BIND 4.0 Wins European Commission Award for Improving the Business Environment, during the 2020 Celebration of the European SME Assembly
On November 16, 2020, BIND 4.0 was selected as the winner in the 14th edition of the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA), organized by the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs of the European Commission. BIND 4.0 earned the award in the category of Improving the Business Environment. It is a recognition of our on-going commitment to business development, through the acceleration of startups, and of the collaboration between private companies and public institutions.
2020 European SME Assembly
The award has just been announced at the Annual Meeting of SMEs which took place in Berlin. The European SME Assembly is the most important event for small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe. The Assembly is held once a year as the main event of the European SME Week. The EU SME Assembly is attended by representatives from the European Commission, EU member States, Science, European and national associations and entrepreneurs, who discuss current issues of EU SME policy.
Award for Improving the Business Environment
This award recognizes local, regional and national platforms that promote entrepreneurship. Our candidacy has been selected from among 13 stellar proposals, in which state, regional or local administrations have participated, as well as public-private associations and business organizations that develop actions to promote entrepreneurship and boost the economy. A complete overview of the 2020 EEPA Awards cycle, winners, runner-ups and special mentions are available here.
Leyre Madariaga, Director of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and the Information Society of the Basque Government receives the European Business Promotion Award
BIND 4.0 Putting Innovation Into Action Since 2016
For Leyre Madariaga, Director of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and the Information Society of the Basque Government: “It is a great source of pride that the European Commission recognizes the work of promoting the business environment and accelerating startups that we do at BIND 4.0. After four editions, ours has become a leading open innovation platform where companies can identify and implement the most innovative Industry 4.0 solutions and thus accelerate their digital transformation. It is a model of union and collaboration between public institutions, private companies and startups for the transformation and competitive improvement of the industry ”.
Invested in the Basque Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
BIND 4.0 has only been able to impact the local business ecosystem with the support of the Basque Government Department of Economic Development and Infrastructure, through the SPRI Group and the UpEuskadi platform, as well as major, global companies with a presence in the Basque Country. Our 57 Corporate Partners are leaders in the Energy, Food, Health and Industry sectors, with a commitment to innovation, companies such as Siemens Gamesa, Unilever, Mercedes Benz, Faes Farma and Coca-Cola European Partners, among others.
Consistently Accomplishing 3 Key Objectives
BIND 4.0 has been consistently focused on three major goals to improve the business environment:
- ⦿ Accelerate the Development of Startups in the Basque Industrial Ecosystem
- ⦿ Promote the Digital Transformation of Companies
- ⦿ Position the Basque Country Ecosystem as a hub for Advanced Industrial Entrepreneurship
During our 4 editions so far, more than 100 startups have been accelerated and more than 170 Industry 4.0 projects developed, exceeding 5 million euros in turnover. As we continue our commitment to these goals and as we head into our 5th edition in January 2021, it is with great pride that we accept this award.
Formal Recognition from the European Commission
We wish to extend a formal Thank You to the European Commission and the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism. It is a great honor to receive this award for the work that BIND 4.0 has been doing for the business environment since 2016 and that we will continue to do in the years ahead.
