FAQ – About the Platform
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions about the BIND Platform
BIND is a public-private initiative and open innovation platform that connects startups and scale-ups directly with corporate and SME Venture Clients across the Basque Industrial and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. We create mutually beneficial collaborations between disruptive startups and well-established companies, matching innovative solutions with real business challenges.
BIND runs two startup programmes: the annual BIND Open Innovation Programme, focused on tech products and services that advance digital transformation for local SME and corporate companies, and BIND GovTech, which connects startups with real contracts in the Public Sector.
Beyond matchmaking, BIND offers high-impact workshops, expert mentoring, networking events, access to investors and public funding, and support from our technology partners.
An open innovation platform bridges the gap between the agility of startups and the resources of established organisations. BIND’s platform connects dynamic startup teams with industry leaders and public sector organisations actively looking for external solutions to improve their internal digital transformation, sustainability, and intelligent manufacturing processes.
Through the platform, startups develop paid projects with one or more venture clients, gaining real market traction, product validation, and reference clients. Venture clients, in turn, access disruptive technologies without the overhead of building them in-house. BIND facilitates this by effectively outsourcing R&D and innovation to startups specialised in emerging technologies, a genuinely win-win approach.
A Venture Client is an established company that invests in innovation by contracting startups to work on real, advanced industry projects — without taking equity. Rather than acquiring a stake in the startup, venture clients pay for solutions that address their actual business challenges, giving startups something equally valuable: revenue, market traction, and a credible reference client.
BIND works with over 100 corporate and SME venture clients across the Basque Industrial and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, all actively seeking disruptive technologies to drive their digital transformation, sustainability goals, and intelligent manufacturing ambitions. For startups, it’s a chance to validate and scale their solutions with established industry partners. For well-established companies, the BIND Platform provides access to innovation without the overhead of building it in-house.
A genuinely win-win model — and the foundation of how BIND works.
Startups under 8 years are welcome to apply as much as they want. The first time they participate, they will have access to the BIND Immersion Program, which grants them access to 3 months of mentoring, high-impact workshops and networking activities provided by the Basque Industrial Ecosystem. After that, they become part of the BIND Alumni Network, and have lifetime access to a range of activities, such as investor matching, immersion week and workshops.
BIND is designed and funded by the Basque Government Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability through the business development agency SPRI Group. In collaboration with the main industrial companies, SMEs and social sector organisations in the region acting as Venture Clients and supported by the HAZI Foundation and the three Provincial Councils of the Basque Autonomous Community.
None at all. Startups from any country are welcome to apply to BIND programmes. Our hybrid format combines online participation with a select number of in-person events, all hosted in the Basque Country, Spain. At least one team member will need to be available to attend those required in-person dates to get the full value of the programme.
Not yet. BIND programmes are designed for startups that are past the idea stage and ready to engage with real industry clients. To qualify, your startup must:
Have a minimum viable product (MVP)
Be legally established
Have been operating for no more than 8 years
If you’re still in development or pre-launch, BIND isn’t the right fit at this stage. But once you have a product ready to test and scale in the market, we’d love to hear from you.
Yes. To qualify, your startup must be legally established, have a minimum viable product (MVP), and have been operating for no more than 8 years.
BIND programmes are designed for startups that are past the idea stage and ready to engage with real industry clients, whether you’re preparing to launch or have recently entered the market.
Nothing. The Venture Client companies pay for the development of your project and you will not be asked to exchange equity nor pay any fees for your participation, thanks to the public-private model we’ve developed.
Your documents are strictly confidential. Only the Venture Client selection jury and the BIND Coordination Team will have access to your submitted materials, which are securely protected from any unauthorised access.
- Startups register by filling out the application form only available during the application period, which will be indicated on the homepage.
- If it is not currently an open call period, you can use the Contact page to sign up for our BIND Newsletter to get updates on upcoming events and programmes.
- In the official application, every team will be asked to send a video where Founders introduce their startup. Other attachments that provide additional information (demos, presentations, etc.) may also be considered.
FAQ – About the BIND Programme
Review Frequently Asked Questions about the BIND Open Innovation Programme
BIND welcomes startups and scale-ups from anywhere in the world, proposing solutions built on emerging technologies applicable across sectors. While our areas of interest continue to expand, current technologies include:
Additive Manufacturing, AI, AR/VR, Big Data & Advanced Analytics, Clean Tech, Collaborative Robotics, Cybersecurity, Computing, IIoT, Nanotech & New Materials, Positioning Systems, Smart Energy, Vision Systems, and many more.
If your startup has a market-ready or recently launched solution, you’re ready to apply during the open call period indicated on our Home page.
The Venture Client model is built on mutual value. BIND’s corporate and SME partners are actively seeking innovative solutions to their real industry transformation challenges, and working with startups gives them access to disruptive technologies with controlled risk and cost, without acquiring equity or ownership.
For well-established organisations, it’s a faster, leaner path to innovation. For startups, it means revenue, validation, and reference clients. That shared interest is what makes the model work.
The selection process runs in three phases:
Phase 1 — Pre-Selection: The BIND Coordination Team evaluates all applications against defined criteria, selecting the top 100 startups to advance. Shortlisted teams may be asked to provide additional information during this stage.
Phase 2 — Finalist Selection: Pre-selected startups pitch to our Venture Client partners, who score and select their preferred matches to move forward.
Phase 3 — Matchmaking & Agreement: Finalists meet with interested Venture Clients to define the scope of a pilot project and agree on contract terms. BIND can provide a standard contract template if needed, while both parties are free to negotiate additional clauses. Startups that sign a contract with one or more Venture Clients officially join BIND.
BIND runs a hybrid programme combining online and in-person participation, with some dates requiring attendance in the Basque Country, Spain. We recommend dedicating one or two team members for the duration of the programme — the more time spent in the region, the stronger the immersion into the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and the connections you’ll build.
In addition to the paid startup project, participants benefit from individualised mentoring, workshops, industry facility tours, networking events, and investor sessions. In-person attendance is required for the Immersion Week and Demo Day.
After the pre-selection process closes, BIND will contact all applicants (selected or not) to inform them of the outcome. Selected startups will be invited to a second-phase interview to further assess the fit between their solution and our Venture Clients’ interests.
Following the interviews, finalists will be connected with relevant Venture Client companies to begin defining the scope of a joint project. BIND facilitates this process with a standard agreement template and legal support, though both parties are free to negotiate additional terms. The amount is agreed between the startup and Venture Client based on the scope and complexity of the work.
Once finalists are selected, BIND connects them directly with well-established Venture Client companies interested in developing a real industry project together. Through a series of meetings, both parties work to define the project scope and reach a collaboration agreement. BIND provides a standard agreement template and full legal support to streamline the process, while both sides retain the freedom to negotiate additional terms.
The programme sets an indicative minimum project value of €25,000 (excluding VAT), with the final contract conditions agreed between the startup and Venture Client based on the nature and complexity of their project.
Yes. BIND runs a hybrid programme combining online and in-person participation, with some dates requiring attendance in the Basque Country, Spain. At least one team member will need to be available for the required in-person events, which are scheduled in the Madrid CET/CEST time zone.
We strongly encourage participating startups to spend as much time as possible in the region to deepen their immersion in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. To learn more about why the Basque Country is worth the investment, visit our Basque Industrial Ecosystem page for key business and industry figures.
BIND offers high-quality training and guidance delivered by experienced professionals across collaboration, sales, investment, scale-up strategy, and business development. Sessions are designed to support startup teams as they work on their collaborative projects with Venture Clients, helping them grow stronger businesses while driving real digital transformation outcomes.
BIND Mentors are well-regarded international professionals who bring their knowledge, personal experience, and vision to each participating startup. Their role is to coach founders and help them reach their full potential; guiding teams through their business model, marketing strategy, and network development with the goal of securing financing, investment, or new clients.
It absolutely can. Once a project concludes, the relationship between the startup and Venture Client evolves naturally based on the needs and motivations of both sides, on terms they agree to privately. We’re proud to say that 50% of BIND startups retain their Venture Client contract one year after completing the programme.
The programme provides support with travel-related logistics, including visa guidance and help finding accommodation and workspace, so your team can focus on what matters most.
For travel and accommodation costs, startups outside of the Basque Country and Navarre can access financial support provided by BIND.
BIND holds its annual BIND Demo Day at the beginning of July each year — an Open Innovation Showcase where startups present the results of their collaborative projects to an audience of investors, well-respected SME and corporate companies, government organisations and industry influencers. It’s a powerful opportunity to gain visibility, build credibility, and make connections that extend well beyond the programme.
1. Plan: Start by reviewing our Venture Client profiles to understand the technologies they are seeking and the challenges they need to solve. Venture Clients review all applications and make the final selection, so knowing their needs is essential before you apply.
Review the available Use Cases to see where your solution fits. You can select up to three in your application if applicable. That said, you’re welcome to apply even without a match to a specific Use Case, we’re always interested in a broad range of emerging technologies.
2. Prepare: Clearly articulate what your solution does, who it’s for, and what sets it apart.
Your application is visible to all Venture Clients, so frame your value proposition in terms they’ll connect with, focus on outcomes over technical detail. Think: energy savings, reduced downtime, lower emissions, risk mitigation. Avoid jargon and acronyms; explain what you can do, not just how you do it.
3. Present: Applicants are asked to submit a short 2–3 minute video introducing the team and solution. Focus on one product or project, clarity beats breadth. Don’t worry about production quality; we want to hear your story in your own words. Create the video specifically for your BIND application. Keep it simple: a quick script, a confident delivery, and a clear value proposition is all you need.
FAQ – About BIND GovTech
Review Frequently Asked Questions about BIND GovTech
BIND GovTech is designed for startups and scale-ups ready to work with government agencies on real innovation projects that enhance the accessibility, efficiency, and sustainability of public services.
To qualify, your startup must be legally established, have a minimum viable product (MVP), and have been operating for no more than 8 years.
We welcome solutions built on emerging technologies including: AI, Access Control Systems, Automated Data Collection & Extraction, Big Data & Analytics, Circular Economy, Climate Neutrality, Computing, Data Visualization Tools, DeepTech, IoT, Machine Learning, Route Optimization, SaaS, Smart Energy, Smart Mobility, Speech Recognition, Sustainability, and more.
If your startup is market-ready or recently launched, we encourage you to apply during the open call period indicated on our homepage.
Once applications are received, they are shared with our public sector partner organisations, who review and select the startups best aligned with their announced innovation challenges.
Selected startups are then connected directly with the relevant agency to begin scoping a paid project together — turning a real public sector challenge into an opportunity for your startup to validate and grow.
The applications will be sent to the SMEs of each edition, who will select the startups they are interested in based on the challenges they have previously announced. Startups will be invited to a B2B Matchmaking event between SMEs and startups.
Interested in Europe’s largest open innovation catalyst?
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