Startup-corporate collaborations are often hailed as the driving force behind Europe’s burgeoning innovation ecosystem, yet they remain a puzzle for many new founders trying to understand their practical impact. Having worked across startups, corporations, and academia, Michiel Scheffer, President of the European Innovation Council Board, provides a refreshing perspective on this topic through his leadership of the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme (CPP). As a serial entrepreneur with deep firsthand experience in building and scaling businesses across Europe, I, Violetta Bonenkamp, couldn't help but notice some standout observations from Scheffer’s approach that reflect broader trends.
Why Corporate Partnerships Matter to European Startups
When it comes to scaling deeptech startups, a niche I know well from developing IP-based companies, finding significant corporate partnerships can make or break a venture’s trajectory. Scheffer identifies structured engagement with corporates as the real game-changer, as opposed to ad-hoc networking events or scattered collaborations. His insights show a consistency that resonates deeply: for startups tackling significant challenges in quantum tech, green energy, or medical device innovation, corporate partnerships go beyond securing financial capital. They offer access to domain expertise, supply chains, and scaling pathways that singular startups wouldn’t navigate alone.
Take the corporate mission to Japan in 2025 highlighted by Scheffer. European startups, including those innovating within hydrogen tech and IoT, not only forged relationships with Japanese giants but did so while anchoring their IP strategies securely within Europe. This structured international collaboration doesn’t just capitalize on exporting technology; it ensures our ecosystem retains ownership of the primary innovations, something I wholeheartedly endorse as a creator of Europe-based intellectual property.
What Makes EIC CPP Unique in Practice
When I first delved into Scheffer’s description of the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme, I was particularly drawn to its multi-phase approach. The measured structure and data-driven curation eliminate the randomness I often see at industry matchmaking events. The fact that EIC CPP has facilitated 1,600+ engagements and resulted in 130+ commercial deals isn’t just a figure to admire, it’s proof that systematic collaboration works better than informal networks alone.
For entrepreneurs like myself, whose success often hinges on scaling up breakthrough technologies, the 5% selection rate for EIC-backed startups is promising yet daunting. It signals a focus on quality over quantity, ensuring that startups selected for CPP showcase disruptive tech aligned with corporate innovation goals. Moreover, the emphasis on curated follow-ups and signed contracts indicates these partnerships are fundamentally outcomes-driven rather than limited to exploratory discussions.
A standout success story shared by Scheffer is the Holcim and Nanolike collaboration, forged through EIC CPP. Holcim’s expertise in sustainable building solutions complemented Nanolike’s IoT-driven innovation for inventory management, a synergy that represents the core value of such programmes: connecting high-risk deeptech ventures with corporates willing to tackle equally high-stakes opportunities.
Actionable Steps for Startups Looking to Leverage Corporate Partnerships
Based on Scheffer’s insights and my entrepreneurial experience, here’s my advice to startups navigating this complex yet rewarding ecosystem:
1. Understand Your Fit
Start by recognizing whether your innovation tackles a real-world problem that corporations are actively investing in. The EIC's flagship report provides clear industry trends, such as green energy and quantum tech, that corporates increasingly value. Align yourself with sectors seeking solutions, as opposed to attempting to fit into broad innovation themes.
2. Build Your Data Story
Corporates rely heavily on tangible metrics when considering startups. Showcase your technology’s efficacy with real-world validation data, pilot outcomes, and scalability potential. Programs like the CPP often create structured follow-up processes after initial engagements that mandate measurable results early on.
3. Commit to the Process
Unlike other programs that focus solely on networking, CPP demands deeper, multi-month engagements. Prepare your team to deliver sustained engagement, mutual accountability, and transparent communication as these direct practices yield commercial contracts, not just temporary goodwill.
4. Scale Strategically
Scheffer’s example of startups participating in the Japan corporate mission underscores the importance of engaging in international expansion strategically. While these missions are about developing cross-border market access, they also reinforce the foundational need to keep ownership over proprietary technologies intact within Europe.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
If I’ve learned one thing from building startups, it’s that nothing derails promising collaborations faster than short-term thinking. Here are common pitfalls Scheffer’s CPP helps startups sidestep:
- Chasing High-Risk Corporates: Not every large corporation offers the agility or willingness to engage deeply with startups. Focus on companies that demonstrate a well-shared culture of innovation.
- Underestimating Relationship Building: Launching pilots is just the starting point. Scheffer’s program shows that multi-phase, data-driven engagement ensures long-term sustainability over quick wins.
- Failing IP Protection: International partnerships can sometimes dilute ownership of intellectual property without strong contractual safeguards. Tools such as EIC's structuring of NDAs ensure your startup’s innovations stay protected.
Key Metrics and Trends
Let’s break this down further with cold, hard numbers that reflect Scheffer’s CPP success:
- 87 Corporate Days since inception (36% international attendance skyrocketing since 2022).
- Over 600 follow-ups globally yielding remarkable regional partnerships.
- Industry Focus: Green tech startups accounted for 15% in 2023, expected to increase to 20% by 2027, driven by New EU Green Deal priorities.
Scheffer’s vision connects strategic scale-ups with clear trends shaping Europe’s collaborative innovation landscape, and it’s no surprise deeptech is attracting significant attention.
Conclusion: Why the Future of Startup-Corporate Partnership Is Bright
As someone who champions game-based entrepreneurship, I believe the opportunity Scheffer’s programme provides for startups is unparalleled in Europe. Structured initiatives like CPP are proving that innovation stems not just from startups operating in isolation but from systemic collaboration that aligns disruptive ideas with actionable corporate goals.
For founders aiming to scale their deeptech ventures, programs like EIC CPP serve as a beacon, connecting the dots between pilot-stage innovation and global market expansion, all while safeguarding Europe’s intellectual property advantage. If this trajectory continues under strong leadership like Scheffer’s, the ecosystem will only mature further, offering measurable productivity gains and sustainable alignment in high-value industries.
To dive deeper into startup-corporate collaborations or explore the history of CPP engagements, read more in the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme. Entrepreneurs of the future, be prepared to shift not just your ventures but your mindset into scalable alignment. Who knows? Perhaps your innovation is destined to be CPP’s next breakthrough.
FAQ
1. What is the European Innovation Council (EIC)?
The European Innovation Council (EIC) is the EU’s central body for identifying, funding, and scaling disruptive technologies. It supports deeptech startups, scale-ups, and SMEs through financial schemes and market connections. Learn more about the European Innovation Council
2. What is the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme (CPP)?
The EIC CPP connects deeptech startups with large European corporates through a structured, multi-phase process designed to foster commercial deals, not just exploratory discussions. Explore the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme
3. How successful has the EIC CPP been so far?
Since its 2017 launch, the EIC CPP has facilitated over 1,600 engagements and 130+ commercial deals between startups and corporates like Airbus, Bayer, and Siemens.
4. What makes EIC CPP partnerships unique?
The EIC CPP emphasizes structured, measurable outputs, focusing on multi-month engagements rather than brief networking events. It also carefully selects startups with a 5% acceptance rate to ensure alignment with corporate goals.
5. Can you share a success story from the EIC CPP?
One example is the partnership between Holcim, a leader in sustainable building solutions, and Nanolike, an IoT-focused startup. Their collaboration was facilitated through the CPP, showcasing effective synergy between corporate expertise and startup innovation.
6. What industries are most involved in the EIC CPP?
The programme spans multiple sectors, including green energy, quantum tech, IoT, medical devices, and more, with green tech startups making up 15% of participants in 2023.
7. What is the importance of the international dimension in CPP?
The EIC’s international missions, such as the 2025 CPP trip to Japan, help startups access new markets while retaining IP within Europe. Initiatives like this elevate startups to a global competitive level.
8. How do startups benefit from participating in CPP?
Startups receive access to corporate expertise, supply chains, and scaling opportunities. The programme offers curated follow-ups and measurable results, often culminating in commercial contracts.
9. What new initiatives align with CPP efforts?
The EU’s 2026 Corporate Network aims to expand CPP innovation activities by fostering strategic alignment and operational collaboration between startups and corporates at all levels.
10. What future trends are shaping EIC CPP?
The CPP is focused on deepening international cooperation, strengthening IP retention in Europe, and scaling high-impact technologies to meet global challenges.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.