Pilots4U, promoted by FOOD+i, is a free online platform designed to facilitate access to European piloting and demonstration infrastructures. Its aim is to help startups, SMEs and innovators move from the laboratory to real validation environments, reducing technical risks and accelerating the path to market.
Scaling remains one of the main challenges for many innovative solutions. Although the European bioeconomy is advancing rapidly, access to pilot facilities, demonstration capacities and technical specialists remains fragmented. This can make it difficult to compare options, delay projects and increase the cost of decision-making before investing in industrial-scale deployment.
Pilots4U acts as a gateway to open-access European infrastructures for piloting and demonstration. The platform offers:
a European database of pilot and demo facilities;
a map and advanced search tool by technology, country or keyword;
12 technology areas covering more than 50 specific technologies;
direct contact with specialists;
webinars on key scaling challenges;
training visits and networking and matchmaking events.
The platform covers a wide range of technology areas linked to industrial scaling, including fermentation, separation, extraction, thermochemical conversion, catalysis, enzymatic technologies, cell culture, sterilisation, materials and other key processes for transforming innovative solutions into real-world applications.
Who is it for?
Pilots4U can be especially useful for innovative startups and SMEs; companies with solutions in the validation or scaling phase; technology and research centres; European projects and/or ecosystem stakeholders in the fields of bioeconomy, food, sustainability, materials and industrial processes.
For startups, the platform can help identify suitable facilities and technical capacities to validate processes, meet technical requirements, compare scaling options and connect with specialists before moving towards industrial phases.
How to participate
Accessing the platform is quick and completely free: you only need to complete the registration process via this link and, within a few minutes, you will gain access to the European infrastructure map.
This video provides a short introduction to how to navigate the platform.
Would you like to know more, or do you need guidance on how to make the most of Pilots4U? Contact the FOOD+i team at paguado@clusterfoodmasi.es.