European Research & Innovation (R&I) Days 2025

European Research & Innovation (R&I) Days 2025

Europe’s flagship research and innovation gathering brought together leaders, experts, and stakeholders to shape the future of EU R&I – ESEIA Director Brigitte Hasewend attended the event.

On 16–17 September 2025, the European Commission hosted the sixth edition of its flagship event – the European Research & Innovation (R&I) Days – at The Square in Brussels and online. This year’s edition came at a decisive moment, as Europe prepares for its next long-term budget and discusses key policy files shaping the future of research and innovation.

The two-day programme featured more than 20 sessions exploring Europe’s competitiveness and industrial leadership. Topics ranged from the European Startup and Scaleup Strategy and the AI in Science Strategy, to the European Life Sciences Strategy and the upcoming European Innovation and Research Area Acts

High-level speakers included:

  • Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who set the tone with a keynote underlining the EU’s ambition to make Europe the best place in the world for research and innovation.
  • Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, who stressed the need to complete the single market to strengthen EU competitiveness.
  • Henna Virkkunen, Commission Executive Vice-President, who emphasized the transformative role of AI in science.
  • Lucy Hawking, science communicator and author, who engaged audiences on the excitement of discovery.

The R&I Days Exhibition showcased EU-funded projects delivering real-world impact — from bio-based cycling clothes and AI tools for accessibility, to needle-free injections and a digital twin of the oceans. These examples illustrated how EU investment in R&I translates into tangible benefits for citizens and businesses across Europe.

ESEIA Presence

ESEIA Director Brigitte Hasewend attended the event, joining leading voices from EU institutions, academia, and industry. Her participation underlined ESEIA’s commitment to engaging with EU research policy at the highest level, ensuring that sustainable energy innovation remains a strong pillar in the Horizon Europe framework and the forthcoming FP10 discussions.

Key Takeaways for ESEIA

  • AI in Science: New strategies will create opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in data-driven energy modelling and digitalisation of energy systems.
  • Startup & Scaleup Strategy: Strengthening innovation ecosystems will benefit ESEIA’s industry-academia collaborations, fostering spin-offs and market uptake of sustainable technologies.
  • ERA Act & Knowledge as the ‘Fifth Freedom’: Reinforces ESEIA’s mission to build a Europe-wide collaboration space that includes education, research, and innovation.

ESEIA will continue to follow up on these policy debates and connect them with our members’ expertise and projects, ensuring that the voice of the sustainable energy community is heard in Brussels.

Learn more about the event: https://research-innovation-community.ec.europa.eu/events/34HcitJg953HcrWMtQUyhF/overview

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