Scale2Connect Consortium Meets in Tromsø to Shape the Future of Deep Tech Collaboration

In December 2025, the Scale2Connect consortium gathered in Tromsø, Norway, for its first physical consortium meeting, marking a key moment in the project’s journey. Hosted by Octa Insight AS, the meeting brought partners together in person to strengthen collaboration, align strategies, and set the stage for the exciting activities that will unfold over the next two years.

After months of online coordination, meeting face-to-face created the ideal environment for deeper discussion, creative exchange, and shared vision‑building. Against the backdrop of Tromsø’s dynamic innovation ecosystem, partners explored how Scale2Connect can meaningfully support deep tech innovation, entrepreneurship, and academia–enterprise collaboration across emerging regions.

Building a Common Vision

The meeting focused on reinforcing the project’s mission: expanding and adapting the successful Skills2Scale model to new regional contexts while strengthening links between higher education, startups, industry, and policy makers. Partners reviewed the project structure, discussed progress across work packages, and aligned on priorities for the months ahead.

A strong emphasis was placed on collaboration across regions, ensuring that knowledge, talent, and best practices flow smoothly between emerging ecosystems and more established innovation hubs. The discussions highlighted the value of peer learning, experimentation, and co‑creation as core principles of Scale2Connect.

What's Coming Next: Opportunities to Watch

Beyond coordination, the Tromsø meeting looked ahead to the upcoming activities that will define Scale2Connect and offer real value to its communities:

• Capacity-building activities for higher education institutions, helping academic staff strengthen entrepreneurial and deep tech skills.
• Peer Learning Events and cross-regional workshops, bringing together stakeholders from different regions to exchange experiences, challenges, and solutions.
• Startup support and acceleration actions, designed to empower deep tech startups with training, mentoring, and access to networks.
• Networking and matchmaking events, connecting academia, startups, industry, and policy actors across borders.

These upcoming actions aim to turn strategy into impact, creating tangible opportunities for learning, cooperation, and innovation.

A Strong and Diverse Consortium

The Tromsø meeting also highlighted the strength of the Scale2Connect partnership, which brings together complementary expertise from across Europe and beyond:

• Envolve Entrepreneurship (Greece)
• Universidad de Málaga (Spain)
• Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Portugal)
• Universidad Abierta para Adultos (Dominican Republic)
• Octa Insight AS (Norway)

Together, the partners combine academic excellence, innovation expertise, entrepreneurial support, and strong regional networks.

Looking Ahead

The first physical consortium meeting in Tromsø marked a turning point for Scale2Connect. With relationships strengthened, plans refined, and enthusiasm high, the consortium is now moving confidently into implementation. As Scale2Connect’s activities roll out, students, researchers, startups, and ecosystem stakeholders can look forward to hands-on opportunities, cross-border collaboration, and meaningful support for deep tech innovation. Tromsø was just the beginning.