Europe’s start-up scene is heating up thanks to smart EU backing. From AI-powered waste tech to green farming robots, start-ups supported by the European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) programme are scaling fast and securing millions in funding.
Norway’s Sensorita raised €3 million to revolutionise waste management with radar and machine learning. Projects like X2.0 helped 50 deep tech start-ups, of which 88% women-led or from widening countries have raised over €30 million in secured funding and built 345 corporate partnerships in just two years. Meanwhile, SynergistEIC boosted green innovators like Smart Farm Robotix to land major EIC funding.
Sensorita: Data driven waste management
Sensorita is a Norwegian start-up developing an advanced radar sensor and AI-powered platform to help waste management companies optimise their container fleets. Designed for harsh environments, the solution developed by this company enables automation, cost reduction, and lower emissions.
Supported by the EU-funded Women TechEU scheme, Sensorita could extend its financial runway and prepare for growth. The Women TechEU scheme offered first-class coaching and mentoring to female founders, as well as targeted funding to help take their business to the next level. 304 (double check it) female led start-ups had been supported between 2021 and 2025 by this scheme under Horizon Europe.
Specifically, the EU support allowed Sensorita to raise €3 million seed round funding – the initial capital that early-stage startups raise to reach the next stage of growth – in spring 2024. In turn, this helped the company to attract key hires and investor interest, and to finalise its pricing strategy.
X2.0: Driving deep tech innovation in Europe
X2.0, co-funded by the EU, has transformed deep tech innovation in Europe over 24 months by accelerating 50 start-ups – 88% from Widening Countries and/or women-led – through personalised support. With 287 impact builders and 124 corporate partners, it facilitated access to €30.36 million in funding, as well as the creation of 345 partnerships and 95 jobs.
The project emphasised ecosystem-building with 1 042 business meetings, 170 cross-border services, and a €1.5 million voucher scheme. It targeted key sectors like Manufacturing, Agri tech, Health tech, Smart Cities, and Data & AI across five cohorts.
X2.0 also shared key insights about ecosystems-building through a white paper and success stories, contributing to the EU’s innovation goals by bridging investment gaps and strengthening the deep tech ecosystem.
SynergistEIC: Supporting startups to scale green ideas for a sustainable future
Green technologies are vital for a sustainable future, but scaling them requires more than innovation – it needs strategy, education, and support. Over the past two years, the SynergistEIC programme has partnered with start-ups to provide this foundation.
Through mentorship, workshops, and resources, the programme helped two cohorts of start-ups sharpen their innovations and understand how to scale with support from the EIC Accelerator.
One example is Smart Farm Robotix, which created a solar-powered weeding robot. With SynergistEIC’s help, they refined their strategy, improved their pitch, and built key partnerships – efforts that helped them secure EIC Accelerator funding in 2024.
More than just support, SynergistEIC fostered a collaborative culture that strengthens the green tech ecosystem and empowers start-ups to grow.
These achievements show what’s possible when public investment meets entrepreneurial drive. Success stories show what happens when great ideas meet targeted support as well. As Europe rolls out its Startup and Scaleup Strategy, the future of innovation looks bold, inclusive, and investment ready, while these projects point the way toward a more connected, competitive, and impactful innovation landscape across the continent.
Background
The European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) programme is a key initiative under the Horizon Europe framework, designed to strengthen innovation ecosystems across the European Union and its associated countries. It aims to create more connected, inclusive, and efficient innovation environments that can support start-ups, scale-ups, and other high-potential innovators in navigating the journey from idea to market impact.
The EIE programme focuses on:
- Boosting collaboration among regional, national, and European innovation actors
- Reducing fragmentation between innovation hubs and support systems
- Improving access to talent, investment, and markets for entrepreneurs
- Fostering inclusivity by supporting innovators from widening countries and underrepresented groups, including women-led startups
EIE funds projects that deliver tangible services – such as acceleration programmes, mentoring, investor matchmaking, and policy coordination – that help start-ups grow and integrate into the broader European innovation landscape.
More Information
European Innovation Ecosystems