🚀 MANTRA Webinar | Connecting Europe’s Innovation Ecosystem for SME Impact Join the first MANTRA capacity building webinar focused on ecosystem-building activities, bringing together key European initiatives, platforms, and testbeds supporting SME innovation. 📅 May 11, 2026 ⏰ 11:30 – 12:45 CET 🔗 Register here: [Link] This session will feature insights from leading European networks and organizations, including: 🔹 Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) 🔹 European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) via SECPHO 🔹 EIT Community RIS Hub 🔹 Big Data Value Association (BDVA) / Data Spaces 🔬 Discover also Open Innovation Test Beds (OITBs) supporting SMEs from idea to market: MEZeroE INNOMEM NewSkin I-TRIBOMAT 💡 The webinar will conclude with an interactive Q&A session to engage directly with experts. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how Europe’s innovation ecosystem can support your journey toward green and digital transformation.

Mantra at the Women TechEU Final Event in Brussels On 4 March 2026, the final event of the Women TechEU programme took place in Brussels, bringing together innovators, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs to celebrate the achievements of women-led deep tech startups across Europe. The event marked an important milestone for the initiative, highlighting the impact of targeted support for women entrepreneurs in the deep tech ecosystem. Angelica Marsico from EIT Manufacturing South and Maria Ferentinou from Greenovate! Europe, Mantra Consortium Partners The event opened with a welcome address by Angele Giuliano, Dissemination and Communication Leader of the programme, followed by a recorded message from Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, underlining the importance of empowering women innovators and strengthening Europe’s innovation landscape. Celebrating the Impact of Women TechEU During the event, Teresa Hernández Martín, the project coordinator, presented an overview of the programme and its results. Over the course of the initiative, Women TechEU supported 160 women-led deep tech startups, working alongside a strong ecosystem of partners, mentors, evaluators, and allies. The programme demonstrated remarkable impact: across its three cohorts, supported companies raised more than €53.8 million in funding, representing a sixfold multiplier effect compared to the programme’s initial €9 million investment. The agenda featured several panels and success story videos highlighting the journeys of entrepreneurs who benefited from the programme. Discussions explored topics such as the operational insights behind the initiative, the success stories of participating startups, and the broader challenges facing deep tech entrepreneurs. Policy Insights for the Future A key part of the event focused on the policy learnings derived from the Women TechEU programme. The consortium presented policy papers addressing important topics such as: The role of venture capital in advancing deep tech innovation in Europe The gender funding gap in the deep tech ecosystem Best practices for building effective support programmes for women-led startups These recommendations emphasise the need for stronger access to long-term capital, improved networks for women founders, and collaborative efforts between public institutions and private investors to build a more inclusive innovation ecosystem. Mantra at the exhibition of winning companies Alongside the conference sessions, the event included an exhibition showcasing innovative companies participating in the programme. The Mantra Project was present at the exhibition, engaging with startups and stakeholders working to advance deep tech innovation in Europe. During the exhibition, the Mantra team had the opportunity to connect with Perfi Technologies, an innovative SME that is also part of the Mantra Project’s Innovation Leaders Community. The meeting highlighted the importance of building strong connections between European innovation initiatives and emerging technology companies. Looking Ahead The event concluded with reflections on the future of Women TechEU, presented by Francesca Doria from EISMEA, followed by closing remarks from Cristina Russo, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. As the programme concludes, its results demonstrate the powerful impact that targeted support initiatives can have on the European innovation ecosystem. Women TechEU has not only supported groundbreaking startups but also contributed valuable insights for shaping future policies that foster inclusive and sustainable innovation. For the Mantra Project, participation in events like this reinforces the importance of collaboration across European initiatives and communities working to accelerate innovation and support the next generation of deep tech leaders.