Co-create the right pilot
Bring technology innovators, challenge owners and complementary partners together around a shared opportunity.
Scale-Up Academy
From promising research to scalable, trusted AI
EXPANSE AI’s capacity-building programme helps pilot teams de-risk and scale their innovations through structured self-assessment, expert coaching and targeted matchmaking with Testing Facilities.
Application process
A guided route from idea to pilot
The programme brings the right people, evidence and support together at each decision point, so teams can move forward with confidence.
- 01Stage 01
Apply with a promising idea
A call for participation identifies tech innovators and societal challenge owners ready to form pilot teams.
TimingTo be released soon
- 02Stage 02
Co-create a pilot team
Connect technology assets, end-user challenges, market insight and the partners needed to create a credible pilot.
TimingTo be released soon
- 03Stage 03
Assess and validate
Use InnovAItrix to evaluate maturity, scalability and support needs, then map relevant testing and validation pathways.
TimingTo be released soon
- 04Stage 04
Build capability for scale
Selected teams receive training, mentoring, testing support and investment-readiness guidance for the next stage of growth.
TimingTo be released soon
Programme at a glance
The practical capabilities that help a pilot progress
The Academy combines twelve training tutorials with tailored guidance, self-assessment and matchmaking for a cohort of 20–30 pilot teams.
Build for trust
Address human-centric impact, ethics, IP and regulatory alignment from the beginning.
Validate market fit
Test assumptions around demand, business models, value chains and partnerships with real stakeholders.
Prepare to scale
Strengthen investment readiness, capital-access strategy, visibility and the next route to market.
Assess Track maturity, scalability and immediate support needs with InnovAItrix.
Test Match pilots with Living Labs, EDIHs and TEFs to validate critical assumptions in real-world conditions.
Advance Turn learning into stronger market positioning, investor materials and a credible scale-up strategy.
Cohort journey
A clear route from pilot to visibility
Each phase gives teams practical feedback, sharper evidence and the connections needed for the next decision.
- 01
20–30 teams
Join the cohort
Pilot teams enter a structured capacity-building programme.
- 02
12 tutorials
Learn and validate
Training, self-assessment, mentoring and testing support build momentum.
- 03
10–12 finalists
Intensive co-design
A 48-hour workshop turns critical assumptions into stronger demos and investor-ready stories.
- 04
Demo Day & award
Showcase what is next
Finalists present their progress to a multi-stakeholder jury and the wider European AI ecosystem.
The Academy combines practical tutorials, self-assessment, testing and matchmaking to help teams build evidence, find the right partners and prepare for market.
Funded by
the European Union Project number:101294707
the European Union Project number:101294707