Welcome to the

Athens Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACE)

Whether you're a startup founder, a curious student, a researcher or an established business seeking to spark innovation, ACE is here to empower you.

Open Calls

Are you a student or researcher and wish to turn your innovative entrepreneurial ideas or scientific research into a sustainable business? This is your place.

European, Startups, Students

Start for Future

OpenApply nowStart for Future LEARN 2025 is a hands-on program where participants develop entrepreneurial skills, collaborate internationally, and create innovative solutions in key industries. Guided by experts, they pitch ideas and compete for financial and mentorship prizes.

Researchers, Students

Innovation, Tech & Culture Summer School

Opens on AprilThe program seeks to bring together the world of digital arts, technology and entrepreneurship, leveraging creativity to address societal, environmental, and business challenges. Participants form interdisciplinary teams to design and develop innovative, original projects.

Startups, Students

Ignite Ideas

Closed The Ignite Ideas program is an open innovation program in collaboration with Nestlé Hellas. It supports startups and entrepreneurial teams by giving the opportunity to pilot their products or services in a real-world environment.

Researchers

IP Protection

OpenApply nowIP Protection helpσ researchers safeguard their innovations by securing patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. This service provides guidance on protecting intellectual property, ensuring legal security and maximizing future commercialization potential.

The incubator and the technology transfer office of Athens University of Economics & Business

ACE is open and accessible to everyone, extending beyond the boundaries of Athens University of Economics and Business. Regardless of your background or affiliation, our doors are wide open to individuals who aspire to embark on entrepreneurial endeavours or seek to commercialise research outcomes. ACE ranked 69th among the 125 best accelerators andincubators in Europe, according to the "Europe’s Leading StartupHubs 2024" report published by the Financial Times and Statista.

Our services

Explore our dynamic programs designed to empower entrepreneurs, foster innovation, and turn ideas into successful ventures

Startup Acceleration & Incubation

From ambition to acceleration We support start-ups and founders at all stages.

Entrepreneurial Skills Development

Learning entrepreneurship – through our hand-ons workshops, lectures and executive programs for founders and corporates.

Technology Transfer

Create a university spinoff & get support on patents.

Proof-of-Concept Funding

Develop your pilot! We help strartups and founders secure prototyping funding and pilot implementation.

Innovation for Corporates

Unlocking the potential for innovation through scouting startups & technologies, co-developing products, boosting the entrepreneurial mindset.

Get access to a vibrant international network

Get access to a vibrant local ecosystem, an extended regional and international network

A decade of milestones

Celebrating a decade of impact, ACE has supported countless startups, nurtured innovation, and driven entrepreneurial success through key milestones!

10.5+

More than 15 startups have raised VC funding

235+

To empower employment in more than 10 industries

250+

Supported and endorsed by AUEB to run innovation

8000+

engaged & educated through our programs

With programs tailor made for you

Click and explore the ones that fit your needs

Our teams have gone and created outstanding companies

The ACE team helped us believe in our vision, chase it with all our strength, and after every obstacle, they were there to help us get back on our feet.

When Inagros was just an idea, the ACE team believed in it and helped us take our first steps. They’ve been by our side at every stage of our journey, as we continue to grow. Thank you so much for everything!

ACE played a significant role in helping us evolve from a research team into a team that understands entrepreneurship and the market.

The ACE team helped us turn our idea into action and take our first steps into the world of entrepreneurship. They stood by us throughout the entire program, providing meaningful and practical support that allowed us to launch our commercial activity. Thank you very much!

ACE was a huge help at Uplodio. They gave us the kind of support every early-stage startup needs. Great coaching to solve everyday problems, mentorship from industry experts, and connections that opened doors for us. Thanks to ACE, we joined the startup ecosystem and felt part of a community. Really appreciate everything they did for us.

Thanks to ACE, a game-changing pilot opened the door to our first impact funding, and their support has been a catalyst for our growth and purpose ever since.

Stay in touch

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Welcome to the

Athens Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACE)

Open Calls

Start for Future

Innovation, Tech & Culture Summer School

Ignite Ideas

IP Protection

The incubator and the technology transfer office of Athens University of Economics & Business

Our services

Startup Acceleration & Incubation

Entrepreneurial Skills Development

Technology Transfer

Proof-of-Concept Funding

Innovation for Corporates

Get access to a vibrant international network

A decade of milestones

10.5+

235+

250+

8000+

With programs tailor made for you

Our teams have gone and created outstanding companies

Stay in touch

Incubator

Technology Transfer

About

For Corporates