The EIC Summit is always one of the highlights of the European innovation calendar. Not only because it brings together startups, investors, corporates, policymakers and innovation experts from across the continent, but because it creates a unique space for meaningful conversations, new collaborations and unexpected opportunities.
This year, Sploro was proud to be part of the event once again, represented by our CEO Miguel García, our COO Alberto Sierra and our Head of EU Projects, Virginia Gómez.
After months of online meetings, project calls and virtual collaborations, the Summit offered something that remains difficult to replicate digitally: the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the people driving innovation across Europe.
Throughout the event, our team showcased several projects from our portfolio that are actively supporting innovators and entrepreneurs across Europe.
At the shared “EU Initiatives for Women” booth, we represented both Women TechEU and Open Horizons, engaging with startups, ecosystem stakeholders and innovation leaders interested in learning more about the programmes and their latest opportunities.
The conversations around both initiatives confirmed something we continue to see across the ecosystem: there is incredible talent emerging from women-led startups across Europe, but access to networks, resources and market opportunities remains critical for growth.
Events such as the EIC Summit play an important role in bridging that gap. They allow projects like Women TechEU and Open Horizons to connect directly with the entrepreneurs they are designed to support, while creating visibility among investors, corporates and decision-makers.
For us it was particularly rewarding to see the recognition that Women TechEU has gained within the European innovation ecosystem. Coordinating an initiative of this scale is both a responsibility and a privilege, and the interest generated during the Summit reinforced the importance of continuing to support women entrepreneurs in deep tech and innovation.
The Summit also provided an opportunity to highlight the work being carried out through EVOLVE2CARE, which participated in two EUnicorner sessions focused on Living Labs and healthcare innovation.
The discussions explored how collaborative environments can help accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions and ensure that new technologies respond to real user needs.
What stood out from these conversations was a theme that appeared repeatedly throughout the Summit: innovation delivers the greatest value when it is developed together with the people who will ultimately benefit from it.
Whether through startup support programmes, corporate collaboration initiatives or healthcare innovation projects, the focus is increasingly shifting from technology alone to impact, adoption and real-world implementation.
While booths, panels and meetings are an important part of the Summit experience, some of the most valuable moments happen in between.
A quick conversation after a session. An introduction from a project partner. A coffee meeting that sparks a new idea. A chance encounter with someone you’ve worked with for years but only ever met online.
These moments are difficult to measure, but they are often where future collaborations begin.
For our team, the Summit was an opportunity to reconnect with partners and colleagues from across Europe, strengthen existing relationships and explore new possibilities for collaboration. It was also a chance to meet innovators working on challenges that will shape the future of European competitiveness, sustainability and technological leadership.
As we return from Brussels, we do so with a renewed appreciation for the strength of Europe’s innovation ecosystem.
The EIC Summit is a reminder that behind every funded project, successful startup or innovative solution is a community of people working together to make progress possible.
We are grateful for every conversation, every meeting and every connection made during these days. We are equally grateful for the opportunity to represent projects that are helping innovators access funding, build partnerships and bring their ideas closer to market.
Most importantly, we leave inspired by the energy, ambition and collaborative spirit that continues to define European innovation.
Thank you to everyone we met at EIC Summit 2026. We look forward to continuing the conversations and turning new connections into future opportunities.
