Global business leaders put the spotlight on innovation as the key to success

Brussels will play host to a stellar gathering of world-class business leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators when the 2^nd European Innovation Convention gets under way next week (March 10-11). The Convention will put the spotlight on the crucial role played by innovation in achieving business and economic success in the 21st century and beyond.

Speakers will include global business leaders with direct experience of successful innovation in fields ranging from telecoms to transportation and from pharmaceuticals to fine wine. They include Risto Siilasmaa, Chairman and Interim CEO of Nokia; Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover; Dr Thomas Enders, CEO of Airbus Group; Christopher Viehbacher, CEO of Sanofi; Dr Marijn Dekkers, Chairman of Bayer AG; Dr Henri Winand, CEO of Intelligent Energy; Richard Geoffroy, Chef de Cave of Dom Pérignon, among many others.

In addition to speakers from established industries such as these, the Innovation Convention will hear from leading representatives of the new generation of net-entrepreneurs, such as the founders of Prezi and Storify, as well as from emerging young innovators who have been having a major impact on the world – such as Jack Andraka, the US schoolboy who, at the age of just 15, invented a sensor for the early detection of pancreatic, ovarian and lung cancers.

Journalists are invited to attend the Convention, which will provide a unique opportunity for them to meet and interview speakers and other participants. Dedicated media facilities and support will be available, including a press welcome and registration desk, press packs, press points, fully equipped press working room, help in securing interviews and liaising with the VIPs’ own press teams.

The Convention will also showcase a number of recent EU-funded research projects. Visitors will be able to see – and in some cases experience first-hand - the practical ways in which ground-breaking innovative research can be the vital ingredient in ensuring business success and competiveness. These showcases will include an opportunity to experience the practical uses of Google Glass such as taking and sharing pictures and video, using voice search, translation and navigation.

Visitors to the Convention will also have the chance to play a game with iCub, a specially developed humanoid robot, which was created by the EFAA (Experimental Functional Android Assistant) project. Other notable innovation projects will include the latest development of 3D printing showcased by Materialise, a pioneering business in the field; a crowdsourcing initiative that developed breakthrough technologies to help the paper industry reduce its CO₂ emissions; as well as two linked projects which produced promising new high-tech tools to combat malaria.

Register here and see the draft programme of the Convention

Contact us at RTD-RESEARCH-PRESS@ec.europa.eu