Programme Day 1

Workshop room 1

Are you ready to take your EIC Pathfinder or Transition project to the next level? This interactive workshop will equip you with the insights and strategies to access world-class research and technology infrastructures across Europe—giving you a competitive edge in innovation.

Discover how to tap into cutting-edge facilities, including high-performance computing centers, advanced materials labs, particle accelerators, and more. Learn practical approaches to identify the right infrastructures, streamline access, and leverage these resources for maximum impact on your low-TRL research roadmap.

We will also explore collaborative models and best practices to integrate infrastructure access effectively, accelerating breakthroughs and enhancing innovation. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with key enablers, optimize your R&D strategy, and supercharge your project’s success!

Speakers: 

• Jan Bjaalie, Dean of Research and Innovation at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo
• Claudia Pfander, Strategic Business Developer of Euro-BioImaging and Coordinator, Euro-BioImaging Industry Board
• Ed Mitchell, Head of Business Development Experiments Division, ESRF – The European Synchrotron, France

Moderator: Carsten Dreher, Professor for Innovation Management, Freie Universität Berlin; EIC Board Member

Workshop room 2

This session will explore the critical role of intellectual property (IP) rights for the success of deep tech businesses, backed by recent studies of the European Patent Office (EPO). It will offer practical insights into leveraging IP for business growth, investment and scalability. 

Participants will also learn about available IP rights support from the EPO, European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and EIC, covering services such as free IP support or trainings. An EIC beneficiary will share their experience with the EIC-EUIPO IP Due Diligence Service and how it helped them to identify key IP assets. 

Spearkers: 

• Inge Buffolo, Director of Business Development Department, European Union Intellectual Property Office
• Alberto Figoli, Director of the Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy
• Lluís Gimeno-Fabra, Adviser to the Vice-President Patent Granting Process, European Patent Office
• Gilles Requena, Chief Patent Research and Policy Officer, European Patent Office

Moderator: Viorel Peca, Head of Unit of EIC Transition, EISMEA

Workshop room BAS

A board is a group of individuals appointed to oversee the activities and provide valuable advice on governance and company's vision. However, only 40% of European deep-tech companies have non-executive directors on their boards and only 35% of executives believe their boards effectively contribute to growth. Join this session to learn how European deep-tech companies can better leverage a strong and productive board.

Speakers: 

• Josemaria Siota, Executive Director, IESE Business School's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center
• Mikko-Jussi Suonenlahti, Business Builder, Chairperson of privately held tech businesses
• Patrick Van Deven, CEO, VaultSpeed

Moderator: Teresa Cunha, EIC Scaling Club coordinator

Workshop room 1

The session aims to demonstrate how the first generation of the Tech to Market Programme has equipped researchers with the skills and mindset needed to transition from the lab to the market, fostering entrepreneurial thinking. 
It will highlight how the programme’s two tracks supported this journey. The EIC Tech to Market Entrepreneurship track (Track 1) guided researchers in deciding to pursue an entrepreneurial path, while the EIC Tech to Market Venture Building track (Track 2) provided hands-on support for market entry. 
The session will feature real life examples from beneficiaries of the Pathfinder and Transition schemes and a entrpreneur in residence, who will share their experiences and insights from this transformative process. 

Speakers: 

• Eva Baltar, Tech to Market Project Adviser, EISMEA
• Antonios Fysekidis, Programme Coordination Manager, EISMEA
• Valeria Grazu, Entrepreneur, Co-founder, PROMETHENZ
• Sonia García Blanco, Co-founder, ALUVIA Photonics

Moderator: Franc Mouwen, EIC Programme Manager for Architecture Engineering Construction Technologies​​, EISMEA

Workshop room 2

This workshop explores the European Medicines Agency (EMA)’s role in shaping regulatory frameworks for health innovations, including AI-driven devices and combination products. Featuring insights on regulatory science advancements, case studies, and innovators’ experiences, it highlights the importance of early engagement with regulators. Attendees will gain practical advice on leveraging EMA’s services to accelerate market access and navigate complex regulatory pathways effectively.

Speakers: 

• Falk Ehmann, Head of the Innovation and Development Accelerator, European Medicines Agency (EMA)
• Hélène Casaert, Scientific Officer, European Medicines Agency’s SME office
• Federica Zanca, EIC Programme Manager for Medical Imaging and AI in Healthcare, EISMEA
• Martin Richter, Head of the Microdosing Systems department at the Fraunhofer EMFT

Moderator: Orsolya Symmons, EIC Programme Manager for Health and Biotechnology, EISMEA

Workshop room BAS

Public procurements accounts for more than 2 trillion Euros at European level on annual basis. This amount is significantly increased if we consider also private sector procurement. This session aims at focusing on the business opportunities opened for innovative SMEs and start-ups to scale up through contracts in procuremnet markets in Europe and at a global. Spotlight will be placed on the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme that faciliates the access of EIC Awardees to procurement markets in the public and private sectors in Europe and worldwide. To that end case examples from EIC Awardees that benefited from this programme will be presented along with cases of procurers that modernised their services through Innovation Procurement following a win-win approach.  

Speakers: 

• Vassilis Tsanidis, Innovation Procurement Advisor, EISMEA
• George Brik, CEO & Co-founder of Hydrovolta, EIC Ambassador
• Cornel Amariei, CEO & Founder, .lumen
• Armand Raudin, Head of Video & Innovation Program, SNCF Security Directorate
• Katarzyna Lenart, Deputy Director in the Department for Development of Innovative Programme Management Methods, National Centre for Research and Development (Poland)

Moderator: Bart Becks, Chairman EURACTIV, Chairman E-Health Valley, Co-founder of BeCentral, EIC Board Member

Policy room 1

The European Commission is preparing this important strategy to support the growth of start up and scale ups. Be part of this discussion. The European Commission wants to hear from stakeholders on their views on key challenges that European start ups and scale ups face. This session will consist on a direct exchange with Commission officials leading in the upcoming policy measures.

Speakers: 

• Andreea Ticheru, Policy Officer, Directorate General for Research and Innovation (RTD)
• Kat Borlongan, Chief Impact Officer, Contentsquare; EIC Board Member

Policy room 2

The European Commission is shaping the future of the European Innovation Council (EIC) to strengthen support for breakthrough innovation. Join this session to share your insights on the key challenges and opportunities ahead. This interactive discussion will provide a unique opportunity to engage directly with Commission officials leading the next steps in EIC policy development. Your input can help shape the future of European deep-tech and innovative entrepreneurship.

Workshop room 1

The session will be a space to explore what is next in term of innovation in AI capabilities behind the hype of generative AI and the spotlight on AI regulation. What are the limits and barriers to scale up AI capabilities and reach General Purpose AI; what will be the breakthrough capabilities of AI systems. This topic will be tackled from different perspectives: AI scientists, EIC AI startups, SHS, investors. 

Speakers: 

• Lucilla Sioli, Director, AI Office (DG CONNECT)
• Milie Taing, Founder & CEO, Lili.AI
• Giovanni Burgio, Investment Manager, European Investment Bank (EIB)
• Ioannis Arapakis, Head of Telefónica Scientific Research (Discovery), Telefónica Innovación Digital

Moderator: Hedi Karray, EIC Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence, EISMEA

Workshop room 2

The EIC Fund is a key player in supporting high-impact deep-tech innovation across Europe. We will explore the EIC Fund's investment strategies, criteria, and decision-making processes. The session will feature presentations from EIC Fund investment professionals, successful co-investors, and innovative companies that have benefited from EIC Fund support. We will discuss practical aspects of co-investment, including deal structuring, due diligence, and portfolio management. This interactive workshop will facilitate networking and knowledge sharing among potential co-investors, enabling them to leverage the EIC Fund's expertise and contribute to the success of Europe's most promising deep-tech ventures.

Speaker: 

• Anne Glover, Chief Executive & Co-founder, Amadeus Capital Partners
• Jussi Hätönen, Head of the EIC Division, European Investment Bank (EIB)
• Véronique Jacq, Head of Digital Venture team, Bpifrance
• Nikolaus Raupp, Principal, HTGF

Moderator: Keith Sequeira, Head of EIC Unit in Directorate General for Research and Innovation

Workshop room BAS

Corporate Venturing has become a powerful model for fostering innovation, bringing together the agility of startups with the resources and market access of large corporations. Since 2017, the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme has been at the forefront of this collaboration, engaging 100+ major European firms and 1,400+ EIC-backed startups to drive impactful innovation. Recent publication of the EIC on the topic share interesting facts and ideas that will serve as base for the panel where top corporate leaders with hands-on experience in open innovation will share their key insights, success stories, and practical strategies for effective collaboration between startups and large firms. Attendees will gain valuable takeaways on how to navigate the challenges of corporate-startup engagement, build win-win partnerships, and leverage corporate venturing to accelerate growth and innovation.

Speakers: 

• Vincent Clot, Space Business Catalyst Director, Thales Alenia Space
• Ana Casaca, Global Director of Innovation, Galp
• Andre Convents, Innovation Director, Procter & Gamble

Moderator: Anita Krohn, CEO, DSD AS Group; Vice-Chair, EIC Board

Workshop room 1

This workshop will delve into the principles of ARPA-style management, a high-risk, high-reward approach that has proven successful in driving transformative technological advancements in the US. We will explore key elements such as ambitious, long-term goals, competitive funding mechanisms, emphasis on fundamental research, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. The session will feature insights from experts who have successfully implemented ARPA-style models, analyze case studies of successful technology breakthroughs, and discuss the potential for adapting and implementing such an approach within the European Innovation Council ecosystem.

Speakers: 

• Francesco Matteucci, EIC Ambassador; former EIC Programme Manager
• Špela Stres, Head of the Technology Transfer and Innovation Center, Jožef Stefan Institute; EIC Board Member
• Olav Carlsen, Innovation Manager, SPRIND-the German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation

Moderator: Anne-Marie Sassen, Head of Unit of the “Programme Managers Office”, EISMEA

Workshop room 2

This dedicated session at the EIC Summit will explore key strategies for early-stage investment, with a focus on deep-tech innovations at TRL 1-4. A distinguished panel—including investors, a startup founder, and an EIC board member—will share insights on shaping investor decisions, assessing risks, and identifying promising startups. The discussion will address challenges in securing funding at lower TRLs, strategies for bridging the gap between research and market readiness, and how startups can effectively communicate their technological maturity, value, and market potential to investors. Attendees will gain valuable perspectives from both sides of the investment table, offering a well-rounded understanding of the early investment landscape and how to drive innovation toward commercialization.

Speakers: 

• Lars Frølund, Lecturer at MIT; EIC Board Member
• Olivier Rousseaux, Director Venture Development, imec
• Gonzalo Sánchez Arriaga, Co-founder, PERSEI SPACE

Moderator: Maria Victoria Hernandez Valcarcel, Board of Directors (Non-Executive Director), CaixaBank Payments & Consumer

Workshop room BAS

Join this session and learn how EIC Business Acceleration Services will help you access Corporates, Investors, Innovation Procurers, connect you with best accelerators, incubators, venture builders or business partners at International Trade Fairs. One stop shop session to discover all EIC Business Acceleration Service in a pill.

Speakers: 

• Yousef Yousef, CEO, LG Sonic; EIC Board Member
• Sarah Verhulst, Professor, Ghent University
• Daniel Vera, Chief Marketing Officer, MYSPHERA
• Agnieszka Stasiakowska, Head of Sector of EIC Business Acceleration Services Global Offer, EISMEA

Moderator: Karl Pärtel, Co-founder, RAIKU

Workshop room 1

At the bottom start of the EIC construction, Pathfinder remains not only a highly competitive programme but also the generator of an impressive number of innovations.  The purpose is to encourage the beneficiaries to think big towards innovation and exploitation, even with their most incipient ideas of a technology; we will be showcasing some success stories.

Speakers: 

• Martha Sommer, Team Leader & Principal Investigator, ISAR Bioscience Munich
• Giulio Ruffini, CEO, Starlab; CTO, Neuroelectrics
• Rene Tõnnisson, Co-founder & CEO, Baltic Innovation Agency
• Teresa Neves, Co-founder of BioNanoPhotonics A/S, EIC Board Member

Moderator: Darina Botsova, Programme Coordination Manager, EISMEA

Workshop room 2

During this workshop we will explore the key steps, strategies and tactics that startups can employ to successfully close an investment round. From preparing compelling pitches and equity stories, preparing for due diligence to identifying the right investors and negotiating the terms of the deal, we will explore the process step by step. Participants will gain practical insights and actionable tips for maximizing their chances of securing the funding needed to fuel their growth.

Speakers: 

• Minna Leisvuori, Investment Officer and Advisor to the EIC Fund, EIB
• Ana Barjasic, CEO, Connectology; EIC Board Member
• Theodore Marescaux, Co-founder & Chief Product Officer, Swave Photonics

Moderator: Luuk Borg, Investment Manager, EIC Fund, EISMEA

Workshop room BAS

We will explore the strategic expansion of the European Innovation Council's global reach and impact. We will discuss opportunities for international collaboration, including joint funding initiatives, research partnerships, and talent exchange programs with leading innovation ecosystems worldwide. The session will feature insights from international partners, EIC officials, and successful European innovators with global ambitions. We will analyze the challenges and opportunities presented by the global innovation landscape and discuss strategies for strengthening the EIC's position as a global leader in supporting high-impact deep-tech innovation.

Speakers: 

• Miguel Arias, General Partner, Kfund
• Eliza Kruczkowska, Director of Innovation Development at the Polish Development Fund (PFR)
• Alberto Onetti, Chairman, Mind the Bridge and Full Professor of Entrepreneurship, University of Insubria
• Peter Vesterbacka, Founder, FinEst Bay Area

Moderator: Mali Baum, CEO & Founder, WLOUNGE; EIC Board Member

Workshop room 1

Are you an EIC beneficiary looking for expert guidance to accelerate your innovation journey? Join our interactive session where EIC National Contact Points (NCPs) and Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) representatives will explain how their support can help you navigate the EIC landscape.
• Discover the networks available to assist you
• Learn about tailored support for funding, scaling, and partnerships
• Get insights on the best resources to fit your innovation needs

Moderated by an EIC Ambassador, this session will provide practical insights and direct guidance on how to leverage these networks effectively. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and maximize the support available to you!

Speakers: 

• Perrine Pottevin, Enterprise Europe Network Advisor, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Enterprises
• Angelo Nuzzo, Austrian National Contact Point, European Innovation Council
• Dimitar Vasilev, Co-founder and Board Member of Startup Europe Networks; EIC Board Member

Moderator: Francesco Matteucci, EIC Ambassador; former EIC Programme Manager

Workshop room 2

Explore InnoNext, a flagship initiative by the European Innovation Council (EIC) in collaboration with the European Institute of Technology (EIT), designed to foster collaboration between Europe’s top academic talents and innovative startups. Through fully funded internships, InnoNext bridges the gap between research and entrepreneurship, helping innovative startups access cutting-edge ideas while providing researchers and aspiring innovators with hands-on entrepreneurial experience. This session will dive into how InnoNext accelerates innovation, supports talent development, and strengthens Europe's competitive edge in the global innovation ecosystem.

Speakers:

• Francesco Profumo, Rector, Open Institute of Technology (OPIT); EIC Board Member
• Giuseppe Rizzo, Programme Manager, LINKS Foundation
• Marián Belko, Head of Entrepreneurship Education, European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT)

Workshop room BAS

The session challenges conventional ideas of "women empowerment" by proposing a refreshing alternative: what if women don’t have to become louder, tougher, or more ambitious to succeed in leadership roles? Instead, what if we celebrated and rewarded the feminine leadership strengths that many women already bring to the table—empathy, emotional intelligence, and a different approach to power? Join the session to lean how the leaders in top positions can become true bridge-builders by opening the glass ceiling "from above".

Speakers: 

• Helene Banner, Founder, "Let's Just Be Imperfect, Ladies"
• Veronica Orvalho, Founder and CEO, Didimo; EIC Ambassador

Moderator: Sara Jud, Project Adviser, EISMEA