Training Programme for Incubators and Accelerators
The Programme in a nutshell
The AEIP training programme for Incubators and Accelerators has been designed based on the key findings of the needs assessment conducted under the African-European Innovation Platform, with a specific focus on the capacity-building needs of incubators and accelerators. The assessment gathered input from a wide range of innovation stakeholders across Africa and Europe, identifying common challenges and priority areas for support among organisations that play a key role in nurturing startups and driving innovation.
In response to these insights, the training modules have been structured to strengthen the capacities of incubators and accelerators, particularly in areas such as cross-continental collaboration, access to funding opportunities, service development, sustainable ecosystem building and impact management and reporting. Each module is designed to provide practical knowledge, tools, and opportunities for peer learning, equipping participants with the skills and resources needed to actively contribute to the growth of African-European innovation ecosystems and partnerships.
This programme has been designed by expert practitioners from EBN (European Business & Innovation Centre Network), and will be delivered by trainers certified under the EU | BIC scheme. The EU|BIC quality label, awarded by EBN, ensures that business support organisations (incubators, accelerators, innovation centres) deliver high standards of governance, performance, service quality, incubation/acceleration best practices, continuous benchmarking and impact in their ecosystems.
Structure and format
The training programme is structured to combine expert-led sessions, peer exchange, and practical tools tailored to the needs of incubators and accelerators. It is designed to be delivered fully online and includes both structured learning modules and interactive components to foster engagement and collaboration among participants.
The programme consists of the following components:
- Kick-off and networking session (1.5 hours): An introductory session to present the programme and create connections among participants.
- Three score training chapters (total: 24 hours).
Each chapter consists of:
- Three thematic training modules (2 hours) led by subject-matter experts.
- One best practice session (2 hours) featuring real-life cases and peer learning from African and European innovation actors.
The three core chapters will cover the following areas:
- Innovation Ecosystems: This chapter will help incubators and accelerators understand and strengthen their role within local innovation ecosystems. Participants will learn how to map key actors, identify collaboration gaps, measure their broader ecosystem impact, and build strong partnerships with policymakers, corporates, and other innovation stakeholders.
- Organisational Development: Focused on strengthening internal capacities, this chapter will support BSOs in building sustainable business models, managing teams effectively, and embracing digital tools. Sessions will address revenue diversification, HR strategies, and digital transformation to improve efficiency and resilience.
- Programme and Service Offer Design: This chapter will guide participants through the design and improvement of incubation and acceleration services. Modules will explore startup lifecycle stages, programme structuring, and mentoring frameworks — helping BSOs deliver high-quality, impactful support to entrepreneurs.
- Specialised training workshop on impact reporting for incubators: A hands-on session focused on methods and tools to measure and report the impact of incubation services, including performance monitoring, KPI definition, and communication of results.
- Final closing session: A reflective and forward-looking session to summarise key learnings, gather feedback, and identify next steps for continued collaboration.
This format will ensure a balanced mix of knowledge transfer, experience sharing, and networking, providing participants with actionable insights and tools to strengthen their role within African-European innovation ecosystems.
How to follow the programme
The training programme is designed for incubators and accelerators based in Africa and Europe that have been operating for at least 2–3 years and are looking to strengthen their internal structures, enhance their service portfolio, and increase their impact within their local innovation ecosystems.
At the beginning of the programme, 40 organisations were selected to take part in the full training cycle. These participants have access to all sessions and will receive an EU | BIC diploma, provided they attend at least 80% of the programme.
If your organisation was not among the 40 selected, you can still benefit from the programme through the session recordings, which will be gradually published on this site.
Training Timeline
The implementation of the training programme will follow a structured timeline, beginning with the selection of trainers and participants, and continuing through a phased delivery of the training modules:
21st of November
Deadline to apply
January 2026
Kick-off and networking session
February to March 2026
Chapter 1: Ecosystem level
April to May 2026
Chapter 2: Organisational level
September to October 2026
Chapter 3: Programmatic level
January to February 2027
Impact reporting workshop
February/March 2027
Closing session
Extra sessions
In addition to the AEIP Training Programme for Incubators and Accelerators — through which selected participants have the opportunity to obtain an EU | BIC training diploma — a number of additional sessions will be offered by project partners on topics of interest to incubators and accelerators, such as international collaboration.
These extra sessions will be open to any organisation wishing to attend and will be announced on this site.