Cluster Sports & Technology

What Cluster Sports & Technology does

Cluster Sports & Technology is a non-profit innovation cluster founded in 2005 (with documented project activity from 2011) and headquartered in Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. It operates as a network organization connecting businesses, sport field labs, regional and provincial governments, and knowledge institutions in the Brainport Eindhoven region to accelerate innovation in sports and vitality. Its core methodology is the Innovation Hub Process — a four-stage cycle of identifying market needs, innovating solutions, validating in real-world field labs, and accelerating to market. The cluster's product portfolio includes the Vitality Accelerator Program (10-week acceleration), Vitality Pitch Stop (selection events), Vitality Innovation Kitchen (challenge preparation workshops), the Vitality Information System (data aggregation platform), the Design Marathon (student innovation program), and neighborhood vitality tools (De Wijkaanpak, De Wijkbeweegkaart). It also operates the annual ELIS Innovation Summit (20th edition in 2025, 200+ attendees) and the Dutch Sports Innovation Award (€15,000 prize, 14th edition in 2024).

The cluster does not sell products commercially; rather, it derives revenue from EU-funded project coordination, provincial government grants, and penvoerder (lead organization) services for IPC subsidy programs. Its most significant funding instruments are I3-INSHAPE (€9.5M, launched 2023, 10+ EU regions), DIGIT-PRE (€6.7M, launched 2022, six countries), Active-ID (€1.9M, launched 2024), and ESMIS (€400K). Strategic partners include BrabantSport, Brainport Development, the Province of Noord-Brabant, and the European Platform for Sport Innovation (EPSI), of which it is a founding member. The team comprises approximately 7–10 core staff, including a cluster manager, senior project managers, project managers, and communications/business support roles. Network participation, monthly consultation hours, and access to field-lab validation are provided free of charge to SMEs and startups.

Name

Cluster Sports & Technology

Legal name

Cluster Sports & Technology

Website

https://sportsandtechnology.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cluster Sports & Technology is a non-profit innovation cluster based in Eindhoven, Netherlands, that connects startups, sport field labs, governments, and universities to accelerate sports and vitality innovations through EU-funded projects, validation programs, and the ELIS Innovation Hub.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Innovation Network & Cluster Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Community Relations & Grassroots Program Management (MPAKAKAJ), Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ)

Keywords

• Sports innovation network
• Vitality acceleration programs
• Innovation cluster services
• Field lab validation
• Sports technology ecosystem

Headquarters

HQ city

Eindhoven

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. EU Project Funding: The organization participates in multiple EU-funded projects including I3-INSHAPE (€9.5 million), DIGIT-PRE (€6.7 million), Active-ID (€1.9 million), and ESMIS (€400,000), providing services and coordination for interregional innovation support.
2. Provincial Government Funding: Funded by Province of Noord-Brabant through programs like Levendig Brabant and strategic partnerships with BrabantSport and Brainport Development.
3. Penvoerder Services (Lead Organization): Acts as penvoerder (lead organization) for IPC (InnovatiePrestatieContracten) subsidy programs, coordinating collaborative innovation projects for SME groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cluster Sports & Technology operates as an innovation network organization that connects businesses, sport field labs, governments, and knowledge institutions in the Brainport Eindhoven region to accelerate innovations in sports and vitality. It delivers services across a four-stage innovation process (Market Need → Innovate → Validate → Accelerate), including accelerator programs, validation testing in physical field labs, partnership brokering, funding access through EU projects, and community events such as the annual ELIS Innovation Summit.

Product overview

Cluster Sports & Technology is an innovation network/cluster (not a single software product) that connects businesses, sports field labs, governments, and knowledge institutions in the Brainport region to accelerate innovations in sports and vitality. The organization offers a suite of programs and services including the Vitality Accelerator Program (10-week market acceleration), Vitality Innovation Kitchen (challenge preparation), Vitality Information System (data aggregation platform), Vitality Pitch Stop (selection events), Design Marathon (student innovation competitions), and neighborhood-focused tools (De Wijkaanpak, De Wijkbeweegkaart). These services follow the Innovation Hub process model: Need (identifying market needs), Innovate (developing solutions), Validate (testing in practice), and Accelerate (scaling to market). The ELIS Innovation Hub serves as the physical network platform for these activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ELIS Innovation Hub: An innovation platform and network for inspiration, renewal and new business creation focused on sports and vitality innovation, based on technological expertise of Brainport region. More than a location - a movement and new way of collaborating to accelerate innovations.
• Vitality Living Lab
• Dutch Sports Innovation Award
• SportUp Boost Zuid

Products and services

• Vitality Accelerator Program A 10-week accelerator program that helps sports and vitality innovations reach the market, tailored to participants who have presented at the Vitality Pitch Stop event, providing workshops and expertise to startups.
• Vitality Innovation Kitchen A pressure-cooker style workshop that helps companies prepare innovation applications for government challenges, providing coaching on business models and access to networks, technology, expertise, and test groups.
• Vitality Information System (Vitality Informatie Systeem) A data system that brings together vitality information from various sources, allowing users to combine, analyze, and visualize their own data with other sources to enrich research and accelerate innovation.
• Vitality Pitch Stop A themed business design program where startups pitch their innovative products or services, receiving pitch training and expert evaluation across six specific areas to determine eligibility for further support programs.
• Neighborhood Approach (De Wijkaanpak) A service that inventories vitality issues within neighborhoods, matching challenges from citizens and organizations with solution providers, then validating innovations in practice before scaling to other areas.
• Neighborhood Movement Map (De Wijkbeweegkaart) A mapping tool that collects residents' wishes, ideas, and barriers for sports and movement in neighborhoods through interactive installations and dashboards, providing municipalities with qualitative and quantitative data.
• Design Marathon A collaborative program between consortium partners, TU/e Industrial Design faculty, and Fontys ICT where students develop innovative ways to change behavior for healthier lifestyles through hackathons and semester-long projects.
• Work Workshop (Werkatelier) An event where representatives from companies, municipalities, and knowledge institutions gather to answer practical questions about innovation and technology for sports and vitality, with follow-up collaboration between participants.
• S&T Consultation Hours (Spreekuur) Monthly consultation hours held every third Tuesday where experts from Cluster Sports & Technology and Brainport Development provide guidance on innovation, validation, and acceleration, available by appointment.
• SportFieldLabs Validation Services Test environments where companies and knowledge institutions can purposefully test and validate innovations with end users, providing practical tests and validation support for sports technology products.
• ELIS Innovation Hub A physical innovation platform and network for inspiration, renewal, and new business creation, bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, developers, and sportfieldlabs for collaboration on sports and vitality innovations.
• Innovation Support Services Services helping participants innovate, validate, and accelerate innovations through market needs elaboration, partnership finding, project creation and execution, and funding opportunity identification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dutch Sports Innovation Award winner AmiGo enabled wheelchair users to actively participate in ball sports
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and secondary.

• BrabantSportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner where BrabantSport and Cluster Sports & Technology jointly invest in innovations that contribute to Brabant's sports ambitions. BrabantSport focuses on sport climate in broadest sense, including events, talent development, and unique sports, while the Cluster fills the pillar of technological innovations.
• Brainport DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development agency strengthening Brainport Eindhoven region. Within Brainport Healthy and Vital program, innovations for exercise, sports and vitality are realized. Cluster Sports & Technology is a key partner helping achieve goals of more active and vital residents.
• European Platform for Sport Innovation (EPSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels-based member organization focused on innovation in sports, health, leisure, and tourism. Cluster is a founding partner of EPSI and actively participates in creating innovation-friendly environments and business development.
• ImeckeyTechnology or IntegrationTechnology research institution partner in I3-INSHAPE project, bringing expertise in sensors and digital health solutions from South Netherlands region.
• InnoBeweegLabkeyTechnology or IntegrationInnovation movement lab partner in I3-INSHAPE from South Netherlands, focused on exercise and movement innovation.
• Lapland University of Applied SciencessecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in I3-INSHAPE project from Lapland region, contributing to interregional innovation collaboration.
• Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMAK)secondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in I3-INSHAPE project from Kainuu region, Finland.
• University of JyväskyläsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partner in I3-INSHAPE from Finland, bringing research expertise in sports sciences.
• LAB University of Applied SciencessecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in I3-INSHAPE from Päijät-Häme region, Finland. Also partner in Active-ID project.
• LADECsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationRegional development company partner in I3-INSHAPE from Päijät-Häme, Finland.
• MSE Cluster LtdsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationSports cluster partner in I3-INSHAPE from Észak-Alföld region, Hungary.
• Universidad Europea de Valencia (UEV)secondaryTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partner in I3-INSHAPE from Comunidad Valenciana, Spain.
• 4icvlesportsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in I3-INSHAPE from Comunidad Valenciana, Spain, focused on sports innovation.
• Metric SaladsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in I3-INSHAPE from Comunidad Valenciana, Spain.
• ACCIÓsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationCatalonia's agency for competitiveness partner in I3-INSHAPE project.
• INDESCATsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationSports technology cluster partner in I3-INSHAPE from Catalunya, Spain. Also partner in ESMIS project.
• EurasantésecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in DIGIT-PRE project from France, focused on health and silver economy.
• Innovation SkånesecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in DIGIT-PRE from Sweden, contributing to digital health innovation.
• Syreon Research InstitutesecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in DIGIT-PRE from Hungary, providing research expertise.
• Health Cluster PortugalsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in DIGIT-PRE from Portugal, health innovation cluster.
• FreshBlood HealthTechsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in DIGIT-PRE from Romania, health tech innovation.
• Gérontopôle Nouvelle-AquitainesecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in DIGIT-PRE from France, specializing in active and healthy ageing.
• Region VasterbottensecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in DIGIT-PRE from Sweden, regional health innovation.
• Turku Science ParksecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in DIGIT-PRE from Finland, science park focused on health and digital solutions.
• HCNsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in DIGIT-PRE from Netherlands, healthcare network.
• UCLMsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in ESMIS project from Spain (Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha), contributing to sustainable sports facilities research.
• Olympiacos SFPsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in ESMIS project from Greece, bringing sports facility perspective.
• Sport IrelandsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in ESMIS project from Ireland, national sports organization.
• SportInnovatorsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartner in ESMIS project from Netherlands, national sports innovation platform.
• Province of North BrabantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in Active-ID project and Levendig Brabant program, providing funding and policy framework for sports and leisure innovation.
• Regional Council of Päijät-HämesecondaryTechnology or IntegrationRegional council partner in Active-ID from Finland.
• University of Castilla La ManchasecondaryTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partner in Active-ID from Spain.
• Region DalarnasecondaryTechnology or IntegrationRegional partner in Active-ID from Sweden.
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry VratsasecondaryTechnology or IntegrationChamber partner in Active-ID from Bulgaria.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• European Platform for Sport Innovation (EPSI): Brussels-based member organisation focused on innovation in sport, health, leisure and tourism, of which Cluster Sports & Technology is a founding partner. EPSI is a broader, EU-wide advocacy and networking body that overlaps with but operates at a higher level than a regional cluster.
• Brainport Development: Economic development agency for the Brainport Eindhoven region and core strategic partner. Co-runs the Brainport Healthy & Vital programme that channels cluster activity; comparable as a regional innovation orchestrator with overlapping sport/vitality scope.
• BrabantSport: Strategic partner of Cluster Sports & Technology and the broader sports policy and event body for the Province of North Brabant. Acts as a more generalist incumbent covering events, talent development and grassroots sport, while the cluster provides the technology-innovation pillar within the same Brabant sport ecosystem.

Others

• Imec: Leading European R&D centre for nanoelectronics and digital technologies, and I3-INSHAPE partner. Provides the underlying sensor and digital-health technology expertise that Cluster Sports & Technology's SportFieldLabs validate — making Imec an enabler/supplier in the same ecosystem rather than a competitor.
• HighTechXL: Eindhoven-based deep-tech accelerator that previously ran the Sport & Vitaliteit programme (5 sports startups) co-supported by the cluster. Functions as an adjacent startup-acceleration infrastructure provider in the same Brainport region, with whom Cluster Sports & Technology has historically co-invested in sports founders.

Regional players

• Sport Ireland: Ireland's national sports authority and ESMIS partner. Comparable as a national-level sports organisation working with EU cluster networks, but operating in a different geography (Ireland) without direct competition in the Dutch regional market.

Direct peers

• SportInnovator: The Netherlands' national sports innovation platform and ESMIS partner. It mirrors Cluster Sports & Technology's role at a national level, connecting SMEs, federations, knowledge institutions and government — directly competing for the same Dutch sport-innovation mandate.
• Health Cluster Portugal: Portuguese health-innovation cluster and DIGIT-PRE partner. Applies the same multi-stakeholder cluster model (business, academia, government) to digital health, which is the sister vertical to Cluster Sports & Technology's sports-and-vitality focus under the EU DIGIT-PRE project.
• INDESCAT: Catalonia's sports technology cluster and I3-INSHAPE partner. Operates the same cluster-network model connecting sports companies, research centres and public bodies in its region, making it the most direct functional peer to Cluster Sports & Technology.

Emerging players

• InnoBeweegLab: South Netherlands innovation movement lab and I3-INSHAPE partner. Focused specifically on movement and exercise innovation with a field-lab-style offering, making it an adjacent emerging player with overlapping technology-validation services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sportsandtechnology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cluster Sports & Technology