The EIC Summit 2026, the annual flagship event organised by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), recently took place in Brussels. The summit brings together startups, scale-ups, researchers, investors, corporate representatives, and policymakers from across Europe, providing a platform for exchanging knowledge, building partnerships, and discussing the future of Europe's innovation ecosystem.
Slovakia was represented at the event by the National Contact Points (NCPs) for the EIC Accelerator under the Horizon Europe programme, including our colleagues Peter Szuttor and Ivan Filus, who actively participated in expert discussions on supporting innovation and strengthening the European entrepreneurial ecosystem.
One of the key sessions at the EIC Summit focused on the question: How can the EIC Pre-Accelerator programme best support innovators in the Widening countries? The Enterprise Europe Network plays an important role in helping innovators take advantage of these opportunities.
Together with Danielius Stasiulis, Member of the EIC Board, and Helena Ignačáková from Shealed, a beneficiary of the EIC Pre-Accelerator programme, our colleague Ivan Filus discussed why dedicated support measures for the Widening countries continue to be essential.
Programmes such as the EIC Pre-Accelerator provide far more than financial support. They serve as a bridge between public funding, private investment, and stronger innovation ecosystems. Connecting local talent with European opportunities remains one of the key challenges—and priorities—for Europe's innovation landscape.
The EIC Summit 2026 once again demonstrated that the future of European innovation depends not only on identifying excellent projects, but also on creating the conditions that enable them to scale successfully, collaborate internationally, and gain access to investment.
Interested in learning more about the EIC Pre-Accelerator and the support available through the Enterprise Europe Network? Get in touch with us—we'll be happy to help!