Enterprise Europe Network helps innovative SMEs from Brno grow and expand

Since 2008, the innovation agency JIC has been an important part of this world’s largest network providing services and information for the development of innovative entrepreneurship and competitiveness. As one of the strongest business support providers in the Czech Republic, founder of the Ynovate network and certified by EBN, JIC supports entrepreneurs within the EEN in a wide range of areas, including international expansion, innovation, access to finance and investment or partnering. Read some of their recent success stories.

IDEA StatiCa: A success story of innovation and international growth 

In the rapidly evolving field of structural engineering, IDEA StatiCa stands out as a benchmark of innovation and success. Founded in 2009 by Lubomír Šabatka in Brno, this SME has transformed from a local startup into a global leader in structural analysis and design software. Today, under the leadership of Lubomír’s son, Juraj Šabatka, the company operates across five continents, serving over 8,000 customers in 80 countries and performing approximately 14 million structural calculations annually. It was rightly named one of the 251 leading European technology scale-ups that are succeeding globally.

The journey of IDEA StatiCa to global prominence has been significantly bolstered by the strategic support provided by the innovation agency JIC, member of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). The company faced the common challenges of early-stage companies: developing a go-to-market strategy, scaling to international markets, and building a robust management team. 

 

“There are very few structural engineers in the world, some 750,000, and that is why our business cannot be done locally. The challenge we faced with our technology was having the money to expand before we were copied. JIC, through experts, guided us on how to sell through third parties and helped us build a model for an international distribution network. The first milestone for us was Europe, and then exploring the specifics of the US market. This will make IDEA StatiCa the largest supplier of software for structural engineers in the world," says CEO Juraj Šabatka.   

 

Since 2009, the company has expanded its team to 110 employees and established offices in Philadelphia, London, Dortmund, Eindhoven, and Singapore. The company’s revenue has exceeded 10 million euros, with 90% generated from exports. This growth is not just a quantitative achievement; it reflects a qualitative leap in market presence, successful certification processes, leadership maturity, and global influence. 

 

The alignment of JIC support with EEN priorities of fostering SME growth, innovation, and market expansion was instrumental in the company international success. Through national and international collaboration within the EEN framework, IDEA StatiCa was connected with relevant partners, research and supporting organizations, facilitating its global expansion.

Moreover, IDEA StatiCa’s success story serves as an inspiration to other SMEs in the region. The company has begun giving back to the ecosystem by advising startups and supporting other ambitious companies, thus contributing to the sustainable regional development fostered by JIC and EEN.

3L Robotics: A crucial role of financing and partnership development  

One of the key elements in the growth of startups and SMEs is access to financing and resources. In case of Brno-based company 3L Robotics,  is a forward-thinking company specializing in automated parcel delivery systems for last-mile logistics in closed environments, including DeliveryBoxes, Drone Helipads, vertiports incl. software platforms for GNSS-based navigation systems played an important role funding from ESA programmes with the amount of more than 100 thousand euros. variety of grants and programmes, that is especially important for hardware companies. 

 

“The funding is particularly important for hardware companies. Thanks to the JIC and their consultancy we succeeded in ESA BIC and ESA Space Solution. It was important for us not only because of the money, but also as a quality benchmark for ESA projects and as a door opener for other partners from the aerospace industry, such as Honeywell, Embraer or Siemens,” says Luboš Lněnička, founder of 3L Robotics.

As he mentioned, other important driver for technological advancements and market success is partnership development. In this way, 3L Robotics joined forces to create a revolutionary drone-based logistics solution together with Honeywell, a global leader in aerospace technology. JIC through the EEN played a crucial role in this collaboration, bridging the gap between the startup’s innovative spirit and the corporation’s vast resources.

JIC has been cooperating with 20+ corporations for a long time and is always looking for interesting startups and technological partners for them. This particular collaboration brought together 3L Robotics’ advanced drone helipad system and Honeywell’s sophisticated Ground Station for mission planning. This integration resulted in a comprehensive solution for drone-based delivery, tested successfully at Czech Heaven Airport. The partnership not only showcased the potential of these technologies but also highlighted the future role of drones in transforming the logistics industry.

“JIC has been scouting companies for Honeywell and through networking events such as Velvet innovation meetup in Brno, we have gained valuable partnerships and support for our developments in testing and connections to other industry segments. One of the company's prototypes has been tested in laboratory environment in collaboration with Honeywell and we are preparing tests in the Living Lab at Fair Trades Brno (BVV) area,” Luboš continues proudly.

As the business landscape continues to evolve, such partnerships will be crucial in driving the technological advancements of both sides. “Startups and SMEs are helping us to improve our innovation performance, especially in the early discovery phase. We value three things - speed, organizational agility, and patience. All three underlined with the trust,” said Tomáš Szaszi, Director of Strategy & Innovation in Honeywell.

The collaboration between 3L Robotics and Honeywell Aerospace, facilitated by JIC, as an Enterprise Europe Network representative, is a compelling example of how startups and corporations can synergize for innovative breakthroughs. “JIC and the EEN can continue to facilitate the discussions to bring better understanding and clarity in the partnership development. They can also continue to mentor and coach startups to navigate and remove the initial barriers,” continued Szaszi.

The story of 3L Robotics and Honeywell is a testament to the transformative power of collaboration, offering a glimpse into how strategic alliances between startups and corporations can lead to revolutionary innovations across industries.

All the stories underscore the importance of tailored support for SMEs, particularly in innovation-driven sectors. The partnership between JIC and EEN has proven to be a powerful catalyst for growth, enabling companies like IDEA StatiCa, 3L Robotics and many others to not only compete on a global market but also to contribute to the broader ecosystem. As they continue to grow, it sets a high standard for what can be achieved through collaboration, innovation, and strategic support.