Success stories

Based in Pinkafeld in Burgenland, x.news offers media companies and journalists a globally unique solution for verifying the truthfulness of their news. Only 3 years after its foundation, x.news now markets its services worldwide. The success of the company is not least due to its collaboration with the Enterprise Europe Network.

Sometimes tragic events can give people great ideas – as the story of Emergency Eye demonstrates. With this software from Corevas, emergency response centres can pinpoint the exact location of an accident and ensure emergency services are deployed rapidly. Thanks to the Enterprise Europe Network, the world’s largest support network for small and medium-sized enterprises, the fledgling company found the right IT partner.

When considering a second-hand car, it is sometimes challenging to know if it has ever been involved in an accident or if it has hidden damage. With the support from the Enterprise Europe Network, Lithuanian firm carVertical has been able to make the histories of second-hand cars across Europe clearer and more transparent.

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.

The proliferation of sign language has enabled more deaf people to enjoy visual content than ever before. With Enterprise Europe Network's support, an Austrian SME has taken this one step further by developing an on-screen avatar that can turn information into sign language using smart algorithms.

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.