Government Initiative
Invested in Innovation
BIND 4.0 was launched in 2016 in the Basque Country, an Industry hub with a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, in order to connect innovative startups worldwide with Industry leading companies. BIND 4.0 facilitates the development of transformative Industry 4.0 projects while providing unparalleled business support due to the region’s strategic long term commitment to Industry and Innovation.
BIND 4.0 is a public-private initiative funded by the Basque Government and the Department of Economic Development Sustainability and Environment through the SPRI Group. The SPRI Group is the Basque Government’s business development agency leading and supporting the local entrepreneurship ecosystem through its UpEuskadi platform.
The Basque Government and it’s business support agency SPRI designed the BIND 4.0 platform to:
Public Funding And Support Services
Young startups and established companies participating at BIND 4.0, all have access to economic aid, high impact mentoring, consulting and the best possible support from the local government committed to Innovation & Digital Transformation. Local organizations and innovation centers provide free workspaces while professionals and investors facilitate workshops and guidance helping companies grow and create successful collaborations.
Internationally Acclaimed Platform
In 2020, BIND 4.0 was acknowledged by the European Commission with an EEPA award for Improving the Business Environment. Additionally, the International consulting firm Gartner declared BIND 4.0 is one of the best platforms driving innovation in industrial ecosystems. BIND 4.0 has clearly been established at an international level, as a benchmark platform for open innovation, realizing disruptive Industry 4.0 projects, and growing the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Putting Industrial Innovation Into Action
Open Innovation Catalyst
How does Open Innovation work? The BIND 4.0 Open Innovation method connects dynamic startup teams with well-established industry leaders, to provide external solutions for their internal digital transformation challenges. This is a win-win approach by leveraging the expertise and agility of startups with the experience and resources of corporate clients.
Venture Clients Invest As Customers
The Venture Client approach means large companies, like our 80+ Corporate Clients, contract startup teams for real Industry 4.0 projects. This is a creative approach to investing by allowing the startup to maintain ownership of their company and get important reference customers as they implement and scale their solutions. Startups and Corporates alike get real benefits and results.
Education + Synergy + Community
BIND 4.0 provides specialized workshops, professional development and business mentoring for both Corporates and Startups to stay up to date, improve their competitive edge and successfully collaborate on industrial environment innovation. Thanks to our prominence and 6 editions of experience connecting startups worldwide with local Industry leaders, BIND 4.0 has an evolving ecosystem of alumni, corporations and investors actively networking, making connections and finding synergy.