The East Poland Innovation Day 2026 will highlight the innovation potential of Eastern Poland, bringing together policymakers, innovation leaders and ecosystem builders.

The event will spotlight five rapidly developing regions, Lubelskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Świętokrzyskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie, positioning them as emerging hubs of technological growth and collaboration within Europe.

The inaugural edition focuses on the actors driving innovation from the ground up, including regional authorities, innovation agencies, technology parks, incubators and accelerators. Organisers aim to demonstrate how regional ecosystems are scaling beyond theory into tangible economic and technological impact. Among the keynote speakers are Łukasz Prokorym, Marshal of the Podlaskie Region; Władysław Ortyl, Marshal of the Podkarpackie Region; and Michiel Scheffer, President of the Board of the European Innovation Council.

The programme will feature regional spotlights, including the Podkarpackie Region’s Carpathian Startup Fest and Podlaskie’s Agricultural Valley initiative, both showcasing local approaches to fostering entrepreneurship and sector-specific innovation.

A central highlight of the event will be an expert panel on scaling regional innovation ecosystems. The discussion will bring together Pirita Lindholm (ERRIN), Magdalena Cymerys (European Commission, DG RTD), Alasdair Reid (EFIS Centre), and Dieter De Smedt (City of Ghent, TBC), moderated by business journalist David Kennedy.

Beyond formal discussions, attendees will have the opportunity to network with innovators working at the EU’s eastern frontier and continue conversations in an informal setting featuring Polish cuisine.

The registration form is available here.