EIC Summit 2026: Discover the highlights from the EIC Business Acceleration Services

EIC Summit 2026: Discover the highlights from the EIC Business Acceleration Services  

Following two days packed with inspiring talks, workshops, awards ceremonies and networking sessions, the lights went down at Tour & Taxis (Brussels, Belgium), where the EIC Summit 2026 took place on 3 and 4 June. With over 2000 participants gathering to connect, learn and pitch, this year’s event was a testament to the vitality of European deep-tech innovation, with EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS) workshops and sessions at the heart of the first day. 

The conference brought together the best of the European innovation ecosystem, supported by more than 130 outstanding speakers including Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva, and other key figures in European deep-tech and policy. 

23 EIC-backed projects showcased their work in the project exhibition, offering a vivid glimpse of where European innovation is heading. The Summit also marked the presentation of the EIC Impact Report 2026, charting the EIC’s growing role as the investor of choice for European deep-tech entrepreneurs. 

The first day was fully dedicated to EIC awardees, with a full line-up of sessions by the EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS) covering diverse topics such as investments, internationalisation, and scaling up. Here are some of the highlights: 

EIC Business Acceleration Services: Discover EIC support beyond funding!

Michiel Scheffer, President of the Board of the European Innovation Council, opened the session with a line that set the tone for the entire morning:  

EIC is a funding structure, but also an ecosystem builder. 

It was the perfect entry point for Agnieszka Stasiakowska, Head of Sector of EIC Business Acceleration Services Global Offer, to walk the audience through what EIC BAS have been delivering, and where they are headed. 

The numbers, as captured in the EIC Impact Report 2026 announced on the second day of the EIC Summit, speak for themselves: 

• EUR 2.3 billion of investment unlocked by the EIC Scaling Club members 

• 21 startups created and 16 CEOs installed through EIC Tech to Market Programme 

• Deals worth over EUR 70 million unlocked and over 500 jobs created through participation in International Trade Fairs 

• Over EUR 20 million in tenders secured through procurement support 

• 51 deals signed between EIC-backed start-ups and corporates in the past two years 

Beyond the figures, Agnieszka outlined what is new in 2026. Each EIC project will have a point of contact, a Key Account Manager (KAM), advising on the full range of services and helping to identify and fill any gaps. A second novelty is the ambition to build a network of corporates to foster collaboration, co-innovation and the sharing of best practices on how to work with startups, contributing to the scaling of European deep tech. 

Being an EIC awardee, as highlighted in the session, is being “part of the Champions League”, and that comes with a network to match. In the words of Dr. Jan-Philipp Mai, Co-Founder & CEO at SOLAR MATERIALS, “all we need is there”: a place where the EIC awardees network becomes greater than the sum of its parts. 

Working with US and international co-Investors: What does it take? 

Attracting international capital is one thing; working with it is another. This session offered EIC-backed founders a candid and practical look at what it takes to attract, negotiate with, and build effective working relationships with US and other international co-investors. Experts shared first-hand insights into the realities of cross-border fundraising, from due diligence expectations and term sheet dynamics to the cultural and operational differences that founders need to navigate once the deal is done. 

Going global: turning market access into scalable growth 

This sessionl explored how European deep-tech companies can scale beyond their home markets, covering regulatory complexity, cultural differences, funding mechanisms, emerging markets, and strategic hubs such as Dubai, with an eye on alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The session closed with a rallying call to EIC awardees to “Go to market!”, a call to keep testing, learning, and pushing beyond familiar markets. 

Scaling smart: Stage-by-stage capital strategy 

This workshop offered practical guidance on navigating stage-by-stage capital strategy, from identifying the right type of capital at each phase to avoiding the most common fundraising pitfalls. A consistent thread: the team is a key factor at every stage, as investors back people as much as technology. Panellists also highlighted the strategic advantage of a diverse investor mix (different investors bring different networks, expertise, and perspectives) and encouraged founders to anticipate the next stage rather than simply reacting to it. 

Innovation Procurement as a superpower: Scaling breakthrough solutions across borders 

Innovation procurement is a powerful lever to modernise public and private services and accelerate the uptake of breakthrough innovations. Through a panel bringing together European Commission representatives, procurers, and innovators, the session examined how demand-driven procurement can enhance market access, reduce adoption barriers, and support the cross-border scaling of impactful healthcare solutions. Five EIC innovators then took part in the Multi-Procurer Day, presenting breakthrough technologies directly to EpiCURA (Belgium), Isala Hospital (Netherlands), and the Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy Networks of the Lombardy Region (Italy) to explore concrete adoption pathways. 

Companies with gender-diverse leadership teams are set to win — But how do you build one? 

Gender-diverse companies are rare but highly desired ventures, and the evidence is clear: they deliver more innovative solutions and generate stronger results. This interactive workshop explored success cases from across the European innovation ecosystem, examined the hurdles that still stand in the way, and put forward practical approaches that innovative companies can apply to build and sustain gender-diverse leadership teams. 

EIC Multi-Corporate Day on Life Sciences 

Stéphane Ouaki, Head of the EIC Department European Innovation Council, EISMEA, opened the session with an idea that cuts to the heart of the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme: “This programme reflects the key idea that breakthrough innovation doesn’t scale isolated”, but with the contribution of all the ecosystem. The session brought together leaders in healthcare and life sciences (AstraZeneca, Bayer, Chiesi, and Coloplast) with 16 EIC-backed startups from 9 countries, plus Siemens Healthineers and Sanofi as observing corporations. Read the full recap in our dedicated post-event article. 

Venture clienting in the spotlight

A keynote by Gregor Gimmy, founder of VentureClient.org and pioneer of the venture clienting model, followed by a fireside chat with Victoria Hernández-Valcárcel, Member of the EIC Board and strategic adviser in Deep Tech, innovation, and investment, explored how the adoption of startup technologies by large corporations can become a strategic driver of Europe’s competitiveness. The discussion highlighted the need for stronger corporate commitment, C-level leadership and structured pathways for startups to become trusted business partners, echoing the objectives of the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme in accelerating the industrial uptake and scaling of Europe’s most promising deep-tech innovators.

Matchmaking Opportunities 

Beyond the workshops, participants also explored matchmaking opportunities throughout the afternoon, with two dedicated tracks running in parallel: 

• Matchmaking with corporates: a business acceleration opportunity culminating in the EIC Multi-Corporate Day on Life Sciences with AstraZeneca, Bayer, Chiesi, and Coloplast. 

• Matchmaking with procurers: EIC awardees had the opportunity to present to hospitals their solutions for remote monitoring and continuous patient care, and explore potential collaborations and commercial agreements. 

EIC BAS stand and International Partner booths 

The EIC BAS programme continued throughout both days of the Summit with a strong presence on the exhibition floor. The dedicated EIC BAS stand remained open across both days, offering attendees the chance to learn more about the full range of services available, engage directly with the team, and discover how EIC BAS can support their innovation journey. 

Alongside it, five international partner booths provided a unique platform to connect with global partners and explore collaboration opportunities across innovation ecosystems: Canada: Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC); Japan: EU–Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation and JETRO – Japan External Trade Organization; Singapore: Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB); South Korea: KITA – Korea International Trade Association; United Arab Emirates: Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

Both the EIC BAS stand and partner booths were active throughout the entire exhibition period, ensuring continuous opportunities for networking, exchange, and discovery. 

EIC Coaches were also on the spot throughout the event, holding one-on-one meetings with EIC awardees to offer personalised guidance and support. 

Replay the sessions  

These are just some of the moments that made this edition memorable. If you missed any sessions, recordings from the main stage are now available. We encourage you to revisit the conversations that resonated, or catch the ones you had to skip: 

• Day 1 

• Day 2 

About EIC Business Acceleration Services   

The EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS) are built to unlock the full potential of EIC-backed innovations and help you achieve market leadership.  

From finding your first corporate partner to expanding into global markets, we provide hands-on support at every stage so that European innovations don't stop at the lab door. As an EIC-supported innovator, you can benefit from access to a range of tailor-made EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS) available at any stage of development of your activities and of the research and innovation cycle. Learn more by visiting the official website and our resources.   

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