Business Incubators –
Growing startup by startup
Regional Impact
The project targets three transition regions: Western Macedonia (Greece), Centru (Romania), and Southeastern Bulgaria. These areas face the dual challenge of economic restructuring and fossil fuel phase-out.
COALition strengthens local ecosystems, builds capacity, and helps secure funding, laying the foundation for sustainable growth and job creation in emerging sectors like renewables, hydrogen, and energy efficiency.
Market Context
Coal regions across Europe are under pressure to phase out fossil fuels while preserving economic stability.
Despite their challenges, they also present major opportunities — with estimates of up to 314,000 jobs created through clean energy investments by 2030.
EU policies like the Green Deal, Just Transition Fund, and Hydrogen Strategy support this shift, yet local coordination, strategic planning, and skills development remain key barriers.
Beneficiary
Primary beneficiaries include workers in coal-related industries, regional and local authorities, innovation ecosystem stakeholders, academic institutions, and SMEs in the energy and tech sectors.
Broader beneficiaries include residents of transition regions, future investors, and the extended EU innovation community focused on clean energy and climate neutrality.
Stakeholder Network
COALition is implemented by a diverse consortium of partners from Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria, including public institutions, universities, regional agencies, private companies, and NGOs.
Key members include CERTH (leader), Iceberg Plus, UMFST Târgu Mureș, Sofia University, Mureș County Council, Stara Zagora REDA, and many more.
A business incubator is a structured support system designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs build and grow their ventures.
By offering tailored services such as mentorship, funding guidance, access to networks, and legal and administrative support, incubators serve as a launchpad for sustainable business development.
Iceberg+ brings extensive expertise both as an incubator operator and as a strategic advisor for setting up and running business incubators in line with Romanian legislation (Law 102/2016).
We help founders navigate each step of the process—from legal registration to funding and operational strategies.
Regional Impact
Through its direct involvement in regional innovation ecosystems, Iceberg+ has contributed to the establishment and growth of several incubators in Romania.
Our advisory role supports public authorities, universities, R&D institutes, and private organizations in turning local potential into entrepreneurial success.
Market Context
With growing interest in entrepreneurship across Romania and the availability of EU and national funding, incubators play a critical role in bridging the gap between early-stage ideas and market-ready businesses.
Iceberg+ helps ensure that new incubators align with funding requirements and serve real local needs.
Beneficiary
- Local public authorities
- Accredited universities and consortia
- Research & development centers
- Chambers of commerce
- Private legal entities aiming to establish or grow an incubator
Stakeholder Network
Our network spans across public institutions, academia, and the private sector.
We collaborate with legal advisors, funding experts, and industry mentors to offer end-to-end support in creating business incubation infrastructure that matches local development strategies and entrepreneurship policies.
What we offer
Consultancy on Law no. 102/2016 regarding business incubators
Support in drafting the documentation to obtain official incubator status
Advisory on funding options for setup, growth, and incubation programmes
Strategic input for designing and implementing incubation cycles for startups in scale-up phase
Check out the work
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For startups, SMEs, academia, authorities.
For Bold ones.