EIC Summit 2026 Speaker
- Workshop: "Shaping the Future of EIC Technology Foresight and Horizon Scanning"
Day 2 | HORIZON STAGE, 14:30 - 15:30
João Farinha is a Policy Analyst at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), within the EU Policy Lab’s Competence Centre on Foresight. His work focuses on technology foresight and strategic intelligence to support forward-looking EU policymaking in research and innovation (R&I). At the JRC, João coordinates FUTURINNOV, a collaboration between the JRC and the EIC aimed at strengthening the EIC’s strategic intelligence. The initiative combines horizon scanning, expert workshops, data analysis, and AI-enhanced methodologies to identify emerging technologies and breakthrough innovations with potential relevance for future EIC funding priorities and broader EU policy agendas. Through this work, he has coordinated more than 20 foresight exercises across multiple domains, both within and beyond the EIC’s current funding scope.
Before joining the JRC, João worked in central and local government, as well as an independent consultant. His experience spans areas such as digital transformation, public sector innovation, and social entrepreneurship, often working at the intersection of policy, technology, and societal challenges.