To boost the performance and growth of the innovation and start-up incubation ecosystem in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region, EU4Digital Facility identified key priorities and presented them in two events. These\u00a0online awareness sessions concluded intense study of Eastern partner start-up ecosystems\u2019 performance, gaps and needs. Participants in the two events heard from regional ecosystem actors and discussed the key needs: Eastern partner countries should prioritise the empowerment of ecosystem builders and capacity building of incubators.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first<\/strong> event, \u2018Importance of supporting national ecosystem builders\u2019 actions through donor funding\u2019 took place on 18 July 2023. This event explained the essential role of ecosystem builders and the need to empower them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n EU4Digital has analysed 24 Eastern partner organisations that are adopting the role of ecosystem builder to create, empower and boost the ecosystem. Jes\u00fas Lozano explained that this study revealed a need for further specialisation of ecosystem builders by specific sectors or target groups. Though ecosystem builders can be both from the public and private sector, they mostly have been acting as non-profit organisations. This is why they need support from governmental and international donors, but also from the conscious private sector \u2013 given that creating organisations and developing strong networks are resource and time consuming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Donor funding plays a critical role in capacity building and empowering of the national ecosystem builders, Jes\u00fas highlighted. He emphasised that support should be channelled in a way that: involves national organisations in collaboration and the implementation of actions; builds expertise at the national level; and generates continuity in any ecosystem development actions. The mission of government and donors is to empower the capacity of specialised actors to support innovations in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n