Meet Our Partners
Collaboration for impact
SustainX is a collaboration between leading European research institutions, business hubs and innovation cluster.
Coordinator
DIGITAL INNOVATION ZONE
Romania
Digital Innovation Zone EDIH (DIZ) is the first digital innovation hub in North East Romania, fully operational since 2020. It is organized as a multi-stakeholder partnership, under the governance structure of an NGO, having as members 4 universities, 3 clusters – ICT, bio-technologies and medical imaging, 1 Industry4.0 association, several business partner & IT development companies and 2 Corporations: Continental Romania and Orange Business Services (in process of joining at this point). The activity is based on S3 regional strategy stakeholder consultations & development and its focus is mainly on healthcare & manufacturing sectors.
Since October 2022, they are operational with an EDIH scope, implementing earlier than other winning EDIHs business support services for SMEs and public hospitals. The main services provided refer to digital maturity assessments, technology audits, best-before-invest facilities, digital culture & skills complex program for deep tech skills and access to finance services.
Partner 1
APPLIED RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS FUND ( ARC FUND)
Bulgaria
ARC Fund is the premier Bulgarian ICT and innovation policy and research think-tank, established in 1991. ARC Fund is the National Contact Point for a set of European initiatives in the areas of IT and innovation, such as ERAWATCH, EUREKA and the European Commission Industrial R&D Scoreboard. ARC Fund has a solid track-record of successful international projects supported by the European Commission (FP4, FP5, FP6, FP7, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, Leonardo da Vinci, PHARE), the World Bank, UNDP, USAID, and German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), etc.
Partner 2
TECHINICAL UNIVERSITY OF IASI ( TUIASI )
Romania
“Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iași (TUIASI) is among the oldest and most renowned public higher education institutions in Romania, with an important tradition in scientific research in engineering. With its 23 research / excellence centers (of which 1 RENAR accredited laboratory), it is focused on knowledge transfer, especially in multidisciplinary areas of high-tech engineering. These centers and laboratories operate within national and international research grants and contracts with industrial and governmental organizations, activities, and results that place TUIASI at the top of Romanian scientific research.
Partner 3
FUNDACION SANTA CRUZ SOSTENIBILE
Spain
The Fundación Santa Cruz Sostenible (Spain) leads sustainability-focused initiatives, ensuring SMEs and stakeholders integrate sustainable solutions into their business models. Their expertise includes environmental education in schools and public spaces, training for professionals and micro-enterprises, and sustainability consulting for businesses. They organize events such as festivals, exhibitions, and conferences, run communication campaigns, and promote renewable energy and energy communities. They share best practices and engage with environmental organizations to foster a greener future.
Partner 4
INSTITUTE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT ( iED )
Greece
Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (iED) is a Greek non-profit organization committed to the promotion of innovation and the enhancement of the entrepreneurial spirit. Established in 2005, iED is a certified leading Center of Excellence in European entrepreneurship and a fast-growing DIH, which recognizes innovation and entrepreneurship as crucial factors for the future of sustainable development and cohesion of societies. It conducts research and provides innovative solutions that facilitate the growth of entrepreneurship and promote employment. To achieve its goals, iED has adopted a human-first approach, cooperating with social, academic and business partners from across Greece, Europe and abroad. Its main aim is to produce and transfer know-how, boost entrepreneurial culture, and enhance the effectiveness and viability of all types of enterprises and ventures.
Partner 5
IMP'ROVE ACADEMY
Germany
IMPROVE – European Innovation Management Academy (imp3rove.de) is Kearney’s global competence centre for innovation management, which stands with its innovation management support services, trusted by the public as well as the private sector. It provides companies (incl. start-ups, SMEs and world-leading manufacturing companies), financial actors, policy makers and academia with consulting support and technical assistance related to innovation and innovation management. The services include innovation management benchmarking for enterprises, training and certification in innovation management, advice on innovation management issues, and promotion of best practices in innovation management. With its global network, IMP³ROVE has set the standard for innovation management assessment.
Partner 6
LATVIJAS TEHNOLOGISKAIS CENTRS NODIBINAJUMS ( LTC )
Latvia
The Latvian Technological Center (LTC) is a non-profit business support structure and innovation hub, functioning as a business acceleration center. LTC plays a crucial role in fostering the establishment and growth of knowledge-based Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by facilitating connections between research entities and industries. The primary objectives of LTC include bridging the gap between higher education institutions and industry, promoting the formation of SMEs specializing in technology-based and high-tech products, establishing connections between industry and research laboratories, fostering international economic and scientific collaborations, creating employment opportunities for skilled professionals, and encouraging the development of an innovation-friendly society through policy initiatives.
Advisory Board
The SustainX Advisory Board brings expert guidance from across Europe to strengthen the project’s relevance, impact, and connections to regional innovation ecosystems.
Anita Ābola
EEN Latvia Coordinator
Organisation: Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) & Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Latvia
Bio/Expertise: Anita Ābola is the EEN Latvia Coordinator at LIAA, working at the intersection of SME growth, innovation services, and internationalisation support. She has extensive experience engaging companies and ecosystem actors, helping them identify opportunities, build partnerships, and access relevant services and networks. Expertise: SME support & innovation ecosystem development; international partnerships and interregional collaboration; Latvian innovation ecosystem insight.
Ana Torrent
Manager, Canarias Excelencia Tecnológica Cluster
Organisation: Canarias Excelencia Tecnológica Cluster (Cluster Excelencia Tecnológica)
Bio/Expertise: Ana Torrent is a Telecommunications Engineer (University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) and Manager of the Canarias Excelencia Tecnológica Cluster, leading growth strategies, digital transformation initiatives, and cooperation actions between technology companies and stakeholders across the Canary Islands. Expertise: cluster management & ecosystem building; digital transformation and business development; international project management and cooperation.
Magdalena Jabłońska
President, Foundation for Technology Entrepreneurship
Organisation: Foundation for Technology Entrepreneurship
Bio/Expertise: Magdalena Jabłońska is President of the Foundation for Technology Entrepreneurship with 20+ years’ experience in innovation, technology commercialisation, and ecosystem development, and a background at Deloitte and PwC in innovation investments and R&D&I development. Expertise: innovation advisory and technology commercialisation; startup acceleration/incubation and open innovation; digitalisation support for SMEs and startups (EDIH experience).
Gabriela Macoveiu
International Regional Development Expert (UCORD Programme)
Organisation: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) / North-East
Bio/Expertise: Gabriela Macoveiu is an international regional development expert with long experience in EU-funded programmes, innovation governance, and capacity building, including 70+ EU projects and extensive evaluation/training work linked to regional innovation strategies and digital innovation hub set-up. Expertise: regional innovation governance (RIS3) and investment strategy; EU programme implementation, evaluation and training; institutional capacity building and performance management.
Marius Mitroi
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advisor
Organisation: Business Innovation Fund Agency
Bio/Expertise: Marius Mitroi is a policy and ecosystem professional with over a decade of leadership in policy analysis and development, contributing to Romania’s research and innovation strategy and strengthening the innovation and technology transfer ecosystem through instruments and programmes, including acceleration initiatives. Expertise: innovation policy design and analysis; funding instruments and programme development; technology transfer and ecosystem strengthening.
Lucian Sandu
Head of RIS3 Management Office
Organisation: North-East Regional Development Agency
Bio/Expertise: Lucian Sandu leads the RIS3 Management Office at the North-East Regional Development Agency and is responsible for the development, monitoring, promotion, and implementation of the North-East RIS3, with experience in regional operational programme planning in innovation, technology transfer, and research–industry collaboration. Expertise: RIS3 strategy development, monitoring and implementation; operational programme planning for innovation and technology transfer; research–industry collaboration and SME competitiveness.
Daniela Mineva
Senior Analyst, Geoeconomics Programme
Organisation: Center for the Study of Democracy
Bio/Expertise: Daniela Mineva is a Senior Analyst at the Center for the Study of Democracy with 22+ years’ experience in EU/donor-funded work on anti-corruption, EU integration, innovation policy, corporate governance, and the informal economy, contributing to major policy and analytical initiatives and competitiveness monitoring. Expertise: innovation policy, governance and evaluation (RTDI); competitiveness and geoeconomic analysis; anti-corruption, corporate governance and informal economy.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.