Innovation conference under the Danish EU-presidency

In a world where technological innovation defines global influence, Europe must act decisively to stay competitive against major powers like the U.S. and China. This session explores how Europe can strategically position itself in the global innovation race by investing in critical technologies.

Speakers in the session

Jean-David Malo, Acting Director for ERA & Innovation, DG RTD

Jean-David Malo is Acting Director for ERA and Innovation at the European Commission’s DG RTD. He previously led the European Innovation Council and its executive agency, EISMEA, shaping key EU innovation initiatives such as the EIC, VentureEU, and InnovFin. Trained at INSEEC Paris and UC Berkeley, he has held leadership roles in European research and financial instruments since 2001. Earlier in his career, he worked at ARMINES and CPDC in France. He is also the proud father of two sons.

Anders Overgaard Bjarklev, President, DTU

Professor Anders Overgaard Bjarklev became the 15th President of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in 2011 after serving as Provost and Head of DTU Fotonik. With a scientific background in photonics, he has guided DTU’s strategy in research, innovation, and education, strengthening its global partnerships and promoting technological leadership in sustainability and advanced engineering fields.

Margrethe Vestager, Chair of Board of Governors, DTU

Margrethe Vestager is Chair of the Board of Governors at DTU and a former Executive Vice President of the European Commission for “A Europe Fit for the Digital Age” as well as Commissioner for Competition. She is widely recognized for her leadership in European competition and digital policy, where she pursued landmark antitrust cases and promoted fair and transparent markets. Before her EU tenure, she served as Denmark’s Minister for Economic Affairs and the Interior.

Stephen Ezell, Vice President for Global Innovation Policy, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF)

Stephen Ezell is Vice President for Global Innovation Policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and Director of its Center for Life Sciences Innovation. He also leads the Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance. His expertise spans science and technology policy, competitiveness, and trade. He is coauthor of Innovation Economics and Innovating in a Service-Driven Economy and holds a B.S. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Moderator

Marianne Thellersen, Senior Vice President for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, DTU

Marianne Thellersen is Senior Vice President for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at DTU, where she drives initiatives bridging research, education, and business. With over 30 years of experience, she has advanced innovation across academia and industry, including roles at Novo Nordisk and Novozymes. At DTU, she has strengthened the university’s innovation ecosystem, notably through DTU Skylab. She holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and executive education from Stanford and CBS.

Co-organised with Innovation Fund Denmark and EIFO – The Export and Investment Fund of Denmark.

Scaling deep tech requires patient, large-scale capital that goes far beyond traditional venture funding. Europe’s innovative startups often struggle to secure the financing needed to bridge the gap from early-stage promise to global market leadership. This session will examine how a dedicated Scaleup Europe Fund could transform the financing landscape by mobilizing public and private investment at scale.

Speakers in the session

Jean-David Malo, Acting Director for ERA & Innovation, DG RTD

Jean-David Malo is Acting Director for ERA and Innovation at the European Commission’s DG RTD. He previously led the European Innovation Council and its executive agency, EISMEA, shaping key EU innovation initiatives such as the EIC, VentureEU, and InnovFin. Trained at INSEEC Paris and UC Berkeley, he has held leadership roles in European research and financial instruments since 2001. Earlier in his career, he worked at ARMINES and CPDC in France. He is also the proud father of two sons.

Herbert Mangesius, General Partner, Vsquared Ventures

Herbert Mangesius is a founding partner at Vsquared Ventures and was part of the founding team of its predecessor, Vito Ventures. Trained in mechanical and aerospace engineering, he previously conducted research at École Polytechnique, UCL, and the Technical University of Munich. He also co-founded 1E9 Denkfabrik with the former WIRED Germany team, organizing tech conferences. His work focuses on deep-tech entrepreneurship and frontier innovation.

Erik Balck Sørensen, CIO, EIFO – Export and Investment Fund of Denmark

Erik Balck Sørensen is Chief Investment Officer at EIFO, where he has been part of the investment team since 2017. Before joining EIFO, he was a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of companies such as Billetto, BloggersDelight, Downtown, and TakeOffer. He has served as business angel, board member, and chairman for several companies and has lived and worked in the US, Belgium, and France. Erik brings extensive experience in startup management, fundraising, and strategic investment.

Mikko Välimäki, Co-CEO, IQM

Dr. Mikko Välimäki is Co-Chief Executive Officer at IQM Quantum Computers, where he leads the company’s commercial operations in a dual-CEO model. He also serves as Executive Chairman of Ellie Technologies, driving strategic oversight and growth. Previously, he co-founded and led Tuxera Inc. as CEO, scaling it globally in embedded file systems. Dr. Välimäki holds a PhD in Software Business from Aalto University and a Master’s in Law from the University of Helsinki. 

Svetoslava Georgieva, Chair of the Board, EIC Fund

Svetoslava Georgieva is a permanent member of the Investment Committee of InvestEU, the European Commission’s flagship programme to mobilize over €370 billion in investments across Europe. She previously served as Executive Director of Bulgaria’s Fund of Funds, managing a €600 million portfolio of debt and equity mandates, and represented Bulgaria in the Pan-European Guarantee Fund. She holds degrees from University College London and ESCP Business School.

Moderator

Cecilie Brøkner, CEO, Innovation Fund Denmark

Cecilie Brøkner is the CEO of Innovation Fund Denmark – a public fund that invests in entrepreneurs, researchers, and businesses that create value for Denmark and develop new solutions to society’s challenges. Cecilie holds a degree in Political Science from Aarhus University and an MBA from Copenhagen Business School. She has held several senior management positions and has experience from both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs. 

Co-organised with IDA – The Danish Society of Engineers and GTS – The Danish Research and Technology Organisations.

This session explores the critical role of technological infrastructure in enabling SMEs and scaleups to achieve large-scale diffusion of innovation. By examining strategies for rolling out technologies while preparing markets – building the road as we pave it – the session will uncover how innovative approaches can accelerate the adoption of transformative technologies and drive impactful change.

Speakers in the session

Christian Clausen, CSO, Bioneer

Christian Clausen was educated in biochemistry and medical science at the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital, with research visits at Aarhus University Hospital. He has led R&D programs from preclinical to clinical phase and holds management training from Harvard Business School. As CSO he is responsible for the overall R&D strategy and for external strategic collaborations across the Bioneer organization. 

Muriel Attané, Secretary General, EARTO – European Association of Research & Technology Organisations

Muriel Attané is Secretary General of EARTO, representing over 350 research organizations across 30+ countries. With more than 20 years of experience in EU public affairs, she has led strategic engagement with EU research and innovation policy. During her tenure at TNO, she expanded EU RD&I fundraising and partnerships across major programs. She specializes in building strong European networks that enhance the impact of research organizations in dynamic political and economic environments.

Iiro Eerola, Policy Officer, Knowledge Valorisation and Technology Infrastructures Unit in DG RTD

Iiro Eerola is a Policy Officer in the E2 Unit for Knowledge Valorisation & Technology Infrastructures, Directorate E Prosperity, in DG Research and Innovation, European Commission. Since joining the Commission services in 2004 he has been working in various positions in the area of health research, personalised medicine, rare diseases and knowledge valorisation policy in DG Research and Innovation. Dr Eerola is an M.D., Ph.D. by training and holds an MBA. 

Michael Jensen, Co-Founder & CEO, Biomia

Michael Jensen is CEO and Co-founder of Biomia, a biotech company developing nature-inspired therapeutics. Before founding Biomia in 2023, he was Principal Investigator at the Center for Biosustainability at DTU, leading research on biosensors, genome engineering, and machine learning-guided cell optimization. With over 15 years in biotechnology, he has co-authored more than 80 publications, raised over €20 million in research funding, and is co-inventor on four patents.

Moderator

Laura Klitgaard, President, IDA

Laura Klitgaard is President of the Danish Society of Engineers (IDA), Denmark’s largest professional association for STEM professionals. She is a civil engineer with degrees in architecture and construction management. Before her election to IDA’s leadership, she worked as a client adviser in both the public and private sectors and held leadership roles within IDA for many years.

This forward-looking session explores what Europe’s past can teach about its future in an era of shifting global power and rising multipolarity. Drawing on historical insights, it examines how great powers lose influence—not through sudden collapse, but through gradual institutional stagnation and failure to adapt. The discussion will highlight how innovation and technology can serve as strategic levers for Europe to remain resilient and relevant, offering lessons from past empires to guide bold, deliberate action today.

Speakers in the session

• Peter Heather, Professor, King’s College London (Peter Heather bio)
• Cheryl Martin, CEO, Harwich Partners (Cheryl Martin bio)
• Stephen Ezell, Vice President for Global Innovation Policy, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) (Stephen Ezell bio)

Moderator

• Steen Andersen, Senior Researcher, The Danish National Archives (Steen Andersen bio)

Co-organized by IDA - The Danish Society of Engineers.

Building global tech champions requires exceptional talent, but is Europe equipped with the right skills and expertise to compete on the world stage? This session will explore Europe’s talent landscape, examining challenges such as attracting top-tier global talent, retaining skilled workers, and addressing critical skill gaps in areas like green tech and AI. Panelists will discuss strategies for fostering a robust talent pipeline and leveraging diversity to enable tech leaders to thrive globally.

Speakers in the session

• Ricardo Marvão, Co-founder and Board Member, Beta-I (Ricardo Marvão bio)
• Gregor Schäfer, Research Associate, University of Bath (Gregor Schäfer bio)
• Michiel Scheffer, President of the Board, EIC (Michiel Scheffer bio)

Moderator

• Laura Klitgaard, President, IDA (Laura Klitgaard bio)

Co-organized by DI Danish Industry – Confederation of Danish Industry.

Rebuilding Europe’s manufacturing capacity is essential for scaling up and creating global tech champions. This session will explore how investing in advanced manufacturing capabilities and talent can support the growth of European scaleups in key industries like green tech and semiconductors. Panelists will discuss strategies to enhance production competences, close critical gaps in manufacturing expertise, and align industrial policy with the needs of scaling firms. By fostering world-class manufacturing ecosystems, Europe can strengthen its position as a global leader in innovation and technology.

Speakers in the session

• Ulrik Hedegaard Brorson, Group Vice President of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, Grundfos Holding A/S, and Chairman, Manufacturing Academy of Denmark (MADE) (Ulrik Hedegaard Brorson bio)
• Johanna Stiernstedt, Director, EIT Manufacturing North (Johanna Stiernstedt bio)
• Aliénor Margerit, Head of Unit Access to Finance, DG GROW (Aliénor Margerit bio)
• Ann-Louise Andersen, Associate Professor, Aalborg University, Department of Materials and Production (Ann-Louise Andersen bio)

Moderator

• Peter Trillingsgaard, Director, DI Manufacturing (Peter Trillingsgaard bio)

How can green reindustrialization enable deep tech scaleups in Europe? This session explores how to build the manufacturing capacity, supply chains, and investor readiness needed to scale green tech.

Speakers in the session

• Laurits Bach Sørensen, Senior Partner and co-founder, Nordic Alpha Partners (Laurits Bach Sørensen bio)
• Cheryl Martin, CEO, Harwich Partners (Cheryl Martin bio)
• Cornel Ban, Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School (Cornel Ban bio)
• Julia Reinaud, Senior Director, Breakthrough Energy (Julia Reinaud bio)

Moderator

• Jes Broeng, Director and Professor, DTU Centre for Technology Entrepreneurship (Jes Broeng bio)

Co-organized by DIREC – Digital Research Centre Denmark.

Europe is lagging behind the US and China in the field of digital technology. We do not and will probably not get a unified market or the same venture capital anytime soon. Maybe we need to rewrite the rules for creating digital startups. In this session, we will discuss how to learn from global tech companies, extract the best practices from them, and apply these insights to create scalable tech companies in Europe that leverage our strengths and research positions. If we need to get ahead, we need to strengthen our ability to envision a new future, where we define the rules and the playing field. In this session, we will learn from seasoned entrepreneurs and discuss how to create more digital startups in Europe, as well as how the Commission can support this vision.

Speakers in the session

• András G. Inotai, Acting Head of the Taskforce on Startups and Scaleups and Head of Innovation Policy and Access to Finance Unit, DG RTD (András G. Inotai bio)
• Line Christa Amanda Sørensen, Chief Commercial Officer, Trifor and Angel Investor (Line Christa Amanda Sørensen bio)
• Mikkel Hippe Brun, Chief Strategy Officer, Entrepreneur, Board Member, Session (Mikkel Hippe Brun bio)
• Thomas Riisgaard Hansen, Director, DIREC (Thomas Riisgaard Hansen bio)

Moderator

• Hans Ravnkjær Larsen, Head of events and association, Dansk IT (Hans Ravnkjær Larsen bio)

Co-organized by Open Innovation in Science (OIS) Centre, Aarhus University.

Open precompetitive public-private partnerships have gained traction in e.g. biomedical research. These partnerships forego IP to research outputs and share outputs freely in the public domain. Such partnerships seek to accelerate the progress and use of science and have been argued to lay a stronger foundation for early-stage deeptech startups. But what is the real potential of open partnerships for stimulating the development of new startups with scaleup potential?

Speakers in the session

• Markus Perkmann, Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Vice-Dean (Research & Faculty), Imperial Business School; Academic Director, Imperial Enterprise Lab (Markus Perkmann bio)
• Iiro Eerola, Policy Officer, Knowledge Valorisation and Technology Infrastructures Unit in DG RTD (Iiro Eerola bio)
• Karina Fog, Senior Director, H .Lundbeck A/S (Karina Fog bio)
• Aled Edwards, Professor, University of Toronto, and CEO, The Structural Genomics Consortium (Aled Edwards bio)
• Lone Ryg Olsen, Director of Enterprise & Innovation, Aarhus University (Lone Ryg Olsen bio)

Moderator

•  Marion Pötz, Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School (Marion Pötz bio)
  
   

Co-organized with DE – The Danish Chamber of Commerce, Lif – The Danish Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry, Akademikerne – The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations, DM, DJØF, ATV – The Danish Academy of Technical Sciences, and Universities Denmark.

Across Europe, governments, institutions, and industry have long invested in strategies to enhance competitiveness through innovation, talent, and technology. As global competition intensifies and crises multiply, the urgency of reinforcing Europe’s economic and technological edge has never been greater. This session asks: how can we harness the lessons from past initiatives to design smarter, more effective policies today? What enduring insights can guide us as we mobilise research and innovation for sustainable growth, resilience, and global leadership?

Speakers in the session

Christina Egelund, Minister of Science and Higher Education, Denmark

Christina Egelund is currently serving as the Minister for Higher Education and Science in Denmark, a position she has held since December 15, 2022. In this role, she is responsible for science, innovation and higher education, with a focus on addressing challenges such as labor and talent shortages, and fostering international collaboration.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Founding Chairman, Rasmussen Global

Anders Fogh Rasmussen has been at the centre of European and global politics for more than three decades – as Secretary General of NATO, Prime Minister of Denmark, Danish Minister of Economic Affairs, and a leading Danish parliamentarian. He is the Founding Chairman of Rasmussen Global, where he advises companies and democratic governments around the world.

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO, Novo Nordisk Foundation

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen is the former Chief Scientific Officer of Novo Nordisk, where he led global R&D, medical, and regulatory activities and oversaw the development and approval of more than 20 medicines. He joined Novo Nordisk in 1991 as Head of Growth Hormone Research and later served as Executive Vice President for Diabetes R&D. He has chaired the board of the University of Copenhagen and served as President of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences.

Moderator

Ditte Brasso Sørensen, Vice Director, The Think Tank EUROPA

Ditte Sørensen is a senior analyst at Think Tank EUROPA, where she works on EU industrial, climate, food, and agricultural policy. She holds a PhD and MSc in Political Science from the University of Copenhagen and has studied at Columbia University and the New School for Social Research. Before joining Think Tank EUROPA, she worked at Macro Advisory Partners in London on geopolitical risk analysis and has held advisory roles on EU policy for Danish municipalities, regions, and universities.

Delivering on Europe’s deep tech ambitions requires more than visionary strategies – it depends on coordinated action across Member States. National governments play a pivotal role in shaping the conditions for innovation: from education and research investment to startup support, industrial policy, and regulatory environments. This session will bring together ministers, business leaders, and innovators to explore how Member States can align their efforts with EU initiatives to unlock Europe’s collective potential. The discussion will focus on how national policies can complement European frameworks, how best practices can be shared, and how cross-border collaboration can accelerate Europe’s deep tech scaleup journey. 

Speakers in the session

Michiel Scheffer, President of the Board, EIC

Michiel Scheffer is President of the European Innovation Council Board, bringing over 30 years of experience across business, academia, and public policy. A Dutch national with a PhD in geography, he has served as regional minister for economy, education, and Europe in Gelderland and as a member of the European Committee of the Regions. With a strong background in innovation, breakthrough technologies, and impact investment, he has helped establish nearly ten companies.

Cheryl Martin, CEO, Harwich Partners

Cheryl Martin is the founder of Harwich Partners, where she advises public and private sector organizations on designing and implementing scalable solutions in energy, sustainability, manufacturing and technology adaptation. Previously, she led ARPA-E in the US Department of Energy, where she launched the Technology to-Market program. Cheryl serves on multiple boards and advises global initiatives on clean technology. She earned her PhD in organic chemistry from MIT.

Tommy Ahlers, Investor, Giant Ventures, former Danish minister of Higher Education and Science

Tommy Ahlers is a Danish tech entrepreneur, investor and former politician. He co-founded ZYB and later built up Podio before its acquisition by Citrix. He served as Minister for Higher Education and Science in Denmark from 2018 to 2019 and was a Member of Parliament for Venstre from 2019 to 2021. Today, he is a founding partner at Look Up Ventures, Venture Partner at Giant Ventures, acts as adjunct professor at DTU, and chairs the green think tank CONCITO and the Danish metro/subway. 

Maksym Plakhotnyuk, CEO and Founder, ATLANT 3D Nanosystems

Maksym Plakhotnyuk is CEO and Founder of ATLANT 3D, a deep tech company developing the world’s first atomic-scale manufacturing platform. He invented the first atomic layer advanced manufacturing technology, enabling atomic-precision fabrication of materials and devices. Holding a PhD in Nanotechnology and Photovoltaics, he has 15+ years of experience in nanotech and semiconductors. A Fulbright scholar and Hello Tomorrow Grand Winner, he is globally recognized for advancing nanofabrication.

Thomas Forner, Founder & CEO, Focused Energy

Thomas Forner is CEO and Founder of Focused Energy, leading the company’s mission to advance laser fusion technology. With over two decades of experience as CEO and CFO in high-tech industries, he has driven growth, innovation, and organizational transformation across global markets. Combining financial expertise with entrepreneurial vision, he excels in scaling companies sustainably and strategically. Under his leadership, Focused Energy has emerged as a key innovator in the fusion sector.

Moderator

Jes Broeng, Director and Professor, DTU Centre for Technology Entrepreneurship

Jes Broeng is Professor and Director of DTU Entrepreneurship and a serial high-tech entrepreneur with a PhD from DTU. His work focuses on innovation and the translation of university research into industry. He has co-founded six companies, served in executive roles for over a decade, and sits on several startup boards. With research experience in the UK and the US, including UC Berkeley, his expertise spans photonics, technology transfer, business development, and early-stage investment.

The official conference dinner takes place at “Wallmans Cirkusbygningen”, it is located a mere 500 metres from the conference location. 

Address

Jernbanegade 8, 1608 Indre By

Co-organized by Lif – The Danish Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry and Novo Nordisk A/S.

Europe’s is losing ground within biopharma innovation, with R&D spending and new drug introductions lagging the US and rising competition from China. Once on par with the US, European companies now launch only half as many new chemical and biological entities. The Draghi report highlights a declining market share from 2012 to 2022 and an expanding innovation gap. This session focuses on what policies can revitalise Europe’s life science ecosystem: How can we boost R&D, foster more start-ups, attract investment and shorten time to market to restore Europe’s role as a global life science leader?

Speakers in the session

• Lotte Bjerre Knudsen, Chief Scientific Advisor to CSO, Novo Nordisk A/S (Lotte Bjerre Knudsen bio)
• Jacob Pontoppidan Thyssen, Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, LEO Pharma (Jacob Pontoppidan Thyssen bio)
• Steffen Thirstrup, Chief Medical Advisor, European Medicines Agency (Steffen Thirstrup bio)
• Angelika Fretzen, Chief Operating Officer & Technology Translation Director, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University (Angelika Fretzen bio)
• Jens Nielsen, CEO, BioInnovation Institute (Jens Nielsen bio)
• Carmen Laplaza Santos, Head of Unit Health Innovations & Ecosystems, DG RTD (Carmen Laplaza Santos bio)

Moderator

• Ditte Brasso Sørensen, Vice Director, The Think Tank EUROPA (Ditte Brasso Sørensen bio)

Co-organized by Royal Academy of the Sciences and Letters; DNRF Danish National Research Foundation; The Carlsberg Foundation.

Cutting-edge deep tech breakthroughs originate from frontier research, yet translating them into scalable ventures remains a challenge. This session will explore how fundamental science fuels the next wave of deep tech startups and industrial innovation, ensuring Europe remains at the forefront of global technology leadership. The session will also address concerns raised regarding European aims to focus research spending more on strategic priorities. How should the EU balance curiosity-driven research with long-term economic and strategic interests?

Speakers in the session

• Hans Wandall, Professor, Group Leader, Deputy Head of Department (Innovation), University of Copenhagen (Hans Wandall bio)
• Silvia Lenaerts, Rector Magnificus, Eindhoven University of Technology (Silvia Lenaerts bio)
• Teresa Neves, Board Member, EIC (Teresa Neves bio)

Moderator

• Maja Horst, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University (Maja Horst bio)

Speakers in the session

• Stefan Drüssler, Chief Operating Officer, UnternehmerTUM (Stefan Drüssler bio)
• Suzanne Zamany Andersen, CEO & Cofounder, NitroVolt (Suzanne Zamany Andersen bio)
• Jean-Michel Dalle, Managing Director, Agoranov (Jean-Michel Dalle bio)
• Lisa Ericsson, Head of & CEO, KTH Innovation & KTH Holding

Moderator

• Mikkel Sørensen, Director, DTU Skylab (Mikkel Sørensen bio)

Co-organized by The Danish Chips Competence Centre (DkCCC).

Europe has invested heavily in flagship R&I programs like the Graphene Flagship, successfully seeding semiconductor- and materials-based spinouts. However, scaling these companies, and companies like them, into global leaders, remains a critical European challenge. This panel brings together founders, capital providers, and EU actors to ask: What do high-potential semiconductor ventures emerging from EU R&I actually need to scale? What role should flagship program design, capital markets, and strategic policy instruments play in enabling their growth? And how do we ensure that chips companies born in the EU - also stay and grow in the EU?

Speakers in the session

• Simone Lavizzari, Investment Manager, JOIN Capital (Simone Lavizzari bio)
• Ben Jensen, CEO, CamGraPhIC / 2D Photonics (Ben Jensen bio)
• Lars Frølund, Deep tech investment expert and executive (Lars Frølund bio)
• Jari Kinaret, Director of Chips JU, former Director of the Graphene Flagship (Jari Kinaret bio)
• Jörg Hübner, Director, DTU Nanolab

Moderator

• Claus Friis Pedersen, Head of The Danish Chips Competence Center (DkCCC), National Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization (Claus Friis Pedersen bio)

Co-organized by The VILLUM Foundation.

Towards more effective coordination of European innovation ecosystems – what can we learn from sectorial models? Sectorial models as known from e.g. the Netherlands offer a means of coordinating and prioritizing research and innovation efforts within a sector (typically on a national level). What are sectorial models? Could such models be lifted to the European scale to support more effective innovation at the collective level (and, if so, what would that take)?

Speakers in the session

• Bert Meijer, Distinguished University Professor in Molecular Sciences, Professor of Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology (Bert Meijer bio)
• Anne Marie Falktoft, Deputy Director-General, Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science (Anne Marie Falktoft bio)
• Cecilie Brøkner, CEO, Innovation Fund Denmark (Cecilie Brøkner bio)
• Jekaterina Novikova, Deputy Head of Unit Innovation Policy and Access to Finance, DG RTD (Jekaterina Novikova bio) 
  
   

Moderator

• Thomas Bjørnholm, Chief Scientific Officer, The VILLUM Foundation (Thomas Bjørnholm bio)

Co-organized by DI Danish Industry – Confederation of Danish Industry.

European universities play a central role in promoting innovation and creating ecosystems for deep tech startups. This session will explore how universities and policymakers in joint effort can support and scale these startups by offering tailored programs, collaborating with investors, providing specialized infrastructure, and launching critically needed policy actions to improve structural conditions. The discussion will also focus on how universities can transform into active participants in the growth journey of deep tech startups, as well as which specific policy initiatives might help mitigate structural barriers constraining growth and development in the ecosystem. Emphasis will be placed on the need to reassess university ecosystems to ensure sustainable and accelerated growth and how policymakers can support this development by fostering enabling conditions trough tailored policies.

Speakers in the session

• Laura Smoliar, CEO, Quantum Denmark (Laura Smoliar bio)
• Angelika Fretzen, Chief Operating Officer & Technology Translation Director, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University (Angelika Fretzenb bio)
• Stefan Drüssler, Chief Operating Officer, UnternehmerTUM (Stefan Drüssler bio)
• Ahmed Ammar, Co-founder of Lotus Microsystems and Postdoc, Business & Community Developer, DTU Electro (Ahmed Ammar bio)
• András G. Inotai, Acting Head of the Taskforce on Startups and Scaleups and Head of Innovation Policy and Access to Finance Unit, DG RTD (András G. Inotai bio)

Moderator

• Sine Linderstrøm, Director of SMEs and Entrepreneurship, DI (Sine Linderstrøm bio)

For Europe to lead in deep tech, regulation must keep pace with breakthrough innovation. Traditional policy cycles are often too slow to match the speed of technological change, leaving entrepreneurs struggling to test, validate, and scale their solutions in real-world settings. This session will explore how fast, flexible regulatory sandboxes can accelerate the safe deployment and industrialization of emerging technologies. Participants will discuss how Europe can strike the right balance between risk management and agility, ensuring that innovators can move quickly while citizens and markets remain protected.

Speakers in the session

András G. Inotai, Acting Head of the Taskforce on Startups and Scaleups and Head of Innovation Policy and Access to Finance Unit, DG RTD

András G. Inotai leads the European Commission’s Taskforce on Startups and Scaleups and heads the Innovation Policy & Access to Finance Unit at DG RTD. His teams are responsible for the EU Startup & Scaleup Strategy, the European Innovation Act, and the European Innovation Ecosystems Work Programme. He plays a central role in advancing Europe’s competitiveness through entrepreneurship and science-based policy development.

Albert Bravo-Biosca, Director, Innovation Growth Lab (IGL), Nesta

Albert Bravo-Biosca is Founding Director of the Innovation Growth Lab at Nesta, where he leads work on designing and testing innovation and growth policies. His research explores business dynamics, venture capital performance, and intangible assets. Albert holds a PhD in Economics from Harvard, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and a BA from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and is also a Research Fellow at the Barcelona School of Economics.

Teresa Riesgo, Secretary General for Innovation, Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities

Teresa Riesgo is Secretary General for Innovation at the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and President of the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI). A Full Professor of Electronics at the Technical University of Madrid, she holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering and has led over 60 research projects. With more than 25 years of experience, she oversees Spain’s innovation policy and promotes entrepreneurship in deep tech and advanced technologies.

Jukka Heikkilä, Professor, University of Turku, and EUSAiR representative

Jukka (Jups) Heikkilä is Professor at the Turku School of Economics, and an active contributor to the EUSAiR Project, focusing on legal and ethical frameworks for responsible AI. Holding a PhD in Information Systems from the Helsinki School of Economics, he specialises in innovation management, enterprise architecture, and IT strategy. With extensive experience in academia, research and industry collaboration, he has led initiatives integrating technology, governance and business transformation.

Moderator

Alizée Blanchin, Partner & Director of Consulting, Hello Tomorrow 

Alizée Blanchin is Partner for Consulting and a member of the Executive Committee at Hello Tomorrow, where she leads the consulting business unit focused on deep-tech growth strategy for corporations, institutions and startups. With a background in biochemistry and extensive experience in innovation consulting, she drives collaboration across ecosystems to turn emerging technologies into market opportunities

Moving forward – from the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy to the European Innovation Act.

Speakers in the session

• Jean-David Malo, Acting Director for ERA & Innovation, DG RTD (Jean-David Malo bio)
• Laurent Samama, Managing Director, Jolt Capital (Laurent Samama bio)
• Elisa Tarzia, Co-Founder & Vice-President, 351 Portuguese Startup Association, Board Member, European Startup Network, and Co-Founder & COO, Simplifyer (Elisa Tarzia bio)
• Marianne Thellersen, Senior Vice President for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, DTU (Marianne Thellersen bio)

Moderator

• Mikkel Sørensen, Managing Director, DTU Skylab (Mikkel Sørensen bio)