EAIC Summit 2026

We are pleased to announce the

EAIC Summit: Future of Funding in Europe

Event Overview

The summit is in partnership with leading associations and stakeholders across the EU. It will bring together policymakers and industry leaders in the EU R&I ecosystem for a day of focused discussions, expert panels, and networking opportunities, exploring the latest trends and developments in research, innovation, and EU funding.

Register here.

At the Residence Palace, Brussels

On 3 November 2026

Agenda
As the final design of Europe’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) funding takes shape, now is the time for Europe’s research, innovation, and industrial community to come together to discuss how the MFF should be implemented in practice. Rather than producing a report or formal recommendations, the event is designed as an interactive platform for open, practical discussion.

Through a series of live sessions and moderated exchanges, participants will challenge assumptions, share experiences, and explore fresh approaches to making EU funding work on the ground.

09:00 – 09:30 I Welcome coffee
09:30 – 10:00 I Keynote speech
10:00 – 11:00
Session 1 by Orgalim I Competitive by Design (45 minutes)
(15 min Q&A)
This session will explore how the next MFF can turn Europe’s research and innovation strengths into greater competitiveness, industrial impact and scale-up in Europe.

From research to deployment: How to create a seamless pathway from FP10 to the ECF, ensuring European R&I results translate into innovations made, deployed and scaled in Europe.
Funding that enables scale: Which implementation choices—simplification, speed, continuity between instruments, risk tolerance and private investment—can most improve innovation performance and scale-up potential.
The role of the EIC: How can the EIC bridge research, market uptake and scale-up, and connect effectively with FP10 and the ECF within the future EU funding architecture.

Speakers:

Eeva Viniika, Spinverse Finland
Jan Debets, META Group
Michiel Scheffer, President of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Board, European Commission
Ulrich Adam, Director General, Orgalim

Moderated by Marie Latour, Euro-Funding

11:00 – 11:30 I Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:30
Session 2 by LERU I From FP9 to FP10: Simplification, efficiency, and the impact of alignment with the ECF (45 minutes)
(15 min Q&A)
This session will critically assess whether the simplification measures proposed for FP10 will deliver a funding framework that is genuinely easier, faster and more efficient for its users.

Simplification in practice: Which proposed measures are most likely to reduce complexity and administrative burden for applicants and beneficiaries, and where could simplification create new challenges or trade-offs?
A more user-oriented and efficient FP10: How can programme design, governance and implementation improve the user experience while increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of EU research and innovation funding?
FP10 and the ECF: Could closer alignment with the European Competitiveness Fund create a more coherent funding landscape, and what would this mean for FP10’s structure, governance and implementation?

Speakers:

Christian Jäger, Director EU Office, Freiburg University, and Chair of the LERU European Research Managers Policy Group
Kurt Deketelaere, Secretary-General, LERU
Lidia Borrell-Damian, Secretary-General, Science Europe
Michael Browne, Chief Executive Officer, Crowdhelix
Monica Di Luca, Vice-Rector Research, University of Milan

Moderated by Paul Walsh, Secretary General, EAIc

12:30 – 13:30 - Lunch
13:30 – 14:30
Session 3 by COST Association I The Future of Widening: New Instruments and Transition Countries (45 minutes)
(15 min Q&A)
This session will explore how the future Framework Programme can broaden meaningful participation across Europe while reinforcing scientific excellence and competitiveness.

Learning from Widening: What has worked in existing Widening initiatives, and which lessons should inform the design of future instruments?
Removing structural barriers: How can persistent gaps in capacity, networks and access to opportunities be addressed to enable stronger participation from underrepresented regions and actors?
New instruments and transition countries: How should future Widening instruments support transition countries and create sustainable pathways towards greater participation and competitiveness in European research and innovation

Speakers:

Ase Gornitzka, COST President
Eszter Lakos, Member of the European Parliament
Jörg Niehoff, Deputy Head of Unit ERA, Spreading Excellence & Research Careers, DG R&I
Manuel Heitor, Former Minister of Science and Higher Technology, Portugal
Monica Dietl, Director of Europe Matters

Moderated by Paul Walsh

14:30 – 15:00 I Coffee Break
15:00 – 16:00
Session 4 by SMEunited | From Brussels to the Regions: Aligning the Competitiveness Fund with local realities and national strategies (45 minutes)
(15 min Q&A)
This session will explore how EU, national, and regional policies can work together to close Europe’s innovation gap.
Regional innovation gaps: What drives differences in innovation performance across Europe, and how are these factors evolving?
Cohesion and innovation: How can Pillar I and II complement each other in supporting regional ecosystems, breakthrough innovation and scale-up?
Coherence and incentives: How can EU funding align with national strategies and incentivise Member States to prioritise innovation?
Speakers:

Ana Coelho, Director, Brussels' Delegation at ACCIO-Catalonia Trade and Investment-Government of Catalonia
Jeanine Bucherer, Senior Policy Expert, Westdeutscher Handwerkskammertag
Johan Hanssens, Secretary-General of the Department of Economy, Science and Innovation (EWI) of Flanders
Victor Cruz, FI Group by EPSA

Moderated by Paul Walsh

16:00 – 16:45 - Fireside Chat with MEP Christian Ehler held by News Tank Academic
16:45 - 17:00 - Presentation of the EAIC Joint Paper on the next MFF
17:00 – 17:10 - Closing Remarks by Xavier Aubry, Zaz Ventures
17:15 – Cocktail Drinks

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