INOVA+ - INNOVATION SERVICES, SA

Their core work

INOVA+ is a Portuguese innovation consultancy that designs and manages ecosystem-building programs — connecting research, industry, and public sector actors across Europe. They specialize in orchestrating Digital Innovation Hubs, co-creation platforms, and technology transfer networks that help SMEs adopt digital tools and researchers reach wider audiences. Their practical contribution spans community management, brokerage services, demand-side innovation policy support, and science communication aimed at public engagement.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 phase (2015–2017), INOVA+ focused on entrepreneurship ecosystems, medical device excellence centres, and science outreach events — essentially regional capacity-building in Northern Portugal. From 2018 onward, they shifted decisively toward Digital Innovation Hubs, co-creation platforms, and international network orchestration (SmartAgriHubs, STARTS Ecosystem, AfriConEU), taking on more coordination roles and working at a pan-European and even trans-continental scale. The consistent thread is ecosystem building, but the scope grew from regional to international and from general innovation support to structured DIH and co-creation frameworks.

INOVA+ is moving toward international DIH orchestration and cross-continental digital cooperation, making them a strong partner for projects requiring established innovation ecosystem networks beyond Europe.

How they like to work

INOVA+ balances leadership and partnership — they coordinated 5 of 16 projects (31%), which is notably high for an SME, showing they can manage multi-partner initiatives. With 247 unique partners across 33 countries, they operate as a network hub rather than a loyal-partner type, building broad reach rather than deep bilateral ties. This makes them especially effective as ecosystem connectors and community managers within large consortia.

With 247 unique consortium partners spanning 33 countries, INOVA+ has one of the broadest collaboration networks you'd expect from a Portuguese SME. Their geographic reach extends well beyond Southern Europe, with the AfriConEU project explicitly bridging European and African innovation ecosystems.

What sets them apart

INOVA+ sits at an unusual intersection: they combine hands-on Digital Innovation Hub management with arts-science crossover expertise (STARTS program) and strong science communication skills — a combination rarely found in a single SME. Their 33-country network and coordinator track record make them a credible orchestration partner, not just a service provider filling a consortium slot. For anyone building a project that needs community engagement, ecosystem design, or DIH coordination, INOVA+ brings both the methodology and the ready-made network.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SmartAgriHubs
  Largest-scope project bridging digital and agri-food sectors through a pan-European DIH network, demonstrating INOVA+'s cross-sector ecosystem capabilities.
• STARTS Ecosystem
  Coordinated the support structure for the entire STARTS community — a flagship EU initiative connecting art, science, and technology — showing their ability to manage high-visibility creative-innovation programs.
• AfriConEU
  Coordinated the first trans-continental networking academy linking African and European Digital Innovation Hubs, signaling their expansion beyond European borders.