EIC Summit

The European Innovation Council (EIC) Summit is a key event organised by the European Innovation Council, bringing together innovators, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs from across Europe. It serves as a platform to showcase and promote cutting-edge deep-tech innovations and discuss the future of European entrepreneurship and technology.

The EIC Summit takes place annually in Brussels, attracting a wide audience, including EIC beneficiaries, industry leaders, and key stakeholders in the innovation sector. The event consists of two main days: the first day is dedicated to EIC beneficiaries, featuring workshops, pitching sessions, and networking opportunities. The second day is open to the public, with plenary speeches, panel discussions, and award ceremonies, including the prestigious European Prize for Women Innovators.

Key activities during the summit include inspirational talks, panel discussions on topics such as scaling up businesses, bridging innovation gaps, and advancing AI and digital technologies. Workshops focus on various aspects of innovation, such as intellectual property, business acceleration, regulatory pathways, and investment strategies.

The EIC Summit also hosts an exhibition where EIC-funded projects are displayed, offering participants the opportunity to explore innovative solutions. Satellite events, such as training sessions on AI tools for innovators and networking events for start-ups, also take place during the summit week.

Networking is a significant aspect of the summit, with dedicated opportunities to connect with other innovators and stakeholders. Additionally, the event celebrates EIC-funded projects and recognises exceptional achievements through awards such as the European Innovation Procurement Awards.

Held at the historical Tour & Taxis site, the EIC Summit aims to strengthen the European innovation ecosystem and foster collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to drive technological advancements and economic growth across Europe.

The European Innovation Council (EIC) Summit is a prominent event that traces its origins to the European Innovation Council (EIC) itself, which was established to support breakthrough innovation in Europe. The EIC was launched as part of the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme in 2018, aiming to provide funding and assistance to high-risk, high-reward research and innovation projects. The EIC Summit, an annual event, was introduced to showcase the work funded by the EIC and to facilitate connections between innovators, policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem.

The first EIC Summit took place shortly after the establishment of the EIC, offering a platform for the growing number of EIC-funded projects to present their work and achievements. The summit quickly became an important event, attracting a diverse range of participants, including entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, and government representatives. The event was designed to promote deep-tech innovation, with a focus on sectors such as AI, health technology, clean energy, and digital transformation. It also aimed to discuss the challenges facing start-ups and scale-ups in Europe and to create a space for networking and collaboration among the key players in the innovation field.

Over the years, the EIC Summit has grown in scale and importance. The event includes a variety of sessions such as panel discussions, workshops, and plenary speeches, covering topics like scaling businesses, navigating investment rounds, and advancing technologies in healthcare, space, and energy sectors. The summit is also known for hosting the EIC Prizes, which recognise outstanding achievements in innovation, such as the European Innovation Procurement Awards and the European Prize for Women Innovators.

The summit has become an essential event in Europe’s innovation landscape, offering valuable networking opportunities for EIC beneficiaries and participants. It serves as a forum for discussing the future of European innovation and policy and offers insight into the work of the EIC and its funding programmes. The EIC Summit has consistently aimed to foster collaboration between start-ups, corporates, investors, and policymakers to create an environment conducive to technological advancements and economic growth across Europe.

In recent years, the summit has expanded its scope, incorporating satellite events and outreach programmes, including training on AI tools for innovators and networking opportunities for start-ups. The event's venue has shifted to the Tour & Taxis site in Brussels, providing a more accessible and expansive location for attendees. The summit continues to be a vital platform for promoting deep-tech innovation and supporting the scaling of European start-ups in a global market.

The 2025 edition of the EIC Summit was held on 2nd and 3rd April at the historic Tour & Taxis venue in Brussels, Belgium.

Day one, 2nd April, was exclusively dedicated to EIC beneficiaries. This invitation-only day featured workshops and pitching sessions covering various topics such as investments, intellectual property, and strategies for scaling up companies. These sessions provided participants with valuable insights and networking opportunities to enhance their innovative projects.

Day two, 3rd April, opened the summit to the public. The flagship event included inspiring plenary speeches, visionary insights, and the celebration of the EIC Prizes awards. Notably, on this day, the winners of the European Prize for Women Innovators were announced, highlighting the significant contributions of female innovators in Europe.

Throughout both days, attendees had the opportunity to engage with numerous EIC-funded projects showcased in the exhibition area. The summit also featured several satellite events, including the EIC Community Training on Artificial Intelligence tools for innovators and the Pathfinder Challenges Info Day, which offered additional platforms for learning and collaboration.

The EIC Summit 2025 successfully facilitated connections among key players in Europe's deep-tech landscape, fostering discussions on innovation policies and providing a platform for showcasing groundbreaking projects. The event underscored the EIC's commitment to supporting innovators and driving technological progress across the continent.

The EIC Summit aims to bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors to drive the future of technology and innovation in Europe. The primary goal of the summit is to showcase cutting-edge projects and support the growth of high-risk, high-reward innovations. By connecting key players in the European innovation ecosystem, the summit fosters collaboration, learning, and networking opportunities.

One of the key purposes of the EIC Summit is to provide a platform for EIC-funded projects to present their work. This helps to raise the visibility of innovative solutions and provides beneficiaries with valuable exposure to potential investors and partners. It also highlights the impact of European funding programmes and the importance of supporting breakthrough innovations in various sectors, including AI, health, clean energy, and digital transformation.

The summit also focuses on fostering discussions on important topics such as scaling up businesses, navigating investment rounds, and navigating regulatory pathways for emerging technologies. By bringing together stakeholders from diverse fields, the summit creates a space for knowledge sharing and inspires new ideas to help solve the challenges facing European start-ups and scale-ups.

Furthermore, the EIC Summit provides a space for policy discussions and engagement with the European Commission. It serves as an opportunity to shape future policies that support innovation and technological advancement across Europe. It is also a time to celebrate achievements through the EIC Prizes, including awards for women innovators, which highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion in the innovation space.

Showcasing Innovation: Provides a platform for EIC-funded projects to present their groundbreaking work, increasing visibility and helping to attract investors and partners.

Supporting Start-ups: Helps start-ups and scale-ups grow by connecting them with key stakeholders, fostering business development and collaboration.

Networking Opportunities: Brings together innovators, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs, encouraging collaboration and idea-sharing across sectors.

Knowledge Sharing: Offers workshops and discussions on scaling businesses, securing investments, and navigating regulatory challenges, helping attendees gain valuable insights.

Policy Shaping: Facilitates policy discussions with European Commission officials, contributing to the development of future innovation policies that support deep-tech growth.

Celebrating Diversity: Recognises the contributions of female innovators through awards like the European Prize for Women Innovators, highlighting the importance of diversity in innovation.

Accelerating Technological Advancement: Drives the development and scaling of new technologies and solutions by fostering a collaborative environment for innovation. 

Global Innovation Leadership: Ensures Europe remains at the forefront of global technological advancements, reinforcing its position as a leader in innovation.