Polish presidency conference: EU Innovation Journey'25

Project Information

EUInnovationJourney

Grant agreement ID: 101247204

DOI

10.3030/101247204

Project closed

EC signature date 25 July 2025

Start date 1 April 2025

End date 30 September 2025

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 300 010,00

EU contribution

€ 300 000,00

Coordinated by

NARODOWE CENTRUM BADAN I ROZWOJU
Poland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EUInnovationJourney (Polish presidency conference: EU Innovation Journey'25)

Reporting period: 2025-04-01 to 2025-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Europe’s innovation landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by the green and digital transitions and the growing importance of deep-tech entrepreneurship. Yet a persistent innovation gap continues to divide the Union between mature ecosystems and regions where structural barriers still limit potential.
In this context, EU Innovation Journey’25, organised under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU (Warsaw, 12–13 May 2025), served as a flagship event focused on bridging this divide. Bringing together over 500 policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors, it aimed to strengthen cooperation across Europe’s innovation community.
The conference, implemented by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) under Horizon Europe, pursued four goals:
– identify best practices supporting deep-tech startups and SMEs in diverse ecosystems;
– discuss interactions between academia, investors and public authorities;
– analyse how EU frameworks (NEIA, EIC Widening recommendations, Startup & Scale-up Strategy) translate into national measures;
– deliver policy recommendations in the report “How to Bridge the Innovation Gap.”

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project ensured both operational excellence and strategic policy relevance.
– WP1 – Coordination: NCBR set up a dedicated management team ensuring compliance, risk control and alignment with DG RTD, EISMEA and national partners.
– WP2 – Logistics: The Tides Warsaw venue and Silver Plate agency provided full event services. Over 60 speakers and 25 sessions were held according to plan.
– WP3 – Content: The agenda, built around three thematic stages (Main, Potential & Opportunities, Challenges), gathered key European institutions and produced the policy paper “How to Bridge the Innovation Gap.”
– WP4 – Dissemination: A visual identity, website (www.gov.pl/web/eu-innovation-journey) and media campaign ensured wide reach.
Main results include:
– successful delivery of a Presidency-level EU event;
– active participation of EC, EIC Board, EIT and Member-State ministries;
– creation of new cross-border collaborations;
– open-access publication of the policy report consolidating all session outcomes.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

EU Innovation Journey’25 went beyond previous initiatives by providing the first Presidency-level, multi-stakeholder synthesis on the innovation gap. The resulting evidence advanced understanding in five strategic areas:
– aligning EU and national innovation schemes;
– long-term financing for deep-tech ventures (blended/debt instruments);
– professionalising technology transfer and valorisation;
– integrating innovation KPIs into national R&I strategies;
– harmonising regulatory frameworks for start-ups and scale-ups.
The findings will contribute to implementing the New European Innovation Agenda, EU Innovation Act, the Competitiveness Compass 2025-2029, and future Horizon Europe ( FP10) priorities.

Key Visual of the conference