SPRING – Speed-up of Regional Innovation and Economic Growth

co-funded under the Fifth Framework Research Programme, PAXIS

Under the EU project with the acronym PAXIS, the Pilot Action of Excellence for Innovative Start-ups, the Stuttgart Region was recognised by the European Commission as Europe's Number One business start-up region and presented with the Award of Excellence for Innovative Regions. The "regions of excellence", 22 in total, have joined together in five networks. The Stuttgart Region along with Stockholm, Madrid and Cambridge make up the thematic network known as "SPRING". This network focuses primarily on issues such as early stage financing, entrepreneurship, spreading the innovative culture and intellectual capital rating for regions.