A New Year, A Clear Direction for NatureTech in Central and Eastern Europe

NatureTech and CleanTech in Central and Eastern Europe are entering a more mature phase.
Across Bulgaria and Romania, science-driven teams are building solutions for biodiversity, climate resilience, circular systems and sustainable resource use. The ambition is clear. The scientific depth is real. What often remains missing is the structure that helps early-stage teams move from strong ideas to real-world deployment.

SCION exists to provide that structure.

Our first SCION Accelerator cohort concluded successfully at Demo Day in Bucharest, with teams now progressing toward pilots, partnerships and investment. Their journey confirmed a simple insight: when science-based founders are supported with clarity, discipline and the right ecosystem, progress accelerates.

The NatureTech Verticals We Focus On

SCION works with teams building at the intersection of nature, science and scalable technology. Our focus spans several core NatureTech verticals where environmental urgency and market relevance meet:

• Food and agriculture
  Regenerative agriculture, precision farming, soil health, biofertilisers, nutrient management and sustainable livestock systems.
  

• Land and forests
  Agroforestry, sustainable forest management, precision forestry and bio-geoengineering solutions.
  

• Water systems
  Smart irrigation, wastewater treatment and water purification technologies.
  

• Biodiversity and ecosystem restoration
  Protection and restoration of wildlife, forests, grasslands, wetlands, coastal zones, seagrasses and coral reefs.
  

• Oceans and blue economy
  Sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and algae-based production systems.
  

• MRV and biodiversity data
  Monitoring, reporting and verification technologies, biodiversity data platforms and digital MRV for carbon and nature credits.
  

• Sustainable and renewable energy
  Distributed energy systems, clean power infrastructure, energy storage, grid optimisation and technologies supporting the transition to resilient, low-carbon energy systems.

Why Structure Matters

NatureTech innovation rarely fails due to lack of ideas. It stalls because ecosystems are fragmented, early capital is limited, and pathways to pilots and adoption are unclear. SCION’s role is to reduce that friction by connecting founders to mentors, peers, partners and decision-makers who help ideas mature into deployable ventures.

We work with early-stage teams that may not have everything figured out yet, but are ready to build with intent, rigour and collaboration.

Looking Ahead

Central and Eastern Europe is not catching up to the NatureTech transition. It is shaping a distinct one, grounded in scientific depth, fast learning cycles and founders fluent in both ecological systems and technology.

As we prepare the second SCION Accelerator cohort for early 2026, we invite teams building in these verticals to stay close.
Applications are now open.

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