speakers. |
| Pitching opportunities | Several EIC companies could be selected for pitching sessions before venture capitalists, scientific experts and utilities representatives. |
| Extra initiative | A further internal ECOMONDO call could allow joining the Start-Up & Scale-up Innovation initiative. |
| Costs for participants | Applicants were responsible for their own travel and accommodation. |
Application and selection process
Applications required EU Login credentials and completion of an online form. An EIC evaluation team reviewed submissions against a short set of criteria. After the assessment the EIC team would notify applicants of the outcome.
The call remained open until 16 August 2022. The EIC warned applicants that booth allocation and participation days depended on the total number of applications, which introduced an element of uncertainty for planning.
Practical requirements and policies
Context and what to expect
ECOMONDO positions itself as a reference platform in Southern Europe for the green economy where private companies, utilities, sectoral experts and public authorities meet. For EIC beneficiaries the event offered direct exposure to potential customers and investors and access to targeted workshops. Such fairs can be useful for business development but results vary. Direct leads and investor interest often depend on timing, the quality of the pitch materials and how well a company’s technology addresses an immediate buyer or investor need.
Advice for EIC beneficiaries considering applying
Applicants who intended to submit should prepare concise and well-structured materials. That includes a short video, an updated pitch deck and a clear internationalisation plan aligned with the fair’s audience. Because selection considered the expected impact of participation, applicants needed to explain concretely which customers or partners they hoped to meet and how attendance would accelerate their commercialisation.
Final notes
The EIC offer at ECOMONDO 2022 created a low-cost route for selected beneficiaries to gain visibility at a major European green technology event. The programme combined exhibition space with curated pitching and networking. However interested organisations needed to factor in travel costs, competition for a limited number of booths and the fact that the networking benefits typical of trade fairs require active follow-up to translate into measurable business outcomes.