Table of contents
What is FINEX?
FINEX is a project funded by Horizon Europe that helps cleantech and deep tech innovators find partners to test and scale their solutions. It brings together startups, scaleups, corporates, research teams, companies with testbeds, public institutions, and investors. The goal is to support innovative technologies in four key sectors: clean energy, sustainable transport, the built environment, and smart governance.
Learn more and follow updates on our official webpage or LinkedIn.
What Does FINEX Offer to Innovators?
We work with the following types of organisations:
- Startups: Small, fast-growing companies developing new technologies
- Scaleups: More established companies looking to expand and deploy innovations
- Corporates: Larger firms exploring cleantech deployment
- Research institutions: Universities, UAS or labs with pilot-ready solutions
What we offer:
- Matchmaking Events: Meet potential testbed providers, investors, and partners at focused national and EU-wide events
- Access to Experimentation Spaces: Get connected with real-world test environments where your solution could be piloted (e.g. energy systems, smart buildings, public mobility pilots)
- Exposure to Stakeholders: Present your solution to public authorities and cleantech buyers looking for innovation
- Entry to Acceleration Pathway: Selected innovators can move forward to tailored support such as pilot planning, technical guidance or follow-up matchmaking
Matchmaking and the FINEX Support Pathway
FINEX support begins with national and cross-regional matchmaking events in Spring 2025. These are the entry point to the full innovation support pipeline.
Regional matchmaking events
Join your local FINEX matchmaking workshop to connect with regional innovators, SMEs, researchers, and stakeholders in cleantech and deep tech. These sessions will showcase local experimentation spaces, share available testing opportunities, and gather your input to match your solutions with the right infrastructures and support.
Cross- regional online matchmaking event
Take part in the FINEX cross-regional online matchmaking workshop to explore Europe-wide opportunities for piloting and validation. This session will connect innovators across borders, present the full catalogue of experimentation spaces, and collect your innovation needs to enable tailored matchmaking with international partners and testbeds.
The pathway looks like this:
Upcoming Events
FINEX: Accelerating Experimentation in Sustainable Mobility and Transport
Date: 19.02.2026
Time: 11:00–12:45 EET / 10:00–11:45 CET
Format: Online workshop
This workshop will focus on sustainable mobility and transport, providing an overview of EU and Member State initiatives, along with concrete examples of how they are designed, implemented and used to accelerate experimentation and bring innovations to market.
How to Participate
Participation in matchmaking events is by invitation. Each country partner will shortlist around 5–10 innovators based on relevance and readiness. The contact details provided are for the FINEX project overall, not only for matchmaking events.
Matchmaking events will be organised in the following countries:
Bulgaria
Simeon Malinov
simeon.malinov@gate-ai.eu
LinkedIn
Organization
The Big Data for Smart Society Institute (GATE), Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski
Cyprus
Yiota Victoria Phakoukaki
phakoukaki.yiota-victoria@ucy.ac.cy
LinkedIn
Theocharis Theocharides
ttheocharides@ucy.ac.cy
Organization
KIOS Center of Excellence for Research & Innovation, University of Cyprus
Estonia
Carina Bitsikov
carina.bitsikov@taltech.ee
LinkedIn
Organization
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities, TalTech
Lithuania
Lina Stanionytė
lina@ssmtp.lt
Evelina Salavejiene
evelina@ssmtp.lt
Organization
Sunrise Valley Science & Technology Park
If you would like to express interest in joining, contact your national partner or email the Helpdesk.
FINEX Experimentation spaces and upscaling support catalogue
If you got a bright idea and need a place to test it, funding to grow it or a program to accelerate it, then explore the FINEX Resource Catalogue. As part of the FINEX project, we mapped collaborative spaces, business development programs, experimentation spaces, and funding opportunities across our innovation ecosystem countries – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Cyprus, and Bulgaria. The catalogue is now available, offering a clear overview of existing resources, capabilities, and competences. Explore the catalogue and discover the opportunities best suited for you.
If you need guidance or have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the contacts listed below, we’re here to help.
Project Materials
1. General Information
- FINEX One-pager (PDF)
→ A concise 1-page summary of the project’s objectives and general information - Pitch Presentation (PDF / Slide deck)
→ Visual slides for stakeholder briefings and event use
2. Policy & Regulation Materials (currently being updated)
3. Communication Kit (currently being updated)
4. Videos
Past Events
Registration for past events is now closed.
FINEX Policy Workshop: Accelerating experimentation with Sandbox initiatives
Date: 16.12.2025
Time: 11:00-13:00 (EET) / 10:00–12:00 (CET)
Format: Online workshop
This workshop will focus on regulatory sandboxes, providing an overview of EU and Member State initiatives, along with concrete examples of how they are designed, implemented and used to accelerate experimentation and bring innovations to market. Featuring sandbox initiatives from FINEX partner countries, the agenda will highlight practical examples and foster targeted discussion among policy and innovation stakeholders, particularly in the area of AI experimentation.
Bulgaria – Matchmaking Event
Venue: Sofia, Bulgaria, GATE Institute
Date & time: 30/09/2025, 13:00-14:00
Contact for further details:
Simeon Malinov
simeon.malinov@gate-ai.eu
Cyprus – Matchmaking Event
Venue: University of Cyprus, KIOS Center of Excellence, Building SFS, Room 105
Date & time: 23/09/2025, 10:30-1:30
Contact for further details:
Y. Victoria Phakoukaki
phakoukaki.yiota-victoria@ucy.ac.cy
Estonia – Matchmaking Event
Venue: Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, Room U02-401
Date & time: 26/09/2025, 13:00-15:30
Contact for further details:
Carina Bitšikov
carina.bitsikov@taltech.ee
Finland – Matchmaking Event
Venue: Aalto University, Otakaari 1, wing H, room H1
Date & time: 25/09/2025, 10:00-16:00
Contact for further details:
Kalle Toiskallio
kalle.toiskallio@aalto.fi
Latvia – Matchmaking Event
Venue: House of Science, Latvian University
Date & time: 18/09/2025, 12:00-13:00
Contact for further details:
Paula Vanaga
paula.vanaga@rtu.lv
Lithuania – Matchmaking Event
Venue: Sunrise Tech Park Saulėtekio al. 15-1, Vilnius
Date & time: 25/09/2025, 10:00-12:00
Contact for further details:
Lina Stanionyte
lina@ssmtp.lt
International Matchmaking Event
(organized by EIT Digital)
Date & time: 7/10/2025, 11:00 (CET)
Connecting innovators with public testbeds to accelerate European cleantech
This session will unpack how the FINEX initiative connects startups, scaleups, corporates, public actors, and research institutions with testbeds to accelerate cleantech and deep tech innovation in Finland and across Europe.
11 June 2025, 11:00–12:00 EET
Online (via Teams)
Who should join?
- Cleantech startups & scaleups
- Universities & universities of applied sciences
- R&I organisations
- Public actors & testbed operators
Driving European Cleantech Growth - FINEX Cross-Regional Dialogue
Join us for the FINEX Cleantech Information Session, where we’ll introduce a new European initiative accelerating regional and cross-border cleantech and deep tech innovation. Where we showcase how the FINEX project supports startups, scaleups, corporates, public actors, universities, and research institutions working on cleantech solutions.
12 June 2025, 11:00–12:00 EET
Online (via Teams)
Who should attend?
- Cleantech startups and scaleups
- Universities and universities of applied sciences
- Research & innovation institutions
- Public actors and testbed operators
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a fully developed product?
No. Early-stage or piloting-ready innovations are welcome if they align with FINEX goals.
Can I participate if I’m not based in a partner country?
The project prioritises innovators from partner countries, but cross-border cases can be considered. Contact us to discuss.
Does FINEX provide funding?
FINEX does not directly offer funding, but participation can lead to pilot opportunities and investor exposure.
What is a testbed or experimentation space?
A testbed is a real-world environment, like a city district or energy system, where you can test your solution with local partners.
Will I receive mentoring or support beyond the events?
If selected, yes – follow-up activities include pilot planning and technical or regulatory support in collaboration with project partners.
How do I know if I’ve been selected?
Your national partner will contact you directly after the evaluation phase.
