Earlier this month, the BOOST Consortium joined the European Innovation Council (EIC) Summit 2025 in Brussels, an annual meeting point for Europe’s innovation community. Over two days, key stakeholders from research, policy, and industry came together to discuss how to ensure that Europe’s deep tech breakthroughs successfully reach the market. BOOST contributed to discussions focused on improving the pathways from early-stage research to practical application, particularly through targeted funding and support instruments.
Tech to Market: The EIC’s Approach to Market Transition
One of the key sessions was “Transitioning from Technology to Market – Changing Hearts and Minds”, which examined the first results of the EIC Tech to Market Programme. The programme, designed to equip researchers with entrepreneurial skills and hands-on market guidance, was presented through two complementary tracks:
- Entrepreneurship: Supports researchers in assessing the viability of launching a startup.
- Venture Building: Provides practical support for market entry, including coaching and business development services.
Speakers included European Innovation Council representative Franc Mouwen and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) representatives Eva Baltar and Antonios Fysekidis, as well as Sonia García Blanco, Co-founder of ALUVIA Photonics, and Valeria Grazu, Co-founder of PROMETHENZ, who shared their experiences moving from research institutions into startup leadership. Their stories highlighted how programmes like Tech to Market can help deep tech researchers foster a market-oriented mindset.
BOOST’s presence at the EIC Summit reinforced its commitment to supporting Pathfinder and Transition beneficiaries through focused innovation and portfolio activities. The consortium highlighted its role in implementing the Booster Grant scheme by simplifying access to funding and aligning support with the broader EIC strategy.
