The number of international reference companies established in the Basque Country seeking technological startups in the BIND 4.0 accelerator to promote Industry 4.0 continues to rise, and is currently 57. This open smart industry innovation platform held its first virtual event, The Best of BIND 4.0: Virtual Demo Day, on July 3, to present the latest technology projects developed by 38 innovative startups and to launch the fifth call. Through this call, it will accept candidates until September 11th. Arantxa Tapia, Minister of Economic Development and Infrastructure, opened this year's edition.

The event was attended by representatives of several companies - Coca-Cola European Partners, Mercedes-Benz and Unilever - and was attended by Aitor Urzelai, Director of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and the Digital Agenda of the Basque Government. There were also entrepreneurship experts, such as Martin Varsavsky. Through the SPRI Group, the BIND 4.0 accelerator, created by the Department of Economic Development and Infrastructure, seeks the best technological projects among startups around the world, with a dual purpose. On the one hand, to enable leading companies to accelerate innovation and promote and improve their competitiveness by working with startups as a fast and effective source of innovation. And, on the other hand, faster access to the market by leading international companies and direct access to the Basque industrial ecosystem.

Therefore, one of the main innovations of this year's call is that more and more companies are participating in the project. BIND 4.0 already has 57 important international reference companies established in the Basque Country. These companies will be responsible for selecting the best projects from all the nominations received. This year, the companies already participating in the program, such as Ferrovial, EDP, Sarralle, Arcelor, ABB, Iberdrola, Michelin, Quirónsalud and Siemens Gamesa, have been added: Enagás, Erhardt, GH Cranes & Components, Ingeteam, Tubos Reunidos and Vidrala.

According to Aitor Urzelai, Director of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and the Digital Agenda of the Basque Government: “We have witnessed the importance of investing in technology and innovation in our economy and digital transformation in our economy, and working together to promote growth between public and private actors. the need to act. To grow and improve our economy and our society, these are the two foundations that have always supported BIND 4.0. This is why it is so important to extend this fifth call of BIND 4.0; in fact, in sectors of special importance - food, health, energy or manufacturing - in favor of open innovation, startups and new talent, this represents the constant commitment of all of us who make up this initiative ”.

Conditions for participation

Startups can register until September 11 through the program’s website www.bind40.com. BIND 4.0 is looking for startups from five continents with products and services applicable to the industrial, energy, health and food sectors based on new technologies. It is also required that their technological solution is already on the market or in the final stage of development and can add value to partner companies.

Important dates:

• July 3 - September 11, 2020: Startup nominations will be received
• January 8, 2021: Selected startups will be notified
• January 25, 2021: Acceleration program and partner projects will begin
• July 2, 2021: Demo Day, the day to present the results of the fifth call.
•  Register nominations at bind40.com.