Limburg Startup et EuraTechnonologies
Limburg Startup from Flanders and EuraTechnologies from France signed a promising partnership agreement, strengthening both countries’ startup ecosystems.
After some great match-making efforts from Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), followed by a few months of getting acquainted, EuraTechnologies, a leading startup incubator/accelerator based in the Hauts-de-France region in France, and Limburg Startup, an umbrella startup community from Flanders, Belgium, have officially sealed a promising partnership. This collaboration marks a significant step in the international strategies of both organizations.
"It's a perfect match that will bring tons of added value to both our ecosystems," says Willem-Frederik Vander Poorten, Head of FIT's Economic and Commercial Delegation of Flanders in Lille. "From matching focus industries to services and approach, EuraTechnologies quickly realized that the unmistakable complementarity with Limburg Startup paves the way for a fruitful partnership."
The partnership agreement, signed on July 3, signifies the commitment of both EuraTechnologies and Limburg Startup to collaborate and drive the growth of startups and scale-ups in their respective regions.
Three ways this collaboration strengthens their startup ecosystems:
The specifics on how these two top-notch incubators are planning to build bridges between Flanders’ and France’s startup ecosystem will soon become clear. For now, we already see at least three vital opportunities both regions can leverage:
- Cross-border projects: for startups, entering the neighboring market and launching a project there becomes easier.
- Knowledge exchange: aligning best practices, specialized knowhow and industry networks, both incubators can refine their approaches.
- Greater appeal to foreign startups: with an elaborate and diverse combined support offer, both ecosystems will attract more startups.
EuraTechnologies and Limburg Startup share similarities in terms of their historical industrial background, business models, and international ambitions. This collaboration will capitalize on those similarities, creating a robust partnership that strengthens both ecosystems.
Koussée Vaneecke, Chairwoman of EuraTechnologies, states, "Teaming up with like-minded incubators and accelerators throughout Europe is a key avenue for EuraTechnologies to help startups scale up successfully. Our playground is the EU market, and by sharing our expertise and joining forces with partners, we accelerate the business development of our entrepreneurs. This partnership represents a crucial step in our new international strategy. We are grateful to FIT for their matchmaking and look forward to working with the seven incubators of Limburg Startup. "
Limburg Startup (LSU), managed by LRM, is the umbrella startup community in Limburg. "Limburg Startup is a first-class startup community, supported and developed by the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Limburg region. A total of seven incubators are involved: Corda INCubator (Hasselt), DronePort (Sint-Truiden), Greenville (Houthalen-Helchteren), IncubaThor (Genk), C-mine Crib (Genk) and BioVille (Diepenbeek)," explained Marc Beenders, Senior Corporate Community Manager of LSU. "In early July, we crossed the border to northern France with Limburg Startup and LRM to discuss the possibilities and technical details of the cooperation. With great success: we signed a cooperation agreement with EuraTechnologies."
Roel Mentens, Lead Corda INCubator, adds: "We were already building strong expertise and cooperation with several foreign incubator networks, including the Netherlands, Germany, Singapore and China. For example, last year we introduced 25 Corda INCubator residents to our foreign incubator network. With EuraTechnologies, we have added a strong player, which also perfectly matches the market demand. Because many startups initially look to the countries surrounding us to expand their business."
The partnership between EuraTechnologies and Limburg Startup will build bridges between the startup ecosystems of France and Belgium, unlocking valuable growth opportunities for startups and scale-ups. By combining resources, knowledge, and networks, the two incubators aim to facilitate cross-border projects, promote knowledge exchange, and attract foreign startups to both regions.
About Limburg Startup
Limburg Startup (LSU) is an open platform, a premier startup community, carried and developed by entrepreneurial Limburg with the aim of connecting existing startup initiatives, strengthening startups and accelerating their growth processes. Founded and managed by the Limburg Investment Company LRM, Limburg Startup (LSU) has a total of 7 incubators, spread across Limburg and each with its own focus.
www.limburgstartup.be
www.lrm.be
About EuraTechnologies
Established in 2009 by three historical stakeholders, the Lille European Metropolis, the Hauts-de-France Region, and the City of Lille, EuraTechnologies is one of the largest startup incubators and accelerators in Europe. Its mission is to support the development of digital companies and entrepreneurs through a unique methodology and expertise, from idea to project, and all the way to international deployment. In 2022, EuraTechnologies raised 24 million euros to accelerate its development across four priority areas: employment and talent, state-of-the-art technological equipment and collaboration in research and innovation, environmental and energy transition, and international expansion.
For more information, visit EuraTechnologies.com