The Innovative Enterprise week SOFIA 2018 (IEWSofia2018) will plan, prepare and organize a 1 day conference, the “Innovative Enterprise week SOFIA 2018 - Financial instruments fostering Research and Innovation” to raise awareness of the potential for the financial instruments, facilities and accompanying measures launched, in particular, under Horizon 2020 to enhance access to finance for research and innovation. The conference will: - Ensure proper awareness and popularization of the financial instruments, especially among SMEs and midcaps, financial intermediaries (banks as well as risk capital funds including private investors and corporate investors); - Create interactions possible between these financial instruments, COSME's, European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), instruments at national and local level as well as with the European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot - Bring together the main stakeholders (EU, national and regional Policy makers, Financial intermediaries, representatives from Research, Innovation and Business) to discuss the best uptake of the available financial instruments and the improvement of existing and development of new financial instruments that will support R&I in the upcoming years. - Shade lights on important happenings, initiatives and announcements related to Research & Innovation and particularly on the financial instruments resulting to support these new initiatives The conference will be organised by ahe named beneficiary (Tech Tour Global eood) and its linked third party (Europe Unlimited). Tech Tour Global EOOD and Europe Unlimited, both working together and supporting SMEs and Midcaps to connect with investors and have large expertise in organising events bringing together these stakeholders.

The S4I2T project seeks to develop a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solar electric water propulsion system. It aims to use water as a propellant to enable autonomous spacecraft docking and propellant refilling, promoting economic and environmental sustainability and facilitating in-orbit servicing, robotics, and in-space manufacturing. Furthermore, the project explores in-space water extraction and utilization from celestial bodies, contributing to a self-sustaining circular space economy based on solar energy harvesting. The three technological elements at the project's core are: 1. Solar-Electric Water Electrolysis Propulsion: Water is used as a propellant and decomposed into gaseous oxygen and hydrogen, outperforming traditional chemical propulsion systems. Water's non-toxicity, versatility, and availability make it a cost-effective choice. It also utilizes solar energy for propulsion. 2. Autonomous Proximity/Docking Operations and Propellant Refilling: Water simplifies in-orbit refueling, reducing launch mass and extending satellite lifetimes. This supports in-orbit servicing and assembly, enhancing the impact of solar energy harvesting. 3. In-Space Water Extraction and Utilization: Water extraction from celestial bodies combined with the other technologies creates a self-sustainable space mobility infrastructure, offering long-term, Earth-independent operation. The project aims to achieve several breakthroughs in developing a novel solar-powered propulsion system, addressing technological challenges and bottlenecks. It includes the development and lab demonstration of innovative components for a Solar Electric Water Electrolysis Propulsion System, autonomous proximity/docking algorithms, and end-to-end In-Space Resource Utilization (ISRU) validation. Ultimately, the S4I2T project strives to position Europe as a leader in solar-energy-powered space mobility, fostering a sustainable and self-sustaining space economy.

Only 5% of European start-ups scale-up and pursue the position of world tech leaders. The growth barriers are high for truly high-risk deep-tech innovators, the main target of EIC instruments. Deep-tech innovators struggle to get required capital at the different stages of their lifecycle. The EIC-ScalingUP is set to create a blueprint for the EIC deep-tech growth companies to successfully scale and accelerate their investments and partnerships. It will identify, engage, select and feature 50 EIC companies with ability to become world-scale companies, select up to 30 and guide their growth plan and ambitions and create the blueprint of the tailored ScalingUP services. The execution of the defined blueprint will support the growth and funding of the 30 companies and foster exposure and connections with target stakeholders and networks with the aim to impact the key growth fundamentals and to lead to a successful Series B/C round or acquisition value, thus validating the EIC-ScalingUP blueprint. It is expected that 500+ Euro Million will be raised by the supported companies and inspirational success stories of EIC deep-tech companies will be broadly promoted to establish the EIC-ScalingUP as a credential of honour among Investment & Innovation communities. All activities in the EIC-ScalingUP are carried out by a consortium of 4 partners with complementary expertise: Coordinator Tech Tour (Networking & matchmaking between innovative SMEs; investors, corporates and advisors), Bpifrance (the French public investment bank assists businesses across stages and sectors and finances them from the seed phase to transfer to stocks exchange listing through loans, guarantees and equity), Boston Consulting Group (a global management consulting company with a deep understanding of the Deep Tech ecosystem) and Deepwave Ventures.

CO-INVESTIN focuses on creating cross-border co-investment opportunities for modest and moderate EU ecosystems by leveraging promising startups in the portfolio of local investors to attract foreign investors from more advanced ecosystems in their new rounds. To achieve that, the partners will pilot the approach in 4 emerging ecosystems (EL, BG, RO, PT) where the consortium partners have a strong footprint and progressively integrate at least 10 additional emerging/ moderate ecosystems by the end of the project. The project focuses on the funding gap around the Series A, very acute in these ecosystems both from the lack of capital and investors perspective, as well as in terms of deal size with respect to more advanced ecosystems. As demonstrated by the recent experience with the EIC Fund, identifying a lead investor and co-investors is a challenging task for DeepTech start-ups, in particular the ones from emerging ecosystems. The CO-INVESTIN approach relies on 4 main dimensions, that cover in a complete manner both the analytic and the action oriented dimensions of the approach: 1. Investment gap analysis, 2. Development of Market Orientation Programmes, 3. Stimulating cross-border investments and 4. Upscaling the framework and enhancing its impacts. The main project results include: • At least 5 working groups to foster the creation of structured and coordinated networks • At least 20 peer investor match-making sessions • Establishment of local CPI and activation of the Assistance Service for foreign investors • Market orientation programmes for European investors, with emphasis on women for at least 10 ecosystems • 5 networking review sessions & VC syndication to encourage joint ventures & Cooperation with innovation agencies • 2 International business forums & conferences to attract and connect investors Particular focus will be placed on fostering the increased participation of women in both the entrepreneurial endeavours, as well as investment landscape.

The EIC Scaling Club’s mission is to grow Europe’s tech success stories. It is to be the home where 100 selected European deep-tech scale-ups, their investors and stakeholders collaborate to develop market opportunities and contribute to a better world. It will deliver 6 sets of services to its members over a period of 3.5 years: - Engage the most active investors, corporations, agencies, clusters and media and mentors - Grow the value of the 100 selected member companies with a best-in-class venture mentoring programme; - Facilitate the financing, partnering and hiring of talent through a curated roadshow of events - Share the inspirational success stories of the scale-ups - Develop relationships with the key institutions at EU and Member States - Manage the Club to a self-sustainable future The Club is led by 6 complementary partners who believe that Europe is a technology and unicorn powerhouse with a purpose. Its deep tech sale-ups are at work to bring solutions to the world’s biggest challenges.