On 27 November 2025, the FI4INN project hosted the regional event “Smarter Support for Startups & SMEs: Designing Impactful Instruments for Innovation” in Ostrava, Czechia. Organised by CzechInvest Agency, the event brought together policymakers, innovation ecosystem stakeholders, startups, and international experts to discuss how public support instruments can better respond to the real needs of startups and SMEs.
The event focused on presenting FI4INN’s concrete outputs while creating space for dialogue on the future of innovation funding in the Czech Republic and beyond.
Strengthening Innovation Support Through Practical Tools
The first part of the event was dedicated to the presentation of FI4INN project outputs, designed to support policymakers and instrument designers in improving access to finance for innovative companies. These included:
- The FI4INN Virtual Knowledge Centre, offering practical resources and tools for innovation finance;
- A Roadmap of Suitable Financial Instruments tailored to different stages of startup development;
- The Support Instrument Canvas, helping public authorities design more effective and user-centred instruments;
- A Pilot Action in Czechia, focused on evaluating the national Technological Incubation programme and developing recommendations for its future evolution.
Together, these tools aim to reduce fragmentation, increase clarity, and improve the overall effectiveness of public support schemes for startups and SMEs.
The second part of the programme showcased international approaches to startup and SME support, offering inspiration for the Czech innovation ecosystem. Contributions included:
- The Hungarian Innovation Agency, presenting the Startup Factory model as a national case study;
- The Regional Development Agency Bielsko-Biała, sharing insights on building a startup ecosystem from scratch;
- Impact Hub Vienna, highlighting impact-driven support as an emerging standard;
- TEC4I FVG (Italy), presenting how talent and finance can be combined to enhance regional competitiveness.
These examples demonstrated how flexibility, ecosystem collaboration, and impact orientation can significantly improve support outcomes for innovative companies.
Rethinking the Future of Startup Support
A panel discussion brought together representatives from CzechInvest, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, and the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre to reflect on the future of startup and SME support.
The discussion was informed by a live survey conducted during the event. Participants highlighted that while current public programmes partially address startup needs, access to finance remains the most critical challenge. Other key issues identified included:
- Excessive complexity and bureaucracy;
- Limited flexibility of support programmes;
- Weak communication between institutions and startups;
- Cash-flow constraints at early stages of development.
The debate underlined the importance of simplifying processes, improving communication, and designing instruments that are better aligned with real-world startup dynamics.
Key Takeaways and Event Impact
The Ostrava event gathered 41 participants, including representatives from innovation centres, universities, public authorities, startups, and FI4INN partners. Beyond knowledge exchange, it played a significant role in raising awareness of FI4INN’s results and fostering dialogue on innovation policy reform in Czechia.
A key conclusion was the growing relevance of impact-driven approaches, which consider social and environmental value alongside economic growth. This perspective is increasingly shaping how innovation support instruments are designed across Europe.
The event concluded with a networking session, enabling participants to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for future cooperation within both national and international innovation ecosystems.