The I3-INSHAPE Data Portal and Services will be the innovative service for SMEs to scale up to the European market, building bridges across regions.

Rto Kick Off meeting

Support through data, tailored to the specific needs of SMEs, is one of the cornerstones of the three-year (2023-2026) I3-INSHAPE project. This ambitious operation is one of the main activities of the project which specifically aims to build the I3-INSHAPE Data Portal and Services, as a future service for SMEs. The kick-off event of this activity in Valencia on the 22nd and 23rd of February marked the launch of this phase of the project work plan.

Co-funded by the EU by the I3 program, I3-INSHAPE has a turnover of 9.5 million euros. Led by Cluster Sports & Technology (NL), it fosters collaboration between SMEs and project partners across different regions of European countries (South Netherlands, East Hungary, Lahti, Kajaani, and Lapland from Finland, Valencia, and Catalunya from Spain). EPSI is responsible for the communication and dissemination of the project, ensuring that the achievements and progress of I3-INSHAPE are effectively shared with relevant stakeholders, companies and other SMEs in Europe.

An interregional hub to allow the exchange of data 

The overall aim of the project is to create an interregional, international, and self-sustainable hub where SMEs in the sports and vitality sector can scale up on the European market, building an innovative ecosystem for a positive impact on health and well-being in society thanks to SMEs’ services. The project’s recent meeting in Valencia, hosted by  Universidad Europea and 4iVLCESPORT, with the collaboration of Metric Salad and Blautic, marked the start of a significant step forward for the project. This specific data-oriented activity focuses on strengthening the digital infrastructure and facilitating data exchange across regions, ultimately empowering SMEs in the sports and vitality sectors along their innovation journey.

Its goal is to build the I3-INSHAPE Data Portal and Services. This platform will serve as a central hub, fostering collaboration and data usage between flagship SMEs (already on board in the project), co-developer companies, and a second stream of additional SMEs from the participating EU regions. This will ultimately contribute to the growth and competitiveness of SMEs within the EU, facilitating the commercialisation of services and attracting investments.

SMEs matchmaking: the next event in Lahti region (FI)

In Valencia, project partners gained valuable insights crucial for supporting the specific needs of each SME and propelling them towards international success. The next appointment for partners, but also interested companies and stakeholders, is on the 8th and 9th of April in Lahti, one of the regions of Finland: SMEs will get matchmaking sessions with potential investors and other SMEs to further enhancing their opportunities for growth and expansion in the EU market.

Follow I3-INSHAPE on LinkedIn and Twitter to stay updated and ask for information from the leaders Clustof er Sport & Technology to know more.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.