Europe stands at a pivotal moment in its innovation journey. With rising global competition and rapid technological transformation, it is imperative to reinforce regional innovation ecosystems and establish stronger cross-border collaboration to drive European competitiveness.

This high-level meeting will bring together key policymakers, industry leaders, venture capitalists, and regional innovation actors to shape the next phase of European innovation policy, focusing on:

• Strengthening Regional Innovation Valleys (RIVs) as key enablers of systemic innovation across Europe.
• Driving synergies between EU initiatives such as Regional Innovation Valleys, EU Inc, and the European Venture Capital Initiative.
• Creating policy recommendations to enhance European innovation competitiveness through ecosystem-driven collaboration.

Europe faces structural challenges in scaling innovation and maintaining global competitiveness. Reports such as the Draghi Report on Competitiveness and the European Venture Capital Initiative highlight the need for:

• More interconnected innovation ecosystems to foster collaboration and knowledge transfer.
• Improved access to risk capital to prevent European startups from relocating abroad.
• Simplified regulations and governance to accelerate market adoption of breakthrough innovations.

This meeting will provide a structured dialogue to align key European strategies and ensure that regional innovation hubs drive industrial transformation and economic resilience.