Polish presidency conference: EU Innovation Journey'25

Informations projet

EUInnovationJourney

N° de convention de subvention: 101247204

DOI

10.3030/101247204

Projet clôturé

Date de signature de la CE 25 Juillet 2025

Date de début 1 Avril 2025

Date de fin 30 Septembre 2025

Financé au titre de

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Coût total

€ 300 010,00

Contribution de l’UE

€ 300 000,00

Coordonné par

NARODOWE CENTRUM BADAN I ROZWOJU
Poland

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

Période du rapport: 2025-04-01 au 2025-09-30

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

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.”

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

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.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

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