Knowledge Exchange Platform semina

From Innovation Act to Regional Imp(Act): making Europe’s innovation agenda work for cities and regions

Organised in partnership with DG RTD of the European Commission, this Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP) seminar will explore the new European Innovation Act and its potential to strengthen Europe’s innovation ecosystem, competitiveness and technological sovereignty, with a particular focus on its regional impact. The European Innovation Act is designed to improve the functioning of the Single Market for innovation by reducing structural barriers that prevent innovative solutions from reaching the market, scaling across borders and attracting finance. In particular, it aims to strengthen the role of public procurement as a driver of innovation and to improve the valuation, commercialisation and use of intellectual property through a Union-wide framework and new support structures at EU level.

For local and regional authorities, these developments are especially significant. The Act is intended to make it easier for public buyers to use R&D procurement to modernise public services, address societal challenges and support the development of innovative technologies throughout Europe. It also seeks to reduce fragmentation between Member States, lower legal uncertainty and facilitate cross-border cooperation, creating new possibilities for regions and cities to act as launch markets for innovation and to connect research, startups, scaleups, investors and public administrations more effectively.

The seminar will launch a discussion with regional and local authorities, policymakers and key stakeholders on how the European Innovation Act can be used in practice by regional and local ecosystems and how it fits in the wider EU, including initiatives such as the Scaleup Europe Fund.

Draft agenda

 

Moderator of the event: Eva-Maria Szavuj, Head of Unit, DG RTD, Unit A1 (European Semester & Country Intelligence)

09.30–09.40 | Welcome and opening remarks from the CoR

· Tanya Hristova, First Vice-Chair, SEDEC Commission, CoR

09.40–09.55 | Keynote presentation: the new Innovation Act

· Jean-David Malo, Acting Director, Directorate A (Era & Innovation), DG RTD

9.55–10.10 | European Parliament perspective

· Member of the European Parliament, ITRE Committee (tbc)

10.10–10.40 | Stakeholder panel: What will the Innovation Act mean in practice for regions?

· BusinessEurope representative

· Pirita Lindholm ERRIN Director

· Jozef Viskupič (SK/Renew), CoR Member (tbc) · Stephan Corvers, European Assistance for Innovation Procurement

10.40–10.50 | Q&A session

10.50–11.00 | Closing remarks and takeaways

· Tanya Hristova, First Vice-Chair, SEDEC Commission, CoR

Register here

  • 01/10/2026 - 09:30 - 01/10/2026 - 11:00
  • Martina Campajola
  • Working Group
    Policy