The Science|Business Network Annual Conference (09:00 – 17:30 CET)
Following her re-election as Commission President in the summer of 2024, Ursula von der Leyen pledged to put “research and innovation (R&I), science and technology, at the centre of our economy” – a message that was reaffirmed in both her recent ‘SOTEU’ speech in Strasbourg and the European Commission’s first proposals for the next multi-annual financial framework (MFF), including the post-2027 Framework Programme for research and innovation (FP10).
The Commission has certainly been moving forward at speed to strengthen Europe’s R&I foundations as part of its current mandate, with a multitude of new legislation and proposals already on the table or in the pipeline – including the Startup and Scaleup, AI in Science, Quantum and Life Science strategies, the ERA and Innovation Acts, as well as the ‘28th Regime’ legal framework. Nonetheless, with months of complex political negotiations ahead, it is still unclear to what degree the other EU institutions will back Ms. von der Leyen’s vision and agree to the resources needed to deliver it.
Against this backdrop, the 2026 Science|Business Annual Network Conference will convene the first major R&I-oriented public debates following the official start of interinstitutional negotiations over the MFF. Around 350 leaders and decision makers from the worlds of research, industry and policy are expected to join us in Brussels on February 5 to explore a number of strategic issues that will be critical to FP10 and the next MFF, including but not limited to:
- What are the key trends shaping the politics and economics of R&I in Europe and beyond, and how might these shape the negotiations to follow?
- Is Europe truly ready to embrace single market reforms and a ‘5th freedom’ for knowledge and innovation?
- To what degree can the forthcoming ERA and Innovation Acts and ‘28th Regime’ help to transform this ambition into reality?
- In which ways will R&I and industrial policy align concretely under the next MFF, specifically at the interface between the Competitiveness Fund and FP10?
- How will President von der Leyen’s call for greater European independence through massive investments into AI, digital and clean tech influence the Commission’s plans for FP10?
- And what does all of the above imply for the future of international cooperation in R&I, not least with the major R&D nations which have associated to Horizon Europe?
09:00 WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS
• Maryline Fiaschi, Chief Executive Officer, Science|Business
09:05 PLENARY SESSION – Money no object: How will the EU finance its R&I ambitions?
An opening panel debate to discuss the post-2027 budget challenge and whether member-states can agree on how to channel more investment into R&I pot – be that through a fully-fledged capital markets union, new incentives for national reforms, or the removal of barriers to industrial R&D investment.
Featuring:
• Janusz Lewandowski, Member and Vice Chair, BUDG Committee, European Parliament and former EU Commissioner for Budget
Moderated by Goda Naujokaitytė, EU Funding Editor, Science|Business
09:45 PLENARY SESSION – Research security: What does the future hold for knowledge flows and data infrastructure?
A panel debate to explore the ways in which leading scientific organisations are responding to increased political demands for research security, not least in terms of rethinking data and knowledge management strategies, access policies and institutional capabilities.
Featuring:
• Cristian Canton, Associate Director, Barcelona Supercomputing Center
• Federica Rosetta, Vice President, Academic and Research Relations EU, Elsevier
• Fabio Venuti, Head of Cabinet, Office of the Director-General, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
Moderated by Florin Zubașcu, Executive Editor, Science|Business
10:15 COFFEE BREAK
10:45 PLENARY SESSION – Fork in the road: What does “European preference” mean for global science?
A panel debate to address the rapidly changing dynamics around international scientific cooperation and technology development, including the growing political demand for sovereignty and autonomy, and the strategic implications for R&I leaders.
Featuring:
• Hugh Brady, President, Imperial College London
• Maria Leptin, President, European Research Council (ERC)
• Leslie Weir, President, IFLA and National Librarian, Government of Canada
Moderated by David Matthews, International Editor, Science|Business
11:15 TRANSITION BREAK
11:30 PARALLEL SESSIONS
Breakout panel discussions to explore a select number of systemic issues at the interface between R&I policy and programmes and the EU’s urgent need for increased competitiveness.
SESSION 1 – Monetising science: How can Widening countries turn outstanding research into economic gains?
Featuring:
• Borys Budka, Member and Chair, ITRE Committee, European Parliament
• Leon Cizelj, Director, Jožef Stefan Institute
• Roland Jakab, Chief Executive Officer, Hungarian Research Network
• Caroline Rute, Head, Technology Transfer Office, Tallinn University of Technology
• Ivana Vuka, Senior Innovation Manager, Research and Innovation Services-RISE
Moderated by Edit Herczog, Widening Initiative Chair, Science|Business
Supported by the Science|Business Widening initiative
SESSION 2 – The future of food: How can Europe convert R&I leadership into economic growth?
Featuring:
- Bosco Emparanza, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, MOA foodtech
- Alex Holst, Deputy Head of Policy, Good Food Institute Europe
- Rosalinda Scalia, Deputy Head of Unit, Bioeconomy and Food Systems, DG RTD, European Commission
- Rupert Simons, Partner, Systemiq
- Ivan Stefanic, Programme Manager, European Innovation Council
Moderated by Simon Pickard, Network Director, Science|Business
Supported by the Good Food Institute Europe
SESSION 3 – R&D for neglected health: Can global cooperation unlock greater impact and return on investment?
• Céline Aerts, Economist and Analyst, Impact Global Health
• Frank Cobelens, Professor, Amsterdam University Medical Centre
• Michael Makanga, Executive Director, Global Health EDCTP3
• Jutta Reinhard-Rupp, Chief Scientific Officer, FIND
Moderated by Lisa Goerlitz, Head of EU Advocacy and Brussels Office, DSW
Supported by DSW
SESSION 4 – AI and energy: Can a balance be found between sustainable supply and insatiable demand?
Featuring:
• João Claro, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, INESC TEC
• Ornella Cosomati-Koschwitz, Director, Europe Energy and Sustainability Policy, Microsoft
• Kimmo Koski, Managing Director, CSC – IT Center for Science
• Stavros Stamatoukos, Senior Policy Officer, DG Energy, European Commission
Moderated by Katarína Halušková, Policy Officer, Science|Business
12:30 NETWORKING LUNCH
13:30 PARALLEL SESSIONS
A second block of parallel sessions which will address a select number of issues that are central to the priorities for R&I strategy and instruments under the EU’s next MFF. The format of each session will combine an Oxford Union-style debate of a central proposition with audience feedback and questions.
SESSION 1 – “This House believes… that universities are ill-prepared for the age of competitiveness”
Featuring:
• Åse Gornitzka, President, COST Association
• Giovanna Iannantuoni, President, Fondazione Università Bicocca
• Thomas Jørgensen, Director, Policy Coordination and Foresight, European University Association
• Fabrice Lemoine, Vice President, European Strategy, University of Lorraine
Moderated by Thomas Brent, Contributing Editor, Science|Business
SESSION 2 – “This House believes… that Europe should back radical new ways to fund R&I, even at the expense of existing programmes”
Featuring:
• Paulo Andrez, President Emeritus, European Business Angel Network (EBAN)
• Albert Bravo-Biosca, Director, Innovation Growth Lab, NESTA
• Paul Corson, Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer, University of Texas at Arlington
• Giuseppe Iannaccone, Deputy Rector, University of Pisa
Moderated by David Matthews, International Editor, Science|Business
SESSION 3 – “This House believes… that FP10 will require a new value proposition to keep industry and companies engaged"
Featuring:
• Martin Bunček, Managing Director, Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
• Silvana Muscella, Chief Executive Officer, Trust-IT Services
• Martin Nagelsmit, Chief Technology Officer, NLR – Dutch Aerospace Centre
• Marc Pauchard, President, Eureka Network
Moderated by Martin Greenacre, Technology Reporter, Science|Business
SESSION 4 – “This House believes… that Europe has the science to lead global biosecurity — but not the politics”
• Matthew Clark, Colonel, U.S. Army; Commander, SHAPE Healthcare Facility, Brussels Army Health Clinic
• Maja Fjaestad, Senior Advisor to the President, Karolinska Institutet
• Arianne Trudeau, Executive Director, University of Montreal
• Guilherme Ursini, Government Affairs Manager, European Confederation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs (EUCOPE)
Moderated by Maryline Fiaschi, Chief Executive Officer, Science|Business
14:15 TRANSITION BREAK
14:30 PLENARY SESSION – Powering competitiveness: Can Europe build the tech champions it needs?
A panel discussion about the future strategy for industrial R&I if Europe is to have any chance of achieving its goals for increased global competitiveness, and how it can develop the powerhouse companies to secure market leadership in key sectors and technologies.
Featuring:
• José Moisés Martín Carretero, Director-General, CDTI: Centre for Technological Development and Innovation
• Ilaria Tagliavini, Head of Operations, European Institute of Innovation and Technology
• Juha Vartiainen, Co-Founder and Chief Global Affairs Officer, IQM Quantum Computers
Moderated by Simon Pickard, Network Director, Science|Business
15:00 Q&A SESSION – How can Europe meet its tech skills challenge?
A keynote speech and live Q&A to discuss about deepening the talent resources available to European research and industry to drive competitiveness, innovation and preparedness.
Featuring:
• Vanessa Debiais-Sainton, Member of Cabinet, EVP Roxana Mînzatu, European Commission
Moderated by Maryline Fiaschi, Chief Executive Officer, Science|Business
15:30 COFFEE BREAK
16:00 PLENARY SESSION – Protective measures: Will the ECF reshape R&D for defence, security and resilience?
A panel debate to delve into the Commission’s proposals for the European Competitiveness Fund, and in particular how its fourth policy window will seek to usher in a new age of R&D to boost Europe’s defence, security and resilience capabilities.
Featuring:
• Michalis Ketselidis, Senior Expert, Defence Industry and Space, Secretariat-General, European Commission
• David Luengo Riesco, Director, Brussels Office, Indra Group
• Brynja Huld Oskarsdottir, Director, Science and Technology Committee, NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Moderated by Simon Pickard, Network Director, Science|Business
16:30 PLENARY SESSION – Make or break: What next on the road to FP10?
A closing session to explore the political context, processes and dynamics which will directly shape the future of R&I financing, governance and instruments under the next MFF, and in particular FP10 under the proposed European Competitiveness Fund.
Featuring:
• Christian Ehler, Member, European Parliament
• Marc Lemaître, Director-General, DG RTD, European Commission
Panel:
• Darja Isaksson, Director General, Vinnova
• Antoine Petit, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CNRS
• Caroline Viarouge, Chief Executive Officer, EIT Manufacturing
Moderated by Maryline Fiaschi, Chief Executive Officer, Science|Business
17:30 CONFERENCE CLOSE & NETWORKING RECEPTION
The Science|Business Annual Conference is the flagship gathering of the S|B Network, bringing together senior EU policymakers, CTOs, university presidents, heads of innovation agencies, funders, and ministers to debate the future of European and global research and innovation. With a ready-made, high-level audience and strong media visibility, the conference offers partners a focused opportunity to engage directly with the community shaping Europe’s research and innovation agenda.
For further information on partnership options, please contact [email protected].
The event will take place at:
Maison De La Poste
Rue Picard 5/7, 1000 Brussels
Partners
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