The Imec.istart programme is launching in three new European countries, bringing the total to six.
Imec is expanding its ‘startup accelerator’ imec.istart further internationally. The programme aims to give young companies a helping hand. After earlier expansions to the Netherlands and Italy, imec is now adding Germany, Spain and Bulgaria. Imec.istart originally launched in Belgium.
The first call for participants opens in February 2027 in Germany and from April in Spain. No start date has been announced yet for Bulgaria.
A helping hand
With a presence in six countries, imec.istart is growing into one of the largest accelerators for startups in Europe. The young companies develop an innovative idea, and imec makes sure they can get it off the ground. The programme acts as a bridge between ambitious entrepreneurs and the technical expertise of the research centre imec. The focus is on supporting technology companies in the early stages of their development.
Entrepreneurs can count on coaching and funding without having to hand over shares immediately at a predetermined price. This model aims to accelerate the growth of startups within the European ecosystem.
More than 350 startups
So far, the programme can point to good results. More than 350 startups are in the portfolio, together generating accumulated revenue of more than 1 billion euros. The programme also reports a startup survival rate of more than 81 percent. Through imec.istart, startups can also obtain follow-up funding. This has already brought the participating startups more than 240 million euros in additional capital.
The network connects founders, investors and experts across national borders. Through local ecosystems, participants gain access to a broad European network of partners. The next phases of the rollout will continue to focus on linking fundamental technology with commercial scalability.