Stefania De Santi

I have been part of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) since its launch in 2008, with extensive experience supporting SMEs in identifying opportunities to grow and scale their businesses internationally. From 2008 to 2023, I served as the coordinator of the North-East Italy EEN consortium. In 2023, I transitioned to the Agency for the Promotion of European Research (APRE) in Rome to focus more directly on research and innovation support for SMEs.

At APRE, I am part of the management team of the EEN2EIC project, where I oversee the full lifecycle of cascade funding aimed at supporting women-led businesses and companies in widening countries applying to the EIC Accelerator. Whin EEN2EIC I have also the role of Group Leader for Italy and Malta: I coordinate support services for Seal of Excellence companies, helping them access alternative funding opportunities and organizing pitching events with investors.

In addition, I coordinate the EIC Communities project, which strengthens the visibility and strategic coherence of projects funded under the Pathfinder, Transition, and Accelerator programmes—fostering synergies across innovation portfolios and supporting the work of EIC Programme Managers.