Gazelle – organizing accELaration for high-potential innovative SMEs

The aim of the project is to increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Balkans-Mediterranean region. More specifically, the project aims to identify the investment activity of "business angels" and the companies in which they invest.

Since June 2019, RTIK has been implementing the project "orGAniZing acceleration for high-potentiaL innovativE SMEs- Gazelle" (Stimulating the development of innovative SMEs with high potential), which is financed under the Interreg Balkans - Mediterranean program. The consortium consists of six organizations from Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus and North Macedonia, with the leading partner being the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The thematic goal of the project is to increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Balkans-Mediterranean region. More specifically, the project aims to identify the investment activity of "business angels" and the companies in which they invest. The acronym of the project "Gazelle" was chosen not by chance, since the main target group is those fast-growing, innovative companies that economists call "gazelles".

At the very beginning of the project, the partners will conduct a large-scale survey of the status of business angel investors and technology transfer in their countries. In addition, good practices from both spheres will be selected to be examined in detail and studied through training visits on site and direct contacts.

Within the framework of the two-year project, it is planned to create a network of four centers to support innovative SMEs. They will be located in the four countries participating in the project.

35 innovative SMEs will be selected (10 from Greece, 10 from Cyprus, 10 from Bulgaria and 5 from North Macedonia), which will go through a special acceleration program developed through the technology transfer centers, aimed at accelerating the pace of development of the selected companies.

The project will end with 4 large-scale transnational investment forums (Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus and North Macedonia), which will involve business angels, the selected companies, as well as future "gazelles".