iMinds the conference is an internationally relevant annual conference held in Brussels on October 23^rd on digital innovation targeting researchers, developers, entrepreneurs, company and policy decision makers. This year the agenda proposed a successful and hands-on session on Entrepreneurial challenges: how to help SMEs stay ahead of competition by offering them support for innovation with mechanisms such as FIWARE.

The session was moderated by Ingrid Willems and focused on FIWARE, an Acceleration Program recently launched by the European Commission, a open, public and royalty-free architecture aiming to foster innovation and entrepreneurship (more info on the FIWARE website). Ilkka Lakaniemi provided the audience with a first overview of the Program and its goal of developing a bureaucracy-free Open source library with technologies that can be freely used to develop new business ideas. Funds of up to 150.000€ are offered by the Commission to the best submissions. Philippa Main then introduced FoodLoop, a German company aiming to reduce retailers food waste with the support of FIWARE technologies. This was a good example of how FIWARE can support new or existing SMEs to kick-start and boost their business: FoodLoop has been benefiting from FIWARE solutions to define an app that automates the discounting process of supermarkets.

The session was concluded by Pieter Ballon, Secretary of ENoLL who went on stage and firstly analyzed the iMinds Living Lab program: a solution targeting a varied audience (large companies as well as SMEs, whole value chains as well as smart city labs) and using Living Lab methodologies to capture real-life users’ interactions with new products and services. He then underlined the importance of the FIWARE toolbox to prototype and develop new businesses. He stimulated people interested in FIWARE to submit ideas on 4 topics: Media & Creative Industries, Smart Cities and Well Being, Smart Manufacturing and Transport/Logistics/Supply Chain. Pieter Ballon highlighted that participants can get open source technology, innovation support and up to 150.000€ to finance their business idea. He warmly invited the large audience (150+ people) to check out calls and submit ideas by November 30^th.

The session was particularly appreciated by the audience since it gave the opportunity to focus on the entrepreneurial opportunities offered by mechanisms like FIWARE. Clear explanations and hands-on examples showed how this program could concretely help entrepreneurs develop new business ideas and bring them to the market.