HARD2SCALE: Accelerating Deep-Tech Innovation for Europe’s Green Industrial Transformation

INNOVA is proud to join HARD2SCALE, an EU-funded initiative (Grant Agreement No. 101193674) aimed at accelerating the scale-up of breakthrough deep-tech and digital solutions for Europe’s Hard-to-Abate (HtA) and Energy-Intensive (EEI) industries. With over 32 years of experience in technology transfer, innovation management, and EU project leadership, INNOVA plays a strategic role in driving engagement, market validation, and ecosystem-building efforts within the project.

HARD2SCALE brings together innovators, industry leaders, research organisations, and investors to identify high-impact technologies and match them with real industrial needs. Through regional workshops, market assessments, and ecosystem mapping, the project will co-create a Cross-Border Action Plan that outlines how deep-tech solutions can be effectively scaled across Europe.

This work will pave the way for a future European deep-tech accelerator dedicated to supporting startups and scale-ups in reaching industrial validation, market adoption, and cross-border growth thereby accelerating Europe’s transition toward climate-neutral industrial processes.

INNOVA’s Role in the Project

As a core partner, INNOVA leads key activities that ensure the project’s effectiveness and impact, including:

• Mapping high-potential deep-tech technologies with relevance to HtA sectors
• Engaging Italian industry stakeholders, startups, research centres, and investors
• Validating needs and challenges through consultations, surveys, and workshops
• Co-designing the strategic Scaling-Up Action Plan for a cross-border accelerator
• Supporting communication and dissemination to increase outreach and stakeholder participation

The HARD2SCALE Consortium

The project brings together 8 strategic partners from both emerging/moderate and leading innovation ecosystems:

• KiNNO Innovation Intermediaries (Greece): Project Coordinator
• ASTR Capital (France)
• Accent Inkubator GmbH (Austria)
• Venture Booster (Portugal)
• INNOVA – Innovation, Technology Transfer & Valorisation (Italy)
• Merinova Technology Center (Finland)
• G-Force (Slovakia)
• EurA AG (Germany)

Together, the consortium offers complementary strengths in investment, acceleration, open innovation, and industrial collaboration.

Join the HARD2SCALE Community

We invite innovators, industry leaders, research organisations, clusters, and policymakers to collaborate with us in shaping Europe’s next wave of green industrial innovation.

• Subscribe to project updates: https://hard2scale.eu/index.php/updates/
• Learn more about INNOVA: www.innova-eu.net

INNOVA remains committed to fostering innovation, strengthening ecosystems, and supporting Europe’s journey toward sustainable and resilient industrial transformation.