Business Hub Services

MINE.THE.GAP offered business services to the projects funded through the voucher scheme. They helped the companies to enhance their innovation capacities, promote technology transfer and commercialisation, and support their internationalisation activities. These services were structured into three business hubs that were available over the duration of the projects.

Part of the Business Hub Services werethe MOOCs for the Mining and Raw Materials professionals. They remain openly available!

Business Hub 1 Innovation Support

All SMEs that were funding under MINE.THE.GAP received a “Start-up Package” to perform business support services related to innovation. The SMEs chose among specialised training, participation in events, mentoring and coaching services, and incubation and acceleration support.

Services from MINE.THE.GAP under this Business Hub 1 included:

  • Connection to the local Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) contact
  • Watch on scientific events
  • Watch on regional, national, and European calls for proposals
  • Webinar on EU projects linked to the mining and raw materials sector
  • MINE-ACADEMY programme: MOOCs MINE-DIGITAL and MINE-CIRCULAR
  • Call for partners among the cluster network

The MINE-ACADEMY programme is an online training programme that consists of four MOOCs. They address the application of ICT in SMEs and the concept of Industry 4.0, circular and green economy, knowledge transfer and IPR issues, and EU and international funding for SMEs.
At the end of the business hub, two SMEs were awarded for the “Best Innovation Ideas”.

Business Hub 2 Technology Transfer and Business Services

The SMEs that passed to the second business hub received a “Follow-up Package” to perform business support services related to technology transfer. It was used for specialised training, participation in brokerage events, crowd-funding campaigns, or the development of a corporate visual identity.

Services from MINE.THE.GAP under this Business Hub 2 included:

  • Watch on international exhibitions
  • Prospection tools box
  • Webinar on how to conduct a market study
  • Legal advice templates for partnerships
  • Webinar on effective market and technology watch
  • Webinar on protection of intellectual property
  • MINE-ACADEMY programme: MINE-TRANSFER MOOC
  • Invest day with private investors

At the end of the business hub, MINE.THE.GAP awarded two SMEs for the “Best Technology Transfer Potential”.

Business Hub 3 Internationalisation Support

SMEs that passed to the third Business Hub received a “Mobility Package” to perform an exchange programme with another SME from a different sector and from a different EU country. The duration of this exchange programme was of at least one week.

Services from MINE.THE.GAP under this Business Hub 3 included:

  • Workshop on how to pitch in English
  • Pitch sessions for the foreseen exchange programme
  • Webinar on business practices in different EU countries
  • MINE-ACADEMY programme: MINE-FUNDME MOOC

At the end of this business hub, MINE.THE.GAP awarded three SMEs from MINE.THE.GAP projects with a company trade mission outside of Europe and one SME for the “Best Internationalisation Potential”.