Transitioning beyond the lab: join the ESIL masterclasses

The transition from breakthrough research to commercial reality requires more than just technical excellence; it demands strategic architecture and investor alignment. Through the EIC-funded ESIL initiative, STEM researchers, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral fellows gain direct access to the frameworks and networks necessary to bridge the "valley of death" in deep tech development. This hybrid masterclass series integrates innovators with business angels and ecosystem stakeholders to provide a rigorous commercialisation roadmap. Participants will:

• Transform fundamental research into a strategic, market-driven innovation roadmap.
• Engineer high-impact, competitive commercialization proposals.
• Architect the operational and structural foundations for scalable deep tech spin-offs.
• Synthesise data-driven investment cases to secure capital from early-stage investors.

Masterclass Schedule

• Zagreb, Croatia: 15 April 2026 (Hybrid)
• Sofia, Bulgaria: 28 April 2026 (Hybrid)

• Poland: Date 18 May (Hybrid)

  Register here

ESIL e-Pitching Sessions: Early investor engagement on health deep tech projects

These dedicated sessions highlight selected EIC Pathfinder (TRL 1–3) and EIC Transition (TRL 4–6) projects. They present strategic opportunities for patient capital investors and business angels to provide early guidance, evaluate nascent technologies, and initiate future collaborations.

• 20 April 2026 & 11 May

  Register here

EIC Summit & ESIL Annual Event

Additional ecosystem integration activities will occur in June alongside the EIC Summit in Brussels. This includes direct matchmaking opportunities and the ESIL Annual Event on 5 June 2026, designed to reinforce connections across the European deep-tech landscape.