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Check out our Frequently Asked Questions about BIND Industry 4.0 Acceleration Program

BIND 4.0 is an acceleration program aimed at startups with tech products or services with application in Advanced Manufacturing, Smart Energy, Health Tech fields. It’s a public-private initiative that promotes the development of promising industry 4.0 startups through training, mentorship, and connections to the main industrial players in the Basque Country.

The third edition of our highly successful acceleration program connects you with leading Industry 4.0 manufacturing, energy, and healthcare companies and contracts worth up to €150,000. Your company retains all equity. We provide support services, networking opportunities, and mentoring. Apply today and join one of the strongest industrial ecosystems in Europe—Basque Country—a top-rated location for market opportunities and growth.

Bind 4.0 is addressed to startups from all over the world proposing the use of new technologies in the Industrial, Energy and Health fields. Since the first edition of Bind 4.0, 38 start-ups have accelerated their businesses through the program. If your start-up company has completed product development or recently launched a solution based on one of the Industry 4.0 technologies, you’re ready to take the next step.

Bind 4.0 is led by the Basque Government and its business development agency SPRI. It collaborates with the main industrial companies in the region and is supported by the three Provincial Councils of the Basque Autonomous Community.

Nothing. Our partner companies pay for the development of your project and you will not be asked to transfer part of it in return for your participation either.

The program will be in English, requiring at least one of the team members to have the necessary language skills.

Bind 4.0 is addressed to startups in the industry 4.0 field that have finished their technological development and are ready to finalize their product/service for launch to the market. Early stage and “idea phase” projects will not be accepted into this program.

Yes, applying startups must be legally established, have finished their technological development and be prepared to launch it on the market.

No. Startups from any country can apply for Bind 4.0. The only requirements are to meet the legal requirements to stay In the Basque Country at least during the length of the acceleration program.

  • Startups should sign up by filling out the application form.
  • In addition, every team will be asked to send a video where founders introduce their startup. Any other attachments that provide additional information (demos, presentation, etc.) may also be considered.
  • Application forms must be sent in English.

The participating startups are chosen by partner companies. Startups that overcome the selection process and reach a collaboration agreement with at least one of the industry’s associated companies will join Bind 4.0.

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The process is divided in three phases:

PHASE 1: Pre-Selection of Startups

  • The Coordination Committee will evaluate all the applications and will select the best startups according to the previously defined assessment criteria.
  • During this period, potentially eligible teams might be requested to provide additional information.
  • The 50 startups with the highest score will pass to the second phase.

PHASE 2: Selection of Finalist Startups

  • Partner companies will evaluate the pre-selected startups through “pitching” type interviews according to the previously defined assessment criteria.
  • Partner companies will select the finalist startups with the highest scores to move on to Phase 3

PHASE 3: Matching between a partner company and finalist startups for work on a joint project

  • During this phase. Finalist Startups and Industry Partners may meet to define the scope of the project and reach a collaboration agreement.
  • SPRI will be able to support the finalist startups in order to favor the face-to-face contact between the startups and the partner companies.
  • In order to ease the legal terms of the agreement, the Program will facilitate a standard agreement template. However, both sides have full freedom to write other clauses in the contract.
  • The Startups that achieve a collaboration agreement with Industry partner companies will join Bind 4.0.

View full terms and conditions

Only the jury and competition managers will have access to the documents of each team. The documents will be strongly protected from any unauthorized access.

After closing the pre-selection process, Bind 4.0 will contact the selected applicants to coordinate the Interviews of the second phase. The applicants who have not been selected will also be informed of the result.

When interviews of Phase 2 are done, the Bind 4.0 team will contact the finalist startups to coordinate the meeting between the startup and the industry partner company so that they can work on the definition and reach of the joint project.

Partner companies will propose to each selected Startup the chance to develop a real project with monetary compensation.

During this phase, meetings between Finalist Startups and interested Partner Companies may happen with the aim to define the scope of the project and reach a collaboration agreement.

In order to ease the legal terms of the agreement, the Program will facilitate a standard agreement template. However, both sides have full freedom to write other clauses in the contract. Startups will have the legal support of the Program to make this agreement.

While the final amount of the project and the conditions of the possible contract to be signed between the partner company and the startup will be agreed by the parties depending on the scope and complexity of their project, the program establishes an indicative minimum of €25,000 (excluding VAT).

Ideally, the main members of every team should be placed at the Bind 4.0 acceleration espace in the Basque Country. If for mobility, espace or business reasons it is not possible for all of them to be there, at least the project leader and the relevant partners will be asked to be present during the acceleration program.

The Program provides financial support to foreign startups in order to support its living expenses during the program. Also, Bind 4.0 helps you to find the perfect accommodation and workspace for your team, so you can focus on what really matters

Bind 4.0 offers high-quality training and guidance provided by outstanding international professionals. The aim of the Bind 4.0 Program is to encourage Startup teams to work on their projects while they are being trained on acceleration issues.

The mentors of the program will coach participants and try to bring out the best in each of them. They are well-regarded international professionals who offer their knowledge, personal experience, and vision, with the goal of helping startups develop more effectively.

The mentoring team will guide the startups in each phase of their business model, marketing strategy, networks, etc., in an effort to obtain financing, investment or new clients.

The companies that partner Bind 4.0 are constantly searching for new concepts, innovative ideas and early-stage startups that can contribute to their industry 4.0 challenges. Collaborating companies obtain profit by being in contact with the best entrepreneur talent in the world and also by developing innovative projects with controlled risks and costs.

When the project is finished, the relationship between the startups and partner companies will evolve based on the needs and motivations that may arise between both sides, which they can agree to privately.

If you have any doubt or query, do not hesitate to contact the Bind 4.0 coordination team at info@bind40.com. We will be happy to help you!

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Bind 4.0 Acceleration Program and The Basque Ecosystem

Bind 4.0 is a public private accelerator program located in the Basque Country (Spain) focusing in Industry 4.0 startups with solutions applied to Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, Health and Food sector.

Bind 4.0 offers the best support services and guarantees the development of projects and the signing of contracts with high-level industrial companies in order to accelerate their business in what we call the Basque Country Industrial Ecosystem.