ALLIANCE+

The Interreg project ALLIANCE+ scaled up the accelerator and mentoring programme and paved the way for strengthened innovation in biotechnology.

Project summary

Blue biotechnology is about exploring and exploiting the organisms of the sea in order to develop new products or services – ideally in a sustainable manner. The Baltic Sea region has all the necessary elements for the successful development of an innovative and sustainable maritime economy and benefits from strong research and innovation activities and a tradition of close cooperation. And the European Commission’s Blue Growth strategy of 2012 identified blue biotechnology as one focus area.

The potential for blue biotechnology of the Baltic Sea is recognised as significant. Yet it is immature and needs a strategic approach. The ALLIANCE systematically pooled the national capabilities aimed to empower research institutes, SMEs and business clusters to reach the critical mass required for action and global competitiveness of blue biotechnology from the Baltic Sea.

The ALLIANCE project has set up a full-fledged service offer (including a business plan) to support companies in developing new marine biotechnology products and services by systematically pooling the capabilities of more than 20 research institutes, innovation agencies and business parks in the Baltic Sea region into a network. ALLIANCE+ operationalises the business plan. The ALLIANCE network is opened up to all blue biotechnology actors. More experts are recruited and trained as “blue detectives”, i.e. mentors who match users to the facilities, services and experts they need to take their product idea to the next level.

Budgets

ALLIANCE+
in numbers

0.51

Million

Total
0.39

Million

Erdf
0.00

Million

Eni + Russia
0.00

Million

Norway

Achievements

Expanding network of experts

Alliance+ has secured the resources necessary for an ongoing pan-Baltic network in blue biotechnology. The network consists of business, research institutes, public authorities, business parks and innovation agencies. The project has expanded the network and provided a networking and accelerator platform for researchers, businesses, and investors. The project engaged eighteen new mentors. It also recruited new investors (including public authorities) to the network. There is now a permanent service offering a database updated with the expertise of these newly recruited blue biotechnology actors across the Baltic Sea region. The database offers users the possibility to find business partners easily.

During the project, partners developed training material and used it during three events to train the new mentors. The final event served as a matchmaking forum and attracted more than 50 blue biotechnology stakeholders from the region.

Fundraising guide for biotech start-ups

Besides, partners created a fundraising guide for biotech start-ups and organised events on funding opportunities. Some of the strategic investors which have been recruited into the network have become SUBMARINER members and made commitments for future cooperation. Alliance+ established a network for a continued operation beyond Interreg funding.

Outputs

Training for mentors

In order to ensure appropriate training beyond the project end, the training package includes instructions for the training of new mentor candidates by mentors recruited during Alliance+. The training package features explanations and expectations concerning the role of a mentor, interaction with cases (start-ups, spin-offs, SMEs), the interaction with the Alliance network community, and the services offered in the frame of the mentoring programme. The guide also provides instructions and assistance for the development of an attractive case profile for online marketing activities and dissemination. The training package is for newly recruited mentors representing e.g. research institutes, companies, business associations. It will help them to get insights into the processes of the mentoring programmes and continue their own mentoring of new cases.

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Fundraising guide for biotech start-ups

The fundraising guide presents an integrated part of the toolbox accessible via Accelerator for Blue Growth and is for biotech start-ups which feature high investment, access to laboratories, long development cycle and other parameters. The guide provides an overview and some recommendations regarding funding challenges (e.g. specifics of biotechnology start-ups) funding sources (e.g. grants, public funding, university funds, incubators, venture capital), fundraising processes (an overview of different stages, strategies and tactics), action plan (8 steps to be taken) and tips on pitching to investors (e.g. elevator speech, investor presentation).

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Project Stories

11.05.2021

How water-smart ideas make the Baltic Sea region thrive

From a rich marine life to beautiful vacation places, the Baltic Sea offers numerous resources that can be exploited to boost the economic growth of the region without harming its ecosystem. Interreg Baltic Sea Region funded multiple cooperation projects that have contributed to a sustainable and innovative blue economy. Good and successful examples of smart blue initiatives include ALLIANCE, Baltic Blue Growth, Capacity4MSP and Blue Platform.
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