Now there are two pathways open to build international markets and partnerships in Bilbao and Madrid in Spain during April. The delegations are organised in the same week, in Bilbao from 22nd to 24th April and in Madrid from 25th to 27th April. Interested companies can participate in both visits.
Innovation Bridge programme leads to Bilbao
The delegation to Bilbao is part of the Innovation Bridge programme signed between the City of Jyväskylä and the Biscay region. The cooperation programme was launched last autumn with a visit to Jyväskylä by start-up companies from Biscay. The background to the Biscay connection is the ongoing research cooperation between the University of Jyväskylä and Athletic Club Bilbao.
The delegation to Bilbao is organised from 22nd to 24th April, and 6 companies will be selected to participate. We are particularly looking for companies that offer solutions in the fields of energy, data, performance, wellbeing and health, as well as cyber security and industry renewal, but the themes are not restrictive.
Read more about the Biscay start-ups visit to Jyväskylä
The preliminary agenda for the visit:
- 22nd April: Lezama Training Center, which is Athletic Club’s training and innovation centre
- 23rd April: Bizkaia Enpresa event, which is a local business ecosystem event
- 24th April: Pitching event for delegation companies at Bilbao Accelerator Tower
An agenda for the visit is being planned. We will present the companies participating in the delegation to Bilbao. The delegation will be hosted by Bizkaia Beaz, the main economic development player in the region. The aim is to identify interesting contacts and openings between the participating companies and Beaz before the visit.
Madrid delegation opens the door to cooperation with LALIGA
Delegation coordinated by the national Sport Finland Network is heading to Madrid, the headquarters of Spanish football league LALIGA. The selected companies will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and pitch to the LALIGA organisation and its clubs. The visit will take place in the same week as the visit to Bilbao, from 25 to 27 April. The Sport Boost Accelerator will be the second Madrid site to be visited, alongside LALIGA.
For the LALIGA visit, companies are specifically sought that offer solutions such as optimal performance solutions, stadium and arena environment management (energy optimisation and sustainability, safety, visitor experience, fan engagement, etc.), gaming or other AI and data-based solutions.
The above list is not restrictive and companies from all over Finland can apply for the trips. A maximum of 9 companies will be selected for the trip.
Read more about the cooperation with LALIGA here.
The aim of the delegation is to present products, services or other innovative solutions that could be in demand in the Spanish football league. LALIGA's ambition is to find innovative solutions and to invest in creating links between the start-up and business community and the league.
The City of Jyväskylä's cooperation with LALIGA is linked to the close collaboration of JAMK's Sport Business unit with the league organisation.
Read more: Finnish ONIT Sport to cooperate with LALIGA
What is required to participate?
- A willingness to expand into new markets and a product or service that is scalable to the EU market
- Ability to market your company's service/product in English
- Interest in opening networks and sales in target regions
- Participation in an export workshop before the trip (optional)
Apply here
More information:
Bilbao - Taija Lappeteläinen, projektiasiantuntija, ekosysteemit
taija.lappetelainen@jyvaskyla.fi
+358405239321
Madrid - Alisa Heikkinen, projektipäällikkö, Sport Suomi
alisa.heikkinen@jyvaskyla.fi
+358406753066
The Optimal Performance network is part of the ecosystem work on Sport, Health and Wellbeing, funded by the Regional Council of Central Finland (ERDF) and coordinated by the City of Jyväskylä's Business Development Services. The Sport Suomi network will be implemented as a lead project jointly led by the cities of Jyväskylä, Lahti and Kuopio, and funded by the Regional Council of Pirkanmaa. Both projects are based on ecosystem agreements between the Finnish government and Innocities.
