The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) represents the interests of Europe's local and regional governments and their associations in more than 40 countries. It promotes citizenship and exchange between elected representatives.

About the Finnova Foundation FINNOVA is a European not-for-profit foundation whose main purpose is to seek international funding related to new technology transfer, modernisation, training and innovation. It also seeks to promote international and interregional cooperation through networks and events, its main fields of work being innovation and the financing of innovative projects with resources; FINNOVA's objectives are to promote public-private cooperation through innovation to address social challenges such as employment, training, entrepreneurship, the UN SDGs, the circular economy, etc. In its commitment to innovation, Finnova has been organising the StartupEuropeAwards since 2016, an initiative of the European Commission's DG Connect. Finnova, headquartered in Belgium and Spain, has its own delegations in Chile and Panama. In Spain, it is present in the Comunidad Valenciana, País Vasco, Andalucía, Madrid , and Islas Canarias. Head office: Avenue des Arts, 56, 1000 Brussles (Belgium). Comunidad Valenciana:  Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Nº 5, planta 5, puerta 15. E-46002 Valencia (Spain). Sevilla: Torneo Parque Empresarial. Calle Biología, 12. Edificio Vilamar II. 2ª planta, módulo 11-D. E-41015. Sevilla (Spain).   About Startup Europe Awards Startup Europe Awards is a methodology of DG CONNECT of the European Commission, implemented by Finnova Foundation since 2016. The SEUAs are an open innovation tool to identify disruptive startups that promotes public-private collaboration and raises awareness of the importance of self-entrepreneurship as a driver of employment. In addition to generating alliances that help to meet the SDGs of the United Nations and the actions of the European Green Pact, thus contributing to the circular economy, the fight against climate change and sustainable tourism. About StartupEuropeAccelerathon Startup Europe Accelerathon () aims to identify innovative ideas eligible for funding from the European Union, such as LIFE, Green Deal, Horizon 2020 or NextGenerationEU. StartupEuropeAccelerathon follows the indications of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, contributing from each challenge to the proposed SDGs; in the framework of the StartupEuropeAwards methodology of DG CONNECT of the European Commission, which was born from DG Research and Development in 2020 with the pan-European campaign Hackthevirus. It has been successfully carried out with governments such as that of the Valencian Community with the challenge of industrial polluting waters or the Andalusian Regional Government with the challenge of the fight against climate change, forest management and innovation in the prevention, fight against fires and regeneration of burnt areas.

EREK - your reference point on business competitiveness through resource efficiencyThe European Resource Efficiency Knowledge Centre (EREK for short) is here to help European companies, especially SMEs, save energy, material and water costs. We provide tools, information and business opportunities that show you new and better ways to be resource efficient and benefit from circular economy business models which turn waste into an asset.EREK also supports national, regional and local organisations across Europe that work with SMEs to improve their environmental performance, helping them to become more resource efficient.SMEs can get the following benefits thanks to EREK’s tools and services: Access to knowledge on best available technologies and business models Better control of energy, water and material costs Compliance checks for upcoming regulations Become less dependent on suppliers Demonstrate return on investment when adopting resource efficient measures Information on funding sources and technology providers Help building a green image which enables the targeting of new customer segmentsEREK offers the following to SME intermediaries: Tools and instruments for businesses to assess their saving potentials Access to top international knowledge, technical expertise and practices on resource efficiency Capacity-building workshops and networking events Online training opportunities to learn from resource efficiency experts Overview of relevant support programmes available on European, national and regional levels Updates on professional events within the communityConcrete activities include: European Resource Efficiency Self-Assessment Tool for SMEs -Catalogue of Resource Efficiency Improvement Measures European Resource Efficiency Information Database Online EREK platform Structured knowledge on resource efficiency best practices -News, trends, and information on support programmes Database and managed European network of the national and regional organisation providing support to SMEs in resource efficiency measures Capacity-building and training workshops Knowledge resources, expertise and sharingWho are we?EREK is an initiative of the European Commission and it is implemented by a consortium of organisations including Technopolis Group, VDI Zentrum Ressourceneffizienz (DE), WRAP (UK), Motiva (FI), Enviros (CZ), WAAT and Arctik (BE).

The Alliance for Internet of Things Innovation (AIOTI) was initiated by the European Commission in 2015, with the aim to strengthen the dialogue and interaction among Internet of Things (IoT) players in Europe, and to contribute to the creation of a dynamic European IoT ecosystem to speed up the take up of IoT.Other objectives of the Alliance include: fostering experimentation, replication, and deployment of IoT and supporting convergence and interoperability of IoT standards; gathering evidence on market obstacles for IoT deployment; and mapping and bridging global, EU, and member states' IoT innovation activities.

UIPI is a pan-European not-for-profit association comprising of 29 organisations from 28 countries. Jointly, they represent more than 5 million private property owners and some 20 to 25 million dwellings. Founded in 1923, the UIPI aims to protect and promote the interests, needs and concerns of private landlords and owner-occupiers at national, European and international levels.

The European Chemical Regions Network (ECRN) was originally started as an INTERREG IIIc project in 2004 with 13 member regions from 7 different European countries. The idea was to bring chemical regions from all over Europe together in order to better tackle the special challenges for these regions by exchanging information, exploring solutions for common problems and by speaking with a single voice.Today the network has grown from a temporary project to a recognized European chemical stakeholder and a network full of chemical expertise. ECRN is a registered association under German law and the network currently covers 16 member regions, whose cooperation is supported by a Brussels-based secretariat.

Greenovate! Europe is a not-for-profit network of organisations dedicated to sustainable innovation. Together we develop sustainability projects and provide innovation support services to researchers, companies and policy-makers.

The European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA) has a membership of about 70 regional development agencies from across the European Union. Agencies from almost all the Member States of the EU are EURADA members.EURADA runs conferences and seminars and has an extensive publications programme. It keeps its members up to date with EU policy developments and provides briefing on critical issues such as state aid rules. It alerts members to funding and contract opportunities and helps with forming and running partnerships.EURADA lobbies and briefs the European Commission on behalf of members and maintains a highly effective communications network there. Through round tables and reflection groups individual EURADA members can play a direct role in the development of policy at the Commission, and form their own links with officials.EURADA brings together and disseminates good practice in economic development for the benefit of its members. EURADA has strong international links, particularly through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in the United States, but also with economic development networks in China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. There is a good record of members using these links to pursue their own local objectives.

FEDARENE was created on 6th June 1990 by 6 regional authorities – Rhône-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, Wallonie, País Vasco, Aquitaine and Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Encouraged by different programs of the European Commission, these authorities wanted to make the voice of the regions heard in the debate on energy and environment policies at the European level. FEDARENE went from these 6 regions at its creation to 40 already in 1995. Following these dynamics, the Brussels Office was created in November 1991. Now FEDARENE counts more than 65 members in 17 countries. All from the beginning, FEDARENE served as a springboard for the creation of new agencies and as a crossroads for a wide array of agencies. These ones are not only the driving force behind the development of the network, but also play an essential role in policy making. They act both as producers of ideas on the regional, national, European and international levels, and as implementers of decisions emanating from these levels. The members’ diversity implies there is a vast array of competencies, thus providing solutions to almost all energy and environmental concerns. Locally, they raise public awareness through a diversity of actions, such as exhibitions, conferences, documentation services and meetings with local schools and professional bodies. They serve equally local elected officials and the public by helping and advising them. Since 2008, FEDARENE is part of the consortium of European networks (with CEMR, Climate Alliance, Energy Cities, Eurocities, ICLEI) which forms the Secretariat/Office of the renown European initiative: the Covenant of Mayors.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium (AmCham Belgium) is one of the largest and most influential business organizations in the country. Founded in 1948, it has more than 500 members who together strive for a more competitive and prosperous Belgium. AmCham Belgium is an independent non-profit organization. In addition to US companies in Belgium, our members include local and other international businesses operating in the country.

RSA Europe was born on 28 June 2017 when the Regional Studies Association created a non-profit Foundation  (Fondation privée/Stichting) in Belgium. The full official title is the Regional Studies Association European Foundation, but for ease this is shortened to RSA Europe. RSA Europe is registered under Belgian law. The Trustees and Directors of the Regional Studies Association made the decision to become the Founder of a charitable foundation in Europe in order to better serve RSA’s European membership and the regional studies and regional science academic, policy and practice community in Europe.

Crossborder cooperation since 1976 between the Belgian provinces of Limburg and Liège, the German-speaking Community of Belgium, the Dutch province of Limburg and the German Region Aachen in the fields of economy, employment, education, health, culture, tourism, mobility, security, sustainable development & territorial analysis

UNITEE is the only organization representing entrepreneurs and professionals with a migrant background, whom we refer to as « New Europeans »: people who live in Europe but have connections with more than just the country where they live. Through its 6 national federations and 77 associations, UNITEE represents more than 15 000 entrepreneurs and business professionals across 23 European countries and from all the major sectors of the European economy.

Launched in 2008 in Brussels, EARTH (European Alliance for Responsible Tourism and Hospitality) is the first European Network created by European experts of responsible tourism. The association is composed by 15 private organizations presented in 7 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Germany, France, and Spain). This network has been created by the professionals of sustainable and responsible tourism in order to create a coherent action and to promote the principles of sustainability, fairness and solidarity for tourism.

youris.com is an independent non-profit media agency promoting leading-edge European innovation via TV media and the web. youris.com designs and implements media communication strategies for large research organisations and EU-funded projects and is able to establish permanent links between research communities and the media. The youris.com web platform is one of main primary information sources for European science and technology. youris.com produces and distributes to European TV channels original video news releases and articles featuring most prominent leading-edge S&T innovation of European research.

The European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) is the international, non-profit, independent association of benchmarked Living Labs in Europe and worldwide (founded in 2006 under the auspices of the Finnish European Presidency) grown through

The EFC is an international association of foundations and corporate funders dedicated to:•Creating an enabling legal and fiscal environment for foundations •Documenting the foundation landscape •Strengthening the infrastructure of the sector •Promoting collaboration, both among foundations and between foundations and other actorsEstablished in 1989, the Centre is an independent international not-for-profit association under Belgian law. Ultimate authority vests in the EFC Annual General Assembly of Members, with governance entrusted to an elected Governing Council, supported by a Management Committee. Membership of the Centre implies commitment to the EFC brand.

Cittalia Foundation is the research center of the Italian Association of Municipalities.

 ERRIN, the European Regions Research and Innovation Network, is a dynamic network of more than 120 EU regions and their Brussels-based offices. Go to membersERRIN facilitates knowledge exchange, joint action and project partnerships with the aim to strengthen its member region's research and innovation capacities and enhance their success in EU programmes.ERRIN also aspires to influence EU policies in order to make them respond better to the needs of European regions and, to this end, engages in debate with EU institutions and participates in EU policy consultations. 

IUT is a Non Governmental Organisation, founded in 1926 in Zürich, Switzerland, with the purpose of safeguarding the interests of tenants. IUT is a non-party political organisation, working along democratic lines.Today IUT has got 66 member associations in 45 countries.IUT is in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council and has NGO participatory status with the Council of Europe. 

The cities and municipalities from South-Eastern Europe with support of their Institutions and relevantMinistries had established an independent think tank called "South-East European Federation of Citiesand Regions for the Environment " with headquarters in Brussels.This organization brings together not only the cities and municipalities, but also relevant Ministries,agencies for environmental protection and climate change, research centres and NGOs working in fieldof climate and energy.

VISITBRUSSELS is the communications agency for tourism in the Brussels-Capital Region; its aim is to promote and strengthen the image of the capital of 500 million Europeans.Each of its departments has a specific mission: sales promotion: to motivate professionals • Tour Operators, to think of Brussels as an essential destination when visiting Europe• journalists, by giving them material for fascinating articles• conference organisers, by highlighting the talent of Brussels for business tourism and by finding with them the meeting, accommodations and service locations they dream of communication: to design and produce internet sites, brochures, products and items that make people want to be in Brussels culture and tourism: to make known the rich heritage of the city and the pleasure of living ’Brussels style’ major events: to organise or support the major festive, cultural or sports events that make Brussels a city where something is always happening Brussels cinema: to facilitate production of films in which Brussels is the decor... and the star!

 The European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD) is an international non-profit making association established in 1999 by the National LEADER Networks of different EU Member States. Today ELARD represents more than 800 Local Action Groups (LAGs) that manage the LEADER+ Community Initiative and/or National Programmes for Rural Development. ELARD aims to support rural and regional development under LEADER philosophy, to promote experience sharing through its members and partners, and to promote networking and cooperation through transnational projects. Furthermore, after the 2004 and 2007 EU enlargements, ELARD has been making efforts to provide the newly established rural networks in the new member states with valuable information and support. 

Arctik is a public relations, communications and evaluation consultancy which specialises in European Affairs and Sustainability.

The Belgian-Italian Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit association under Belgian law and is legally and financially autonomous. It was founded in 1950 to foster contacts between Belgium and Italy. Its resources come mainly from contributions of its members and from the benefit of its activities. The Chamber is recognized by the Italian Government under the law 01.07.1970 n.518 and certified ISO 9001. It is part of the Assocamerestero, the Italian Chambers of Commerce Association abroad, composed by 76 Chambers worldwide. It is located in the center of Brussels near the European Institutions. The Belgian-Italian Chamber of Commerce is the point of reference par excellence for any company willing to promote its own business and widen its network in Italy and in Belgium. The Chamber indeed offers a wide range of promotional services, assistance and consultancy, which represents an advantage for its members. The Belgian-Italian Chamber of Commerce provides the students of its courses with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, which are necessary tools for those who want to work in the European environment.

The liaison agency Flanders-Europe (Vleva) opens up European policy to Flemish governments and civil society and acquaints them with your best practices. Our events are always open to everyone and free of charge!