Questionnaire RuralBioUp - BioGov.net Project

Questions for RuralBioUp Hub communities

Dear members of RuralBioUp community. The BioGov.net project, aimed at providing validated guidelines for setup of the regional bioeconomy training and mentoring frameworks based on case studies, is interested in mapping your experience with educational and support services provided to you. This questionnaire will help us understand how does the Hub you are part of function, what services are accessible, and what is your experience with using these services.  Thank you! 

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Background

What is your primary role?

Entrepreneur/Startup Founder

Researcher/Academic

Investor

Corporate Representative

Policy Maker

Education Provider

Other: please indicate

Witch Hub are you part of?

Lombardy (IT)

Marche (IT)

Apulia (IT)

Charles Spa (CZ)

Pays La Loire (FR)

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes (FR)

Latvia (LV)

Ireland (IE)

Centru Region (RO)

Other: please indicate

Type of the Hub

What best describes the Hub you are part of?

University-led hub. Innovation hub established by a University to facilitate research commercialization, spin-offs, and collaborations with industry. They provide access to university resources (labs, expertise, student talent), startup incubation programs and collaboration with corporate partners. E.g., MIT Innovation Initiative, Oxford Foundry.

Corporate innovation hub. Innovation hubs established by large companies to foster intrapreneurship and collaborate with startups. They provide access to corporate resources, funding, and mentorship, industry-specific support (e.g., pharma, automotive, fintech), pilot programs and potential acquisitions. E.g., Google for Startups, Microsoft Reactor.

Government-funded hub. Public sector initiatives to drive innovation and economic development. They provide public funding and grants, infrastructure support (subsidized office space, prototyping labs), access to regulatory bodies and policy guidance. E.g., EIT Digital (EU), Catapult Centres (UK).

Private accelerator/incubator. Structured programs, mentorship, and funding to early-stage startups provided by private organizations. They organize seed funding in exchange for equity, intensive mentorship and networking, demo days for investor connections. E.g., Y Combinator, Techstars.

Co-working and community hub. Shared workspaces that facilitate networking and peer learning among entrepreneurs. They offer flexible office spaces, networking events and hackathons and peer.to-peer learning culture. E.g., WeWork Labs, Impact Hub.

Deep Tech & High-Performance Computing (HPC) Innovation Hubs. Hubs focused on fostering advanced technological innovation, often requiring substantial computing resources. These hubs provide access to HPC infrastructure and expertise, support for simulation-based product design, collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers. E.g., CERN IdeaSquare, Leonardo HPC Lab.

Sector-specific Innovation Hubs. Hubs focused on particular industries such as healthcare, fintech, or green energy. They provide tailored support, domain-specific expertise, regulatory guidance, access to industry networks and investors. E.g., Plug and Play Health, Fintech Innovation Lab.

Virtual & Decentralized Innovation Hubs. Digital platforms facilitating entrepreneurship support remotely. They offer online mentorship, networking, and funding opportunities and has no geographical constrains. E.g., Startup Genome, Founder Institute Online.

Other: please indicate

Expectations for Hubs

What types of support do you expect from an innovation hub? Select all that apply.

Business mentoring and coaching

Legal and regulatory support

Access to investors and funding opportunities

Access to specialized technical infrastructure (labs, HPC, etc.)

Training in entrepreneurship and business skills

Networking with other startups and corporates

Collaboration opportunities with academia

Other: please indicate

How important is it for a hub to provide sector-specific expertise?

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Essential

How would you prefer to engage with an innovation hub?

In-person at a physical location

Online/virtual hub

Hybrid (both in-person and virtual interactions)

What types of activities do you think are most valuable in an innovation hub? Rank in order of importance.

Hackathons and innovation challenges

Startup incubation and acceleration programs

Networking events with investors and industry experts

Workshops and training sessions

Collaborative research projects

Demo days and pitch competitions

How often should an innovation hub organize networking events and workshops?

Weekly

Bi-weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Only on demand

Other: please indicate

What format do you prefer for training and workshops?

Short webinars (1-2 hours)

Full-day workshops

Multi-week training programs

Self-paced online courses

Hubs contribution to Bioeconomy education

Q10

Do you find bioeconomy-related educational activities important in an innovation hub?

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Essential

Q11

What types of bioeconomy-related educational activities would you find valuable in an innovation hub? Select all that apply.

Workshops on sustainable resource use and circular economy

Training on bio-based product development

Business case studies in bioeconomy startups

Policy and regulatory training for bioeconomy markets

Access to research on biotechnology and sustainability

Other: please indicate

Q12

In your opinion, what role should innovation hubs play in advancing bioeconomy education and entrepreneurship?

Q13

What would encourage you to participate more in bioeconomy-focused activities within an innovation hub?

Thank You for Your Response!

We appreciate your time and thoughtful input. Your responses are invaluable to the BioGov mission, helping us drive impactful, evidence-based solutions for a sustainable future.

What’s Next?

Your Contribution Matters: Every answer supports our ongoing efforts to shape policies that protect biodiversity and promote resilient ecosystems.

Stay Informed:

Keep an eye on your inbox for updates, insights, and outcomes from our research initiatives. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our work, feel free to contact us at info@biogov.net.

Together, we’re creating a better tomorrow

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