EARTO Annual Conference 2026 – Brussels, Belgium

About the event

Europe’s competitiveness increasingly depends on its ability to scale critical technologies from research to industrial deployment. In a context of geopolitical competition and industrial transformation, Research and Technology Organisations play a central role in turning innovation into impact. The EARTO Annual Conference 2026 will bring together EU policymakers, industry leaders and RTO executives to discuss how Europe can accelerate technology scale-up, strengthen its industrial base and reinforce technological leadership. Through high-level exchanges and concrete examples, the conference will highlight the role of RTOs as essential delivery actors of Europe’s innovation and competitiveness agenda.

Registration is now open!

Programme

08:30 - 18:30
VITO invites EARTO to the G-STIC Conference

Flemish Parliament

10:00 - 12:00
Imec Cleanroom Visit

Hosted by Imec in Leuven
12:00 - 13:30
Joint EARTO Executive Board & RIN Lunch (Open to EARTO Board and RIN Members only)

Hosted by imec in Leuven
13:30 - 16:00
Joint Meeting - EARTO Executive Board & RIN CEOs (Open to EARTO Board and RIN Members only)

Hosted by imec in Leuven
19:00 - 22:00
Joint Dinner - EARTO Executive Board & RIN CEOs (Open to EARTO Board and RIN Members only)
Hosted by VITO in Brussels
Speeches by:
• Inge Neven, CEO, VITO
• Jesus Valero, President, EARTO
• Stephen Su, Chair, RIN

08:30 - 09:00
Welcome Coffee
09:00 - 09:45

Introduction

Welcome by Jesus Valero, President, EARTO

Keynotes by:

• Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, European Commission

• Bernard Magenhann, Director General, DG Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Speakers:

Bernard Magenhann

Henna Virkkunen

Jesus Valero
09:45 - 10:15
Coffee Break
10:15 - 11:30

RTOs, Industry and Europe’s Technological Sovereignty

Panel/Discussion RTOs:

• Bruno Feignier, Deputy CEO, CEA

• Patrick Vandenameele, CEO, IMEC

• Katherine Bennett, CEO, HVM Catapult

Moderated by Jesus Valero, President, EARTO

Speakers:

Bruno Feignier

Jesus Valero

Katherine Bennett

Patrick Vandenameele
11:30 - 12:00
EARTO Innovation Awards Ceremony
12:00 - 13:30
Networking Lunch
13:30 - 14:00

Keynote Speech by Christian Ehler, Member of the European Parliament

Speakers:

Christian Ehler
14:00 - 14:30
Imec Session – The Role of RTOs in supporting Industry in scaling up Tech
14:30 - 15:00

VITO Session – The Role of RTOs in de-risking Technologies for Deep-tech Startups

Introduction by Nils Wuytens, Head of Incubation and Acceleration, VITO

Panel Discussion:

• Maria Cristina Russo, Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation, DG R&I, European Commission

• Michiel Scheffer, Chairman of the Board, European Innovation Council (EIC)

• Kalle Härkki, President and CEO, VTT

Moderated by Koen Maertens, CTO, Flanders Make & Nils Wuytens, VITO

Speakers:

Kalle Härkki

Koen Maertens

Maria Cristina Russo

Michiel Scheffer

Nils Wuytens
15:00 - 15:30

Keynote Speech by Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU Commissioner for Startups and R&I, European Commission

Speakers:

Ekaterina Zaharieva
15:30 - 15:35

Closing by EARTO President

Speakers:

Jesus Valero