Levapor is a small German company that has pioneered a biofilm technology for removing harmful pollutants discharged into industrial wastewater. With its invention and the help of the Enterprise Europe Network, the company has now entered the Italian market.

To promote its technology, the Leverkusen-based firm enlisted the Enterprise Europe Network based at Zenit in Germany. With close to 600 partner organisations in 50 countries, the Network helps companies promote technology through several channels – including the world’s largest technology transfer database with more than 13 000 offers and requests.

The Network also invites entrepreneurs to participate in trade fairs around the world, such as the Aquatech exhibition in Amsterdam where the Dutch Network branch based at the NL Agency was organising a business matchmaking event.

“The green economy is a high priority for the Network,” says Sabrina Wodrich, Network consultant with Zenit. Both NL Agency and Zenit are part of the sector group environment, one of the 17 groups where experts from all across the Network have teamed up to provide companies with customised support. “At the Network’s group on environment, we work across Europe to help innovative small companies compete in this exciting, growing sector.”

After an initial encounter at Aquatech, Levapor struck a deal to share its technology with Elion, a small Italian environmental firm looking to expand its service offer.

“Both companies will benefit from the arrangement,” says Imre Pacsik, Levapor’s founder and managing director. “We have been able to enter the Italian market with a local partner we trust and respect, while Elion can now offer its own clients a fully integrated and better service.”

Monica Misceo, Network expert at ENEA in Rome who made the matchmaking with Elion possible, notes that Network events like the one at Aquatech offer entrepreneurs unique, focused networking possibilities not available elsewhere. “Face-to-face contact is the best way for business leaders to get to know each other,” Misceo says. “We at the Network understand that, and strive to bring the right people together. The results speak for themselves.”