BIND - Basque Open Innovation Platform

BIND - Basque Open Innovation Platform serves as a groundbreaking initiative connecting promising early-stage startups with industry leaders in sectors including Intelligent Industry, Smart Energy, Sustainability, Health Tech, and Food Tech. This innovative accelerator facilitates paid contracts between emerging companies and established corporations, creating mutually beneficial partnerships. Developed through collaboration between the Basque Government and SPRI, this public-private program operates in the Basque Country of Spain, running for an intensive 24-week period designed to catalyze startup growth and development.

The program's distinctive value proposition includes contracts worth up to €150,000 with leading corporate clients, providing startups with immediate revenue and valuable industry relationships. BIND's comprehensive support ecosystem encompasses world-class mentoring from industry experts, specialized training programs tailored to technological sectors, and continued engagement through its alumni network. Participating startups also receive practical assistance including workspace access, technological infrastructure support, and accommodation guidance for those relocating to the Basque region.

Operating within one of Europe's most robust industrial ecosystems, BIND leverages the Basque Country's renowned manufacturing heritage and technological innovation capabilities. Participants gain privileged access to networking opportunities within this advanced industrial cluster, connecting with potential clients, partners, and investors. The program culminates in a high-profile demo day where startups showcase their solutions to a curated audience of industry stakeholders, investors, and media representatives, often leading to additional business development opportunities beyond the initial corporate contracts.

What truly distinguishes BIND from many accelerator programs is its founder-friendly approach that takes no equity stake in participating companies and charges no participation fees. This model reflects the program's primary mission of fostering industrial innovation and economic development in the Basque region rather than generating direct financial returns from startup investments. The program has garnered multiple awards for its effective methodology and impressive track record of successful collaborations between startups and established corporations, positioning it as a leading innovation platform for industrial technology advancement in Southern Europe.