The I3-INSHAPE project facilitates the match between companies and entities of the sports sector with similar needs, to succeed in scaling up in the EU market. Indeed, this EU project aims to strengthen the European digital economy by creating a network of Innovation and Investment Hubs in the field of sports and Healthy active lifestyles. The Project lasts for 36 months and seeks to support the creation of interregional innovation investments resulting in the commercialisation and scale-up of innovative SME-led initiatives in the field of sports. Ultimately, this will contribute to a more active and healthier lifestyle for European citizens.   

The Matchmaking process

The I3-INSHAPE Project has already selected some SMEs, which are called Flagships, that are companies with great potential but also with certain needs. And now the I3-INSHAPE Project is starting one of its core phases: the matchmaking. This project phase is led by INDESCAT and it consists of finding new SMEs, which will be called co-developers, that enter the project to help solve some of the Flagships’ needs.  The matchmaking process is linked to the job done in the previous months, which consisted in finding the needs that each Flagship SME has. From all those needs, the idea is to explore which ones are appropriate for co-development and, in consequence, for finding a co-development partner. 

The next step that the partners of the consortium have taken is, based on their knowledge and expertise, to map out the possible SMEs from each region that can be suitable for co-development. Once this is done, each Flagship will have at least one co-developer proposed by the consortium from each region. 

After that, the real action starts. The names and some information about the co-developers are shared with the Flagships and they are the ones who choose which ones to explore future collaborations with. The co-developers who are finally accepted for the Flagship will join the I3-INSHAPE Project as consortium members.