Helping groundbreaking ideas break through
Collaboration is the real multiplier.
The EIT Higher Education Initiative is the only funding programme targeted for innovation in higher education. And by connecting educators and industry to Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem, they ensure that innovation thrives – and the economy follows.
The Initiative has invested more than €120 million, trained 130,000+ people, and supported 2,600+ start-ups.
On 16th October, you can join us for the EIT Education and Skills Days 2025 event. Thought leaders and lateral thinkers in business and higher education will exchange ideas and showcase the impact that’s possible. Investors will chart the future with policymakers. And together, they’ll explore the bold new models that will keep education at the forefront of innovation.
Agenda | 16th October
10:00 - 13:30
Higher Education Initiative Networking Brunch (external location)
Panoramic Hall at Square – Brussels Convention Centre
Please kindly note that currently, you can only join the waiting list to attend this session. The venue is the Panoramic Hall at Square – Brussels Convention Centre.
14:00 - 14:10
EIT opening
Luca Perego
Head of Unit for Innovation and EIT, DG EAC, European Commission
14:10 - 14:30
From Education to Innovation: The EIT Higher Education Initiative
Topics:
- The EIT Higher Education Initiative: purpose, impact, and strategic relevance
- Contributions to EU priorities, including the Union of Skills and Startup & Scaleup Strategy
- What’s next: official soft launch of the 2025 Call and future direction
Dolores Volkert
Head, EIT Higher Education Initiative
14:30 - 15:00
Keynote: Powering Europe’s future - the triple mandate of universities in action
Topics:
- Synergies and trade-offs between research, education, and innovation
- Challenges and opportunities in balancing all three missions
- Incentivising innovative institutional models in higher education
Moderator: Simon Pickard
Network Director, Science Business
Hannes Raffaseder
Prof. / President, EURASHE, E³UDRES² European University & St. Pölten UAS
15:00 - 15:45
Panel: Building Europe’s innovation-ready talent ecosystem
Topics:
- Higher education institutions are hubs for inter- and trans-disciplinary collaboration and entrepreneurship
- STEM talent can benefit from the arts and humanities
- Innovation and entrepreneurship upskilling requires creative pedagogical and learning approaches
Moderator: Simon Pickard
Network Director, Science Business
Zoe Laughlin
Director, Institute of Making, UCL
Reimar Müller-Thum
CEO & Chancellor, CODE University of Applied Sciences
Istvan Vilmos Kovacs
Director for Learning and Teaching, Budapest Metropolitan University
15:45 - 16:10
COFFEE BREAK
16:10 - 16:55
Panel: The power of university-industry collaboration
The panellists will be announced soon.
Topics:
- What makes university–industry partnerships work from the people’s perspective
- Beyond commercialisation, partnerships provide opportunities for learning and upskilling
- Key factors in building trust and mutual value
Moderator: Simon Pickard
Network Director, Science Business
Ebba Lund
CEO, International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation
Martin Mähler
CSR Manager Academia DACH - University Relations, IBM Germany
Arno Meerman
Founder & CEO, Keynote Speaker on Driving Innovation, Talent & Societal Impact, UIIN
16:55 - 17:40
Panel: Embedding the entrepreneurial mindset in higher education
Topics:
- Challenges of defining what is meant by the entrepreneurial mindset in the context of higher education
- Why leadership at the C-level is critical for mindset transformation
- What it takes to build an innovation culture that attracts investment and supports founders
Moderator: Simon Pickard
Network Director, Science Business
Mercè Segarra
Vice-Rector for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Transfer, University of Barcelona
Rita Anson
Co-founder, Nordic Ignite / Secretary General, NorBAN
Ronan Cunningham
Director , DCU:Innovate
17:40 - 18:00
Event closing and EIT strategic outlook
Luca Perego
Head of Unit for Innovation and EIT, DG EAC, European Commission
Ilaria Tagliavini
Head of Operations, Innovation, Education and Communication, EIT
18:00 - 19:00
Closing Reception
Our Speakers
Moderator: Simon Pickard
Network Director | Science Business
Ebba Lund
CEO | International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation
Reimar Müller-Thum
CEO & Chancellor | CODE University of Applied Sciences
Ronan Cunningham
Director | DCU:Innovate
Dolores Volkert
Head | EIT Higher Education Initiative
Mercè Segarra
Vice-Rector for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Transfer | University of Barcelona
Martin Mähler
CSR Manager Academia DACH - University Relations | IBM Germany
Ilaria Tagliavini
Head of Operations, Innovation, Education and Communication | EIT
Zoe Laughlin
Director | Institute of Making, UCL
Hannes Raffaseder
Prof. / President | EURASHE, E³UDRES² European University & St. Pölten UAS
Istvan Vilmos Kovacs
Director for Learning and Teaching | Budapest Metropolitan University
Rita Anson
Co-founder, Nordic Ignite / Secretary General | NorBAN
Arno Meerman
Founder & CEO, Keynote Speaker on Driving Innovation, Talent & Societal Impact | UIIN
Luca Perego
Head of Unit for Innovation and EIT | DG EAC, European Commission
Our Partners
Why joining?
This is the opportunity to make the connections that really count.
- Meet the people who make things happen across academia, industry, and policy
- Grow your influence inside Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem
- Find the right partners to launch and upscale your ideas
- Discover critical insights in entrepreneurship, funding and future skills
