EIC Summit 2025 - Save the Date

The European Innovation Council (EIC) is set to host its fourth annual summit on the 2nd and 3rd April 2025, at the historic Tour & Taxis venue in Brussels. This flagship event serves as a central hub for innovators, researchers, policymakers, and investors across Europe, fostering collaboration and showcasing groundbreaking advancements in technology and business.

 

Event Overview

The EIC Summit 2025 is structured over two days, each tailored to distinct audiences and objectives:

  • Day 1: 2nd April 2025
    • Focus: Exclusively dedicated to EIC beneficiaries.
    • Activities: A series of workshops, pitching sessions, and networking opportunities designed to support and accelerate the growth of EIC-funded projects and companies.
  • Day 2: 3rd April 2025
    • Focus: Open to the public.
    • Activities: Engaging discussions and fireside chats covering a broad spectrum of topics relevant to innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology policy.

 

Throughout both days, attendees will have ample opportunities to network and explore an exhibition featuring a diverse array of EIC-supported projects, providing insights into the latest innovations poised to impact various industries.

 

Significance of the EIC Summit

The EIC Summit has established itself as a pivotal event in Europe's innovation landscape. It brings together high-growth startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), researchers, corporate leaders, and investors, creating a dynamic environment for knowledge exchange and partnership formation. The summit also serves as a platform for the EIC to announce new initiatives, funding opportunities, and policy directions that shape the future of European innovation.

 

What to Expect

Participants can look forward to:

  • Workshops: Interactive sessions offering practical guidance on topics such as intellectual property rights, investment strategies, and scaling businesses.
  • Pitching Sessions: Opportunities for startups and innovators to present their ideas to potential investors and partners, facilitating access to funding and collaborative ventures.
  • Panel Discussions and Fireside Chats: Conversations with industry experts, policymakers, and successful entrepreneurs discussing current trends, challenges, and opportunities in the innovation ecosystem.
  • Exhibition: A showcase of cutting-edge projects funded by the EIC, highlighting technological advancements across various sectors.

 

Networking Opportunities

The summit's design emphasises networking, providing structured and informal settings for attendees to connect. This environment encourages the formation of strategic partnerships, investment opportunities, and collaborative research endeavours, all crucial for driving innovation forward.

 Venue: Tour & Taxis

Located in Brussels, Tour & Taxis is a historic site that has been repurposed into a modern event space, blending architectural heritage with contemporary facilities. Its central location and unique ambiance make it an ideal venue for hosting an event of this magnitude.

Stay Informed

As the event approaches, additional details, including registration information, agendas, and speaker announcements, will be made available. Interested parties are encouraged to stay updated by following the EIC on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

 

 

by Dayne Hodgson

Immersive Technology in Mental Health

Innovate UK’s £20 million Mindset programme is driving the growth of immersive digital mental health solutions in the UK.

A series of events are planned around the UK where you can find out more about funding opportunities, and the Mindset-XR Innovation Support Programme delivered by Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London.

These events are a great opportunity to:

  • Hear from innovators in this exciting and developing field and learn more about why this is important for mental health services.
  • Meet some of the current Mindset-XR award winners and XR innovators.
  • Hear about upcoming funding for Mindset-XR Round 3.

Who should attend? Anyone interested in mental health and immersive technology, including but not limited to:

  • immersive tech companies
  • clinicians
  • researchers /academics
  • innovators
  • regulatory/ legal organisations
  • voluntary sector
  • creatives with an interest in mental health
  • people with lived experience

The events are taking place in the follow cities:

  • Leeds - 25th June
  • Glasgow – 27th Jun
  • London – 2nd July
  • Cardiff – 8th July
  • Exeter – 19th July

To register your attendance, please click here.

by Dayne Hodgson

Wales Technology Awards 2024 Winners Announced

Technology Connected recently played host to the eagerly awaited Wales Technology Awards 2024, in collaboration with Headline Partner de Novo Solutions. The grand gala served as a platform to spotlight the remarkable accomplishments and ground-breaking innovations within Wales' thriving tech sector.

Hosted by BBC Wales news anchor Jennifer Jones, the Awards ceremony drew together 300 luminaries from across the Welsh technology landscape, including industry titans, representatives from the public and private sectors, and avid supporters. It served as a tribute to the significant contributions of the Welsh tech industry, showcasing its pivotal role in shaping communication, business practices, and global engagement.

One of the evening's standout moments was the presentation of the prestigious 'The Sir Michael Moritz Tech Start-up Award', shining a spotlight on the exceptional start-ups in Wales driving innovation in cutting-edge technologies. In collaboration with Hexa Finance, this coveted accolade was clinched by Optimise-AI, marking a testament to their creativity and ingenuity.

The distinguished winners of the Wales Technology Awards 2024 included:

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies, the Guest of Honour, lauded the event, highlighting the crucial role of the tech sector in the Welsh economy and extending congratulations to the winners.

The Wales Technology Awards 2024 received generous support from esteemed industry organisations and stakeholders, including Headline Partner de Novo Solutions, Hexa Finance, Box UK, Deloitte, Wynne-Jones IP, HCR Law, CSA Catapult, Venture Graduates, and Cardiff Capital Region, BusinessNewsWales, NCL and RedKnight.

Avril Lewis, Managing Director at Technology Connected, praised the event's success, highlighting the pivotal role of Welsh technology in driving societal progress and combating global challenges. She reiterated Technology Connected's commitment to advancing Wales' tech industry and fostering innovation on the global stage.

RedKnight would like to congratulate the Technology Connected team for what was a fantastic evening of celebration. We are already looking forward to seeing what the Class of 2025 will have in store for us next year.

by Dayne Hodgson

EIC Summit and R&I Week

The European Innovation Council Summit 2024, will take place on 18th and 19th March as part of the Research & Innovation week.

Celebrating the 40-year journey through the Research and Innovation Framework Programmes, the R&I Week 2024 will debate the future of R&I and shape the contribution to EU political priorities, in particular the EU Tech Sovereignty and Competitiveness.

Tuesday 19th March will be fully dedicated to EIC beneficiaries with workshops covering diverse issues for researchers and entrepreneurs, such as intellectual property rights, investments, or scaling up your company. Discover the full programme and list of speakers.

The R&I week also includes the Belgian Presidency event on Innovative Procurement, taking over from the EIC Summit on the late afternoon of 19 March and continuing until the afternoon of 20 March. After that, it’s the start of the Research and Innovation Days providing a full R&I related programme, closing at the end of 21st March.

To register, click here.

by Dayne Hodgson