In Europe’s green and digital transition, early-stage innovation needs more than great ideas – it needs funding. The Greet CE project, which focuses on circular and bio-based economy value chains – especially in eco-construction, regenerative agriculture, digital energy, and renewable gases – strongly benefits from innovation ecosystems that connect green startups with smart capital. One of the countries covered by the Greet CE project is Romania that already has some crowdfunding success stories. These are presented in this press release.
🌱SeedBlink is a European crowdfunding service provider (digital platform) established in Bucharest, Romania that blends venture capital and equity crowdfunding, enabling individuals and companies to invest in innovative tech startups. It has financed a series of innovative green economy SMEs from Romania and other countries. SeedBlink itself has been financed by venture capital.
🌿 Circular and bio-economy startups funded via SeedBlink
It offers a low-code development environment that allows faster, lower cost development applied in smart farming, green public infrastructure and bioeconomy governance.
A SaaS platform that supports farmers and researchers with field-level crop data, disease detection, and yield analysis, crucial for climate-resilient, regenerative agriculture. Also part of Nextcelerator, a digital agriculture program backed by Agricover and Microsoft.
An AI-powered wearable device that helps visually impaired people navigate the world independently. Originally focused on rural regions and agriculture-related mobility. Since then, it has also raised USD 5 million venture capital.
🚀 The above examples show how crowdfunding can assist circular and green innovation across Central and Eastern Europe.
Methodology, project office support, and European networking for smart specialization—key steps and strategies for successful application and implementation
Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (CEST)
Format: Online (the link to join will be sent later to the email address provided upon registration)
Language: Slovenian (with the possibility of English if there is interest among international GREET CE partners or their SME partners)
Registration: via email to zgigm@gzs.si
Free of charge!
Target group
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from GREET CE partner regions
Research and development organizations (RRI)
Development agencies and support environments
Applicants and partners in emerging i3 projects
Project offices and consultants for European calls
Webinar objectives:
Present the characteristics of the I3 program and current calls
Highlight the key elements of a successful application (content, technical, and consortium aspects)
Explain how project offices and RRI stakeholders can get involved in the preparation and implementation
Share practical experiences of successful partners from existing I3 projects
Answer participants’ questions about the process, partner selection, and project management
Program:
11:00–11:10 | Introductory welcome
[organizer], GREET CE representative
11:10–11:30 | What is I3 and why is it important for your region
Overview of the I3 instrument, smart specialization, thematic areas, and types of calls
(lecturer: GZS ZGIGM or SRIP/ministry representative)
11:30–11:50 | Practical experiences from 4 successful i3 projects
Presentation of the role of TECOS as a partner in European I3 projects (not a project office, but a key coordination partner)
Lecturer: Dr. Aleš Hančič (TECOS)
11:50–12:10 | How the project office can support you – consulting and methodology
(to be confirmed – Primož Praper, EUTRIP – confirmation to follow)
12:10–12:30 | Additional discussion: finding partners and setting up consortia
Possible inclusion of an additional project office that also covers Horizon calls (suggestions welcome)
Tools that SMEs and researchers can use for international networking
12:30–12:50 | Q&A – open questions from participants
Moderated – possible discussion of specific ideas or dilemmas of applicants
12:50–13:00 | Conclusion and announcement of additional activities within the GREET CE framework
