CEC - CONSELHO EMPRESARIAL DO CENTRO/CIC - CAMARA DE COMERCIO E INDUSTRIA DO CENTRO

Their core work

CEC/CCIC is the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Portugal's Centro region, based in Coimbra. It serves as a node in the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), helping local SMEs access innovation management support, internationalization services, and EU funding opportunities. Their core work is bridging the gap between small businesses in central Portugal and European markets, providing hands-on advisory services to boost SME competitiveness and innovation capacity.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2014-2016), CEC/CCIC focused on foundational SME services: building innovation management capacity and helping companies internationalize. From 2019 onward, their work shifted toward more structured innovation journeys, including EIC Pathfinder and Accelerator support — reflecting the EU's own pivot toward deep-tech and scale-up funding instruments. The energy sector became an increasingly prominent tag across their later projects, suggesting growing specialization in supporting energy-related SMEs.

CEC/CCIC is evolving from general SME support toward specialized EIC funding advisory, making them a useful partner for projects needing regional SME engagement in Portugal's Centro region.

How they like to work

CEC/CCIC has exclusively participated as a partner — never as coordinator — across all five projects, always within EEN consortium structures. With only 11 unique partners across a single country (Portugal), they operate within a stable national network rather than building diverse international ties. This profile is typical of a reliable regional delivery partner: they execute locally rather than lead strategically.

Their network spans 11 unique partners, all within Portugal, reflecting their role as a regional EEN node. Their collaborations are concentrated within the Portuguese EEN consortium rather than extending across borders.

What sets them apart

CEC/CCIC offers direct access to the SME ecosystem of Portugal's Centro region — home to the University of Coimbra and a growing technology cluster. As a Chamber of Commerce operating within the EEN, they combine institutional credibility with on-the-ground business relationships that research organizations typically lack. For any consortium needing a Portuguese dissemination or SME engagement partner in the Coimbra area, they are a natural fit.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EEN-Innovation PT
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 42,308) and their most established EEN engagement covering core innovation management and internationalization services.
• EEN-InnovationJourney PT
  Most recent project (2020-2021) marking their evolution toward EIC Accelerator and Pathfinder advisory — a more specialized and higher-value service offering.