Success stories

Iceland’s landscapes have a unique beauty. But despite their appeal, they also present logistical issues for people living and working in the country, and especially for those trying to access services such as therapy. With the help of the Enterprise Europe Network, Icelandic digital platform Kara Connect is solving this problem by eliminating the need for travel, connecting therapists and professionals with their clients through virtual appointments.

The internet is everywhere, from the planes in our skies to the trains under our feet – but venture underwater and the situation is very different. Radio waves travel much slower through water and can easily be disrupted, making cableless communication incredibly difficult. However, an Italian technology firm has pioneered the underwater Internet of Things, allowing for secure communication between underwater sensors and vehicles resulting in the better monitoring of marine environments.

Interactive displays are becoming ever more present in museums, theme parks, shopping centres, sports clubs and more. However, the LED touch screens themselves are often expensive and logistically difficult to install. This problem was the inspiration behind OiOi, a Finnish company that has developed the technology to transform any surface into a touch screen, in an easy and cost-effective manner.

A Spanish SME has successfully reoriented its business after recognising the potential for growth in the mobile robotics sector. The Enterprise Europe Network was instrumental in helping the business to find new collaborators and develop a global mindset.

For small businesses with big ideas, raising the capital needed for research and development investment is the first and often the biggest challenge. With support from the Enterprise Europe Network, an Italian SME sought to make its cookware products, anti-bacterial, greener and more efficient using nanotechnology and specialised coatings.

Households account for almost 20% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. Political efforts to offset this environmental burden are driving demand for more energy efficient buildings. The Enterprise Europe Network helped an Estonian manufacturer of green buildings take advantage of this opportunity by expanding into Sweden, where they have laid the foundations for more sustainable housing. With two contracts in Sweden, together worth EUR 2.5 million, Timbeco is now looking to expand even further.

Maritime transport emits around 1 billion tonnes of CO2 each year, which represents around 2.5 % of global greenhouse gas emissions. With the help of the Enterprise Europe Network, a Finnish SME was able to enhance its clean energy solution and help big freighters become greener and more efficient.

Harvesting the energy of our tides could be the next big source of clean, cheap and reliable electricity, but the sector is still in its infancy. Thanks to local support from the Enterprise Europe Network, Scotland’s Nova Innovation Ltd was able to connect its tidal technology to the grid well before the big multinational energy companies.

Enterprise Europe Network helps Spanish tech business accelerate its international expansion.

With the help of the Network, Dr Lilia Jeliazkova and her company, BalBok Engineering, embarked on a mission to hunt down and clean up hazardous waste by using a cutting-edge mobile laboratory.