Over the course of the FI4INN project, partners organised a comprehensive programme of dissemination events aimed at sharing knowledge, promoting innovative financial instruments and strengthening dialogue among regional innovation stakeholders across Central Europe.
Hosted in Slovenia, Italy, Hungary, Czechia, Austria, Poland and Croatia, the events provided a platform for presenting the project’s main outputs, including the Virtual Knowledge Centre, pilot actions, monitoring methodologies and practical tools designed to improve access to finance for startups and SMEs.
Each partner adapted the event format to its regional context, combining presentations, workshops, panel discussions and networking sessions. This flexible approach allowed FI4INN to engage a broad audience that included public authorities, financial institutions, innovation agencies, universities, incubators, investors and entrepreneurs.
Across all regions, participants explored how financial instruments can become more accessible, efficient and better aligned with the needs of innovative companies. Topics such as blended finance, investment readiness, ESG integration, impact measurement and public-private cooperation featured prominently throughout the discussions.
Despite regional differences, similar challenges emerged in every event. Stakeholders highlighted the complexity of funding procedures, limited awareness of available financing opportunities, fragmented support systems and the need for stronger coordination among institutions.
The dissemination programme also demonstrated the growing importance of combining financial support with mentoring, coaching and capacity building, helping startups develop the knowledge and skills required to attract investment and scale successfully.
Beyond sharing project results, the events strengthened collaboration between regional innovation ecosystems and increased awareness of FI4INN’s methodologies among organisations that can continue applying these approaches after the project’s conclusion.
By creating spaces for dialogue, learning and cooperation, the dissemination events played a key role in ensuring that FI4INN’s knowledge extends beyond the project partnership and contributes to the future development of innovation financing across Central Europe.