UANIPIO took part in one of the leading events in the fields of innovation, deep tech, start-ups, scientific research and technology entrepreneurship.
EIC Summit 2026 took place in Brussels, Belgium, and brought together representatives of European Union institutions, investors, researchers, technology companies, start-ups and innovation infrastructure organisations to discuss the future of the European innovation ecosystem.
The Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO/IP Office) was represented at the event by Olha Kronda, Head of the Innovation Development Department.
The discussions at EIC Summit 2026 focused on strengthening Europe’s technological competitiveness, fostering innovation, supporting deep-tech start-ups and scaling innovative companies in global markets.
The EIC Impact Report 2026 was presented during the Summit, outlining the results of the European Innovation Council’s (EIC) activities and its impact on the development of the European innovation ecosystem. In particular, the report highlighted that over the past year, €6.5 billion has been invested in more than 800 companies through EIC instruments, €5 billion in private co-investment has been leveraged, and three new European deep-tech unicorns have emerged.
The EIC’s activities are aimed at supporting innovation and the development of deep tech in Europe. Through the EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, EIC Accelerator, STEP Scale Up and Business Acceleration Services, support is provided across the entire innovation cycle — from research and technology development to the creation of start-ups, the attraction of investment and the scaling up of companies.
The European Innovation Council’s Work Programme for 2026 provides funding for instruments supporting innovation at various stages of development, including:
Such instruments provide support for innovative projects at various stages of development and help overcome barriers on the path from a scientific idea to successful market deployment.
Particular attention was paid during the Summit to the commercialisation of research results, technology transfer, attracting investment, the development of funds for deep-tech start-ups, and overcoming the so-called scale-up gap — the funding shortfall for companies in the rapid growth phase.
In this context, the Scaleup Europe Fund was presented — a new €5 billion investment instrument of the European Union aimed at supporting the scaling up of the most promising European technology companies in strategically important sectors, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, robotics, energy, space technologies, biotechnology, medical and agricultural technologies.
The Fund is expected to help increase the volume of funding for European scale-ups (companies in the rapid growth and scaling-up phase), provide access to significant capital for companies in the growth and scaling-up phase, and strengthen the position of European technology companies in global markets.
At the same time, the implementation of this initiative is designed to mitigate the risks of promising businesses relocating outside Europe, strategic technologies falling under foreign control, and the brain drain of highly skilled personnel.
In addition, IP Support Services were presented during EIC Summit 2026 as a comprehensive suite of intellectual property services available to innovators, start-ups and research teams across the European innovation ecosystem.
The services include advisory support for applicants, freedom-to-operate (FTO) assessments, patent search and analytics, patentability assessments of technological solutions, the development and management of IP strategies and IP portfolios, as well as expert support for the protection, exploitation and commercialisation of research results in accordance with European approaches to intellectual property management.
One notable example was the Ukrainian company Releaf Paper, which was showcased at the EIC Projects and Companies Exhibition as part of EIC Summit 2026.
The company develops and manufactures circular materials, transforming urban green waste, including fallen leaves, into eco-friendly fibre, paper, packaging and biocomposite materials. This approach contributes to the development of the circular economy and reduces dependence on traditional wood-based paper production.
Releaf Paper demonstrates the successful commercialisation of a Ukrainian innovation and the development of a technology business in the European market. In 2025, the company received support from EIT Health as part of the Seeds of Bravery programme, aimed at supporting Ukrainian technology start-ups and facilitating their integration into the European innovation ecosystem.
A highlight of the Summit was the European Prize for Women Innovators 2026 ceremony, which recognises women entrepreneurs whose innovations help address major societal challenges and shape the future of the European economy.
The Initiative demonstrates the European Union’s commitment to developing a more inclusive innovation ecosystem and expanding opportunities for women in science, technology and entrepreneurship.
Overall, during the EIC Summit 2026, participants discussed the development of deep tech and artificial intelligence, support for innovation, scaling up start-ups and technology companies, attracting investment, commercialising research results, creating technology spin-offs, developing defence and critical technologies, as well as strengthening Europe’s technological competitiveness.
“The EIC Summit 2026 in Brussels and the EIC Impact Report 2026 clearly demonstrated that the future of European competitiveness will be shaped by the development of deep tech, the scaling of innovation and close collaboration between innovation ecosystems. For Ukraine, participation in this process is not only a reflection of its gradual integration into the European Innovation Area, but also a strategic opportunity to contribute to shaping the new architecture of Europe’s technological development.
Access to European Innovation Council instruments, support for innovative companies at every stage — from research to scale-up — as well as new initiatives create tangible opportunities for Ukrainian researchers, start-ups and technology companies to integrate into the European market.
Ukraine is steadily moving towards a model in which we not only adopt European approaches, but also become active participants and co-creators of European technological sovereignty and innovation leadership”, said Olha Kronda.
Ukraine is already part of the European innovation ecosystem, and the development of innovation, technology entrepreneurship and the effective use of intellectual property remain important drivers of its further integration into the European Research and Innovation Area.
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