Inessa Seifert
Senior Consultant at VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH | Coordinator EXPANSE AI
Scale-Up Academy: Take the next step toward market readiness by October 24
October 22, 2026
Build the partnerships, evidence and capabilities your AI innovation needs to progress.
Expressions of interest in the EXPANSE AI Scale-Up Academy are open until October 24, 2026.
Build the partnerships, evidence and capabilities your AI innovation needs to progress. Expressions of interest in the EXPANSE AI Scale-Up Academy are open until October 24, 2026.
Express your interest in the Scale-Up Academy →
Participation is free of charge. Beyond active participation in the program, no payment or other contribution is expected.
Get the support your AI innovation needs to progress
Do you need support with validating your software or hardware solution, understanding your market, preparing for investment or finding complementary partners?
The Scale-Up Academy helps European AI innovators address their development needs and take the next step toward market readiness. Teams can strengthen an existing pilot or explore how a promising dataset, hardware technology or research result could become a new one.
The Academy welcomes startups, scale-ups, spin-offs, SMEs, research and innovation teams, and entrepreneurs working toward AI commercialization. You do not need a defined use case or a complete pilot team to express your interest.
For participants seeking complementary expertise, an initial co-creation workshop offers opportunities to meet potential partners and explore forming joint pilot teams. Teams can also participate to receive support in specific areas of their existing innovation journey.
Build evidence and prepare to scale
Over 12 months, the Academy combines training, practical guidance, self-assessment and matchmaking to help teams:
- Assess their innovation’s maturity and identify testing and validation needs;
- Explore market demand, business models and routes to market;
- Connect with testing facilities, industry experts, end users and potential partners;
- Strengthen their growth strategy, investment readiness and visibility.
The program combines online sprints and one in-person event, with a flexible time commitment.
Express your interest
Submit the Expression of Interest form by October 24, 2026, to be considered for participation.
Express your interest in the Scale-Up Academy →
To explore the program’s approach, application stages and participant journey, visit the Scale-Up Academy page.
