SoTecIn Factory
SoTecIn Factory is an EU-funded Horizon Europe open innovation platform that connects social innovators with industrial companies across 31 European countries to develop circular economy solutions in packaging, plastics, textiles, and food value chains via €3.3M in equity-free grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SoTecIn Factory does
SoTecIn Factory (Social and Technological Innovation Factory for Low-Carbon and Circular Industrial Value Chains) is an EU-funded Horizon Europe project established in 2022 under Grant Agreement 101058385, and not a commercial company. It operates as an open social innovation platform that connects mission-oriented social innovators with industrial companies across 31 European countries, organized through seven Regional Hubs led by Impact Hub entities. The programme is backed by €3.3 million in equity-free grant funding and targets four key product value chains from the EU Circular Economy Action Plan: Packaging, Plastics, Textiles, and Food, Water and Nutrients, with a focus on higher-value R-strategies (Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture).
The project is structured around a 14-partner consortium led by INESC TEC (Portugal), with F6S Network Ireland Limited serving as the website manager and data controller. Programme delivery operates through two Open Calls for Social Innovators that provide Phase 1 funding of up to €15,000 and Phase 2 funding of up to €85,000 for pre-market technological demonstrations, plus capacity building via workshops and mentorship. The platform employs a proprietary Social Enterprise Model Canvas (SEMC) methodology, an Interactive Mission Map across 31 European countries, and 7 Mission Councils comprising 40+ industry experts. SoTecIn Factory is governed by steward-ownership principles rather than commercial equity.
The business model is grant-funded rather than revenue-generating. As a 36-month RIA project, the €3.3M Horizon Europe grant was deployed to fund 50 tech-savvy innovators across two Open Calls, 23+ Challenge Owner cases (including Anadolu Efes, ICECHIM, and Politecnico Calzaturiero), and 30 pre-market demonstrations. Distribution occurs through the F6S platform for applications, Impact Hub regional delivery, and events such as Startup Day (Porto, May 2025). The project officially closed in May 2025, with the consortium stating the mission continues beyond the funded period. The programme serves two primary customer segments: Social Innovators (tech-savvy entrepreneurs seeking funding and capacity building) and Challenge Owners (industrial actors seeking circular economy solutions).
SoTecIn Factory firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SoTecIn Factory
- Legal name
- F6S Network Ireland Limited
- Website
- https://sotecinfactory.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SoTecIn Factory is an EU-funded Horizon Europe open innovation platform that connects social innovators with industrial companies across 31 European countries to develop circular economy solutions in packaging, plastics, textiles, and food value chains via €3.3M in equity-free grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SoTecIn Factory industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Circular Economy Innovation Programme
- NAICS
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF)
Keywords
Where SoTecIn Factory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices10 records
Markets served
SoTecIn Factory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- EU Research Grant Funding: EU-funded project under Horizon Europe programme (Grant Agreement 101058385) providing equity-free funding to social innovators. €3.3 million total programme funding distributed through Open Calls to tech-savvy innovators for pre-market demonstrations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Open Call 2 winners receive equity-free funding in two phases |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
SoTecIn Factory product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SoTecIn Factory is an EU-funded open social innovation programme that provides equity-free funding (€15K Phase 1 + €85K Phase 2), capacity-building workshops, and business support to tech-savvy social innovators developing circular economy solutions. It connects these innovators with industrial Challenge Owners across 7 European regions covering 31 countries, focusing on four key product value chains (Packaging, Plastics, Textiles, Food, Water and Nutrients) from the EU Circular Economy Action Plan.
Product overview
SoTecIn Factory (Social and Technological Innovation Factory for Low-Carbon and Circular Industrial Value Chains) is an EU-funded Horizon Europe project (Grant Agreement 101058385), not a commercial product or software platform. It is a collaborative support programme that provides equity-free funding, capacity building, and business support to social innovators. The programme operates through two Open Calls for Social Innovators offering up to EUR 15,000 in Phase 1 and up to EUR 85,000 in Phase 2 (totaling EUR 3.3 million). Beneficiaries receive workshops and mentoring on business modeling using the Social Enterprise Model Canvas (SEMC), and access to a community of mission-oriented social innovators, challenge owners, and industry experts organized into 7 regional Mission Councils. The project focuses on improving circularity in four key product value chains (Packaging, Plastics, Textiles, and Food, Water & Nutrients) as defined by the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, implementing higher-value R strategies (Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Open Call 1 for Social Innovators Equity-free funding programme for tech-savvy social innovators in EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries developing circular economy solutions in Packaging, Plastics, Textiles, and Food, Water & Nutrients value chains. Provides two-phase funding plus capacity building and mentorship.
- Open Call 2 for Social Innovators Second iteration of the equity-free funding programme for social innovators developing circular economy solutions, targeting 25 innovators in Phase 1 and 15 in Phase 2.
- Open Call for Challenge Owners Programme for private and public industry actors facing mission-based sustainability challenges to submit their challenges and be matched with social innovators. 23+ Challenge Owner cases have been selected, including Anadolu Efes, ICECHIM, and Politecnico Calzaturiero.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30 pre-market demonstrations funded
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SoTecIn Factory
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SoTecIn Factory technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SoTecIn Factory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- INESC TEC (Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science)coreConsortium leader and coordinator of SoTecIn Factory project. Portuguese research institute providing scientific leadership and project management. Professor João Claro represents INESC TEC at project events.
- F6S Network Ireland LimitedcoreWebsite manager and data controller. Operates F6S platform for Open Calls, evaluator expression of interest, and challenge owner applications. Based in Dublin, Ireland (registered number 643630).
- bwcon GmbHcoreGerman innovation partner providing business modelling workshops and SEMC (Social Enterprise Model Canvas) guidance. Part of consortium delivering capacity building to open call winners.
- Stichting Metabolic VenturescoreDutch sustainability consultancy delivering systemic impact strategy workshops and steward ownership guidance. Provided Impact Assessment Tool and holistic action planning methodology.
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)coreItalian National Research Council providing expertise in circular economy research and business model support to innovators.
- Impact Hub Network (Multiple Entities)coreGlobal network of impact-focused co-working spaces. Impact Hub entities serve as Regional Hubs: IH Amsterdam, IH Munich (previously Hamburg), IH Lisbon, IH Milano, IH Budapest, IH Bucharest, IH Istanbul. Each leads regional missions covering 31 European countries.
- Anadolu Efes Brewery and Malt IndustriesminorChallenge Owner seeking sustainable packaging solutions. Europe's 5th largest brewer by production volume. Challenge focused on reducing plastic consumption in shrink packaging and PET products.
- Politecnico CalzaturierominorTraining and technology transfer structure for footwear district of Riviera del Brenta (500+ companies, 10,000+ employees). Challenge owner seeking digital tool for sustainable materials in footwear industry.
- ICECHIM (National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry)minorRomanian research institute with focus on circular bioeconomy. Challenge owner seeking solutions for organic waste valorization in Bucharest.
- Lisboa E-NovaminorChallenge partner and market validator for Kybernos. Lisbon-based energy and environment agency acting as regional food policy agency for data services.
- Porto Inova Business CenterminorEvent venue for SoTecIn Factory Startup Day in Porto, Portugal (R. Eng. Ferreira Dias 728, Porto, 4100-246).
- CIRCULOOSminorInitiative collaborating on Expression of Interest applications. Featured in February 2025 news update.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
SoTecIn Factory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative: Circular economy metrics and benchmarking organization. Adjacent to SoTecIn Factory as part of the broader circular economy ecosystem, providing measurement frameworks that could complement mission-tracking efforts.
Broad incumbents
- European Innovation Council (EIC): European Commission's flagship innovation funding programme offering grants and equity to deep-tech and impact startups. Comparable as a grant-distribution and startup support mechanism operating under the same EU policy framework as SoTecIn Factory.
- EIT RawMaterials: EU-funded innovation community focused on raw materials, circularity, and sustainable supply chains. Directly comparable to SoTecIn Factory's circular economy and materials focus, with similar multi-partner consortium structure.
- EIT Manufacturing: EU-funded innovation community focused on sustainable manufacturing. Comparable as a Horizon/EIT-funded consortium delivering innovation support services to European industrial value chains with multi-country partner networks.
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Leading global circular economy thought leadership and innovation charity. Comparable in mission and value chain focus (textiles, plastics, food), though operates more as advocacy/network than funded innovation programme.
- EIT Climate-KIC: EU-funded knowledge and innovation community addressing climate change through systemic innovation programmes across Europe. Operates similarly via multi-partner consortia, accelerator programmes, and regional innovation hubs across EU member states.
Direct peers
- Impact Hub Network: Global network of impact-focused innovation hubs. Impact Hub is a core consortium partner in SoTecIn Factory (operating 7 Regional Hubs), making it both parent-like and a directly comparable open innovation platform for impact-driven startups.
- Ashoka: Global organization supporting social entrepreneurs and system-change innovators. Comparable as a fellowship/incubation platform for mission-driven ventures addressing social and environmental challenges, similar to SoTecIn Factory's Social Innovator programme.
- ClimateLaunchpad: Global green business ideas competition and accelerator operating across 60+ countries. Comparable as a Europe-anchored cleantech/circular startup competition providing seed funding and capacity building to early-stage ventures.
- INESC TEC: Portuguese research institute serving as consortium leader and coordinator of SoTecIn Factory. Comparable as a research-driven convener of EU-funded multi-partner innovation projects with industrial impact focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SoTecIn Factory social profiles
Digital presenceSoTecIn Factory compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
SoTecIn Factory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SoTecIn Factory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SoTecIn Factory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SoTecIn Factory M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SoTecIn Factory
What does SoTecIn Factory do?
SoTecIn Factory is an EU-funded open social innovation programme that provides equity-free funding (€15K Phase 1 + €85K Phase 2), capacity-building workshops, and business support to tech-savvy social innovators developing circular economy solutions. It connects these innovators with industrial Challenge Owners across 7 European regions covering 31 countries, focusing on four key product value chains (Packaging, Plastics, Textiles, Food, Water and Nutrients) from the EU Circular Economy Action Plan.
Is SoTecIn Factory a public or private company?
SoTecIn Factory is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was SoTecIn Factory founded?
SoTecIn Factory was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SoTecIn Factory based?
SoTecIn Factory is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does SoTecIn Factory make money?
One revenue line is on record: EU Research Grant Funding.
Who are SoTecIn Factory's main competitors?
Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are European Innovation Council (EIC), EIT RawMaterials, EIT Manufacturing, Ellen MacArthur Foundation and EIT Climate-KIC. Direct peers are Impact Hub Network, Ashoka, ClimateLaunchpad and INESC TEC.
Does SoTecIn Factory have an API?
No public API is recorded for SoTecIn Factory.
What industry is SoTecIn Factory in?
SoTecIn Factory's product category is Circular Economy Innovation Programme. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAF, Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling). Its NAICS code is 5416 and its SIC code is 8731.