As a partner in the HARD2SCALE project, INNOVA is proud to support the next generation of innovators addressing critical challenges facing Europe’s heavy industries and resource-intensive sectors.

Supporting the Industrial Transition

Materials and resource industries are fundamental to Europe’s economy, yet they face increasing pressure to decarbonize operations, improve resource efficiency, embrace circular economy principles, and remain globally competitive.

HARD2SCALE was created to bridge the gap between innovative startups and industrial stakeholders, helping promising technologies move beyond early-stage development and into real-world industrial applications.

The second cohort focuses on startups and SMEs developing solutions for sectors including:

• Cement
• Steel
• Aluminium
• Glass
• Pulp & Paper
• Metals
• Advanced Materials

The programme is particularly interested in innovations addressing:

• Industrial decarbonisation
• Energy efficiency
• Circular economy solutions
• Resource recovery and recycling
• Advanced materials
• Industrial digitalisation
• Process optimisation
• Carbon monitoring and emissions management
• Regulatory and compliance support technologies

What Selected Startups Will Receive

Participants selected for Cohort 2 will gain access to a comprehensive acceleration programme designed specifically for hard-to-abate industries. Benefits include:

• Industrial Validation Opportunities: Startups will connect directly with industrial players and explore opportunities for pilot projects, testing, and validation in real operational environments.
• Expert Mentoring: Participants will receive tailored support from industry experts, innovation specialists, investors, and business development professionals.
• Investor Matchmaking: The programme facilitates introductions to investors and funding opportunities aligned with industrial innovation and deep-tech ventures.
• International Visibility: Startups will become part of a European innovation ecosystem and gain exposure through networking events, industry engagement activities, and project communications.

Apply for the Accelerator Programme here: https://www.f6s.com/hard2scale/connect 

Read more: https://hard2scale.eu/acceleration-programme/

Join the HARD2SCALE Cohort 2 Info Day

To help potential applicants better understand the programme and application process, HARD2SCALE is organizing an online Information Day.

Event Details

Date: 9 June 2026
Time: 16:00 CET
Format: Online

During this one-hour session, participants will gain:

• A clear overview of the Cohort 2 scope and timeline
• Detailed information about eligibility requirements
• Insights into the support available for selected startups
• Guidance on preparing a strong application
• The opportunity to ask questions directly during a live Q&A session

Register for the Info Day here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/UTP3V0hcTMCbqKB-hjJ9CA#/registration

Apply Before the Deadline: Applications for Cohort 2 are open until 21 June 2026.

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HARD2SCALE brings together innovators, industry leaders, research organisations, and investors to identify high-impact technologies and match them with real industrial needs. Through regional workshops, market assessments, and ecosystem mapping, the project will co-create a Cross-Border Action Plan that outlines how deep-tech solutions can be effectively scaled across Europe.

This work will pave the way for a future European deep-tech accelerator dedicated to supporting startups and scale-ups in reaching industrial validation, market adoption, and cross-border growth thereby accelerating Europe’s transition toward climate-neutral industrial processes.

INNOVA’s Role in the Project

As a core partner, INNOVA leads key activities that ensure the project’s effectiveness and impact, including:

• Mapping high-potential deep-tech technologies with relevance to HtA sectors
• Engaging Italian industry stakeholders, startups, research centres, and investors
• Validating needs and challenges through consultations, surveys, and workshops
• Co-designing the strategic Scaling-Up Action Plan for a cross-border accelerator
• Supporting communication and dissemination to increase outreach and stakeholder participation

The HARD2SCALE Consortium

The project brings together 8 strategic partners from both emerging/moderate and leading innovation ecosystems:

• KiNNO Innovation Intermediaries (Greece): Project Coordinator
• ASTR Capital (France)
• Accent Inkubator GmbH (Austria)
• Venture Booster (Portugal)
• INNOVA – Innovation, Technology Transfer & Valorisation (Italy)
• Merinova Technology Center (Finland)
• G-Force (Slovakia)
• EurA AG (Germany)

Together, the consortium offers complementary strengths in investment, acceleration, open innovation, and industrial collaboration.

Join the HARD2SCALE Community

We invite innovators, industry leaders, research organisations, clusters, and policymakers to collaborate with us in shaping Europe’s next wave of green industrial innovation.

• Subscribe to project updates: https://hard2scale.eu/index.php/updates/
• Learn more about INNOVA: innova.ethiolocate.com/

INNOVA remains committed to fostering innovation, strengthening ecosystems, and supporting Europe’s journey toward sustainable and resilient industrial transformation.

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We promote exchange and synergies between research centres and between research centres and industries, closely collaborating with high level European Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) offices and Universities and fostering the transfer and valorisation of industrial patents and IPRs.

We offer assistance from the evaluation to the registration of your potential patents.

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Through effective marketing strategies, business development services, studies and research, we accelerate market take-up and commercial exploitation of new technologies and business models.

We enable you to define the best market opportunities reducing your technology and financial risks.

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We help to develop industrial partnerships at national and international level creating links between research and industry. INNOVA has gained considerable experience in the field as prime contractor of the European Space Agency’s second Commercial Agent Network (ESA) to market and sell the use of services, resources and facilities that ESA offered onboard the International Space Station. INNOVA is now involved in INNOVHUB (Azienda speciale della Camera di Commercio di Milano per l’innovazione), the special Agency for Innovation of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan (Italy) promoting Technology Transfer services to SMEs of the province of Milan.

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Through our industrial research laboratory LABOR, we carry out testing of new applications in industrial sites.

LABOR provides advanced applied research services to hi-tech companies involved in technology innovation processes in the sectors of electronics, renewable energies and chemical processes.

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We support companies in searching for information on recent available innovations and technologies to address specific technological needs, offer comparative analysis to evaluate the potential of an innovative idea or to acquire awareness of similar technologies already applied and exploited in other countries and/or companies.

We run audits to identify technological innovation needs and offer technology assistance to companies to reveal the most advanced technologies.

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