At the Xanthi School of Engineering, on an important day for Democritus University of Thrace and the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Thinc Thrace incubator, the new Business Incubator of Democritus University of Thrace, was presented to the Secretary General for Public Investment and the NSRF at the Ministry of Development, Mr. Dimitris Skalkos.
The Vice Rector for Research and Lifelong Learning, Ms. Maria Michalopoulou, had the opportunity to brief the Secretary General on the projects Democritus University of Thrace is carrying out, followed by a presentation of how the new Incubator will operate.
The contractors for the project “Subproject 3: Business Incubator of Democritus University of Thrace – Operation and Services Provided” are the Consortium of ena Development Consultants – FM-EPICHEIREIN Business Consultants.
The project is part of the NSRF 2014–2020, Operational Program: Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and National Resources.
Thinc Thrace incubator, based at the Xanthi School of Engineering, will host a total of 48 business teams and companies over the next two (2) years and will support business teams and startups from across all the RIS3 sectors of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, with a focus on the following areas:
- Applying innovation in the Agri-food sector
- Information and communication technologies
- Energy Saving – Applications of integrated systems for reducing the energy footprint of businesses and urban facilities.
- Environment and sustainable development
- Transport – Logistics
- Materials – construction
- Tourism – Culture – Creative industries
The Business Incubator of Democritus University of Thrace will be home to a set of specialized services for business teams, such as:
- Mentoring and coaching
- Accounting, tax and financial advice
- Legal support services
- Support in finding funding sources and joining a Business Angels network.
- Access to research data and a business database
- Support for outward-looking initiatives, with an emphasis on export expansion
- Links with other relevant bodies to attract international investment
The teams' incubation stages will be as follows:
- Stage A [Entry Level], up to 3 months: At this stage, team members' roles will be shaped, they will become familiar with business terms and practices, and the idea will be finalized
- Stage B [Pre-seed level], from 3 to 6 months: This stage will act as an accelerator for the beneficiary teams. The teams' ideas will be matured, and there will be networking and market research.
- Stage C [Seed level], from 6 to 9 months: At this stage, the company will be set up, its intellectual property will be protected, and the search for funding will begin.
- Stage D – Exit of beneficiary businesses from the Business Incubator
After the presentation of how the Thinc Thrace incubator will operate, there was a discussion on entrepreneurship, growth and funding for Democritus University of Thrace in the new funding period, in the presence of the Vice Rector for Finance, Planning and Development, Mr. Fotis Maris, the Heads of the Departments of the School of Engineering and the Incubator staff.
The Incubator's purpose is to strengthen, grow and open up an innovation ecosystem through support and advisory services for startups. It is aimed at people with innovative and groundbreaking ideas who, with the right, specialized support from experts in their first steps, will have the opportunity to turn their ideas into a new, dynamic business.
The mission of ena Development Consultants remains to contribute to the business, economic and social development of Xanthi and the wider Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. With the creation of the Business Incubator, Thinc Thrace incubator, ena continues to faithfully serve its mission, contributing to innovation, startup entrepreneurship and wider social benefit.
