We have connected startups with corporations and public procurers during the event "Procuring the Innovation"

After short welcome speech has Jan Kubalik (DEX Innovation Centre) introduced the initiative Startup Europe Week and DEX Innovation Centre. Then, Marketa Havlova (CzechInvest) spoke about their project MyGateway and how CzechInvest helps to Czech startups.

Martin Javnicky from Ceska sporitelna has had a catchy speech about how corporations can find a valuable partner - startup or SME. There is a long way to build this partnership but the final product or solution is often successful. Just after his speech has been 5 startups presenting their innovative solutions. 

ImpromptMe organizes 1:1 meetups during big conferences; Nice Visions introduced their design solar tiles; Ability Concept presented their SMART City solutions - smart benches, kiosks, chargers; HARDWARIO brought examples of non-invasive applications for IoT and Industry 4.0 projects. The last presenting startup was VisionQ - a team of four members has designed and constructed a smart solution for monitoring of electric energy consumption. This product has caught the expert jury's attention and VisionQ won a free entry to the European finale of Startup World Cup & Summit.

After the coffee break has Marketa Havlova introduced a newly created guideline on Procurement opportunities for startups and with the benefits that bring cooperation with public procurers. E.g. startups have assurance they will get paid or the possibility of long-term contracts. Our partner, Tamás Békási (EIT Health) has presented programmes that EIT Health offers to Czech Health startups for their acceleration and support.

The program has ended with panel discussion, during which Marketa Havlova, Tamás Békási, Jan Hauser (Ministry of Health) and Zbynek Karban (City of Liberec) talked about experience from buying from startups and SME's, or what should these companies do to be able to sell their solutions to public procurers or corporations. During the networking after the event has got the participants familiar with the speakers and startups had a chance to personally talk with interested people.