The 5th edition of the Spinoff EUROPA Conference 2026 will gather over 400 speakers, guests, and ecosystem leaders, alongside 40 breakthrough spinoff teams, creating one of Europe’s most vibrant arenas for deep-tech innovation. The event brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, clusters, and policymakers, forming a powerful engine for transforming scientific discoveries into scalable ventures.

As a central platform in the European innovation landscape, the conference drives progress across health and biotechnology, clean technology, artificial intelligence, microelectronics, and cybersecurity, supporting cross-sector collaboration and accelerating the adoption of next-generation technologies.

With a bold vision for the future, the Spinoff Initiative is committed to enabling the creation and growth of 500+ new spinoffs by 2030, strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and shaping the future of science-based entrepreneurship.

The Spinoff EUROPA Conference 2026 addresses spinoff founders, researchers, investors, academia, policymakers, industry leaders, clusters, European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), public scientific and research infrastructures, and innovation ecosystem actors engaged in scaling deep-tech solutions across Europe.

SPINOFF EUROPA INITIATIVE 2026
Building Europe’s Deep Tech Future

Open Call: Spinoff of the Year 2026!

We invite innovative teams to apply for the Spinoff of the Year 2026 award and showcase their excellence at the Spinoff EUROPA Conference 2026.

Eligible projects must have successfully passed at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2, with work already initiated on TRL 3 (Proof of Concept) in an experimental environment.

Proposed innovations must fall within one or more of the following priority areas: biotechnology, health, food technology, semiconductors and chips, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and virtual or augmented reality (VR/AR).

Projects will be evaluated based on the team's expertise and capacity, the solution's maturity and innovativeness, its competitive positioning, market relevance, business potential, and the completeness of the submitted documentation. Expected results must be clear, measurable, realistic, and logically linked to the planned activities.

👉 Apply now via the Spinoff Award Application Form

Warm-Up Pre-Event | PRECISEU 3rd edition Personalised Medicine School 2026

Dates: 5 – 9 June 2026 I Time: 14:00 – 18:00 (CEST) I Format: Hybrid (On-site & Online)

Embedded in the PRECISEU European Innovation Valley, the Personalised Medicine School serves as a preparatory platform, equipping participants with the skills and insights needed to develop spinoffs and participate actively in Spinoff EUROPA 2026.
Participants will have the unique opportunity to:
Engage in exclusive, interactive sessions with experts from EMA, EPerMed, EATRIS, VELES, and European AI Factory initiatives / Work alongside innovators preparing real spinoff pitches for the Spinoff EUROPA Conference / Learn how to translate clinical, genomic, and real-world data into actionable innovation and commercialisation roadmaps / Explore how European policy frameworks (EHDS, ATMP regulation, AI Act) shape adoption in healthcare / Connect directly with industry, clusters, investors, policymakers, and European innovation ecosystems
Who Should Attend
Doctoral students and early-career researchers / Clinicians and healthcare innovators / Entrepreneurs and spinoff teams / Innovation managers and technology transfer professionals / Policy and ecosystem stakeholders involved in personalised medicine
Why Join
Gain insights into cutting-edge European initiatives and regional partnerships. / Understand the opportunities and challenges of ATMPs and data-driven personalised medicine / Learn how health data and AI enable discovery, validation, and scale-up / Acquire early exposure to innovation, investment, and spinoff pathways / Become part of the Spinoff EUROPA 2026 innovation community. / Participants attending at least three sessions will receive a certificate of participation, recognising their commitment to advancing personalised medicine competencies.
Join us in Sofia to shape the next generation of personalised medicine—where science, data, and innovation turn into real impact.

PROGRAM SPINOFF CONFERENCE (11-12.06.2026)

Agenda: Day 1 / 11 June 2026

9:00-9:30

Registration & Morning Coffee

9:30 – 9:35

Short Keynote by founders of the Spinoff Europa Initiative : Kristina Eskenazi, Dimitar Dimitrov, Paulina Chotrova

9:35 – 10:00

Official Guest Speaker

10:00 – 10:40

Ceremony: PRECISEU Best Practice Recognition!

From startups to structural innovation, we are looking forward to presenting the winners of the 2nd Edition of the PRECISEU Best Practice Recognition. Discover inspiring teams shaping the future of healthcare — teams that care about patients and strive to make the best treatments accessible to everyone in Europe. Explore their solutions and the impact they will have on patients’ lives.

10:40 - 11:20

Panel 1: Building Europe’s Innovation Valley for Personalised Medicine
Powered by: PRECISEU – Innovation Valley for Personalised Medicine
Discussion on how connected regional innovation ecosystems can accelerate the transition to personalised healthcare by enabling the transfer of best practices and the scale-up of deep-tech healthcare innovations, including ATMPs and health data-driven solutions, across Europe.

11:20 - 11:40

Fireside Chat: The EU Biotech Act and Europe’s Competitiveness in Biotechnology

11:40 - 12:20

Panel 2: From Strategy to Deployment: European Health Data Space Initiatives
Powered by: VELES Excellence Hub
On June 1, 2023, under the HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-ACCESS-04 (Excellence Hubs) initiative, the VELES Excellence Hub was launched. Our mission is to elevate innovation in South-East Europe by building a sustainable, place-based innovation ecosystem powered by the Regional Smart Health Data Space.

12:20 - 12:40

Keynote: The European Medicines Agency (TBC)

12:20 - 13:00

Fireside Chat: Advancing Personalised Medicine in Türkiye — Bridging Research, Data, and Clinical Practice
M. Betül Yerer Aycan, Türkiye Sağlık Enstitüleri Başkanlığı (TÜSEB): The session will also address opportunities for international collaboration, particularly with European partners, and reflect on the challenges and enablers for translating scientific advancements into real-world healthcare impact. Through an interactive and reflective dialogue, Prof. Yerer Aycan will share insights on bridging gaps across disciplines and sectors to support more precise, patient-centred care.

13:00 - 14:00

Lunch & Networking

14:00 - 14:30

Panel Discussion: Changing the Rhythm of Heart Health — Innovation for Cardiovascular Prevention
This panel will explore how innovation, data, and interdisciplinary collaboration can transform cardiovascular disease prevention. Bringing together experts from medicine, research, and the innovation ecosystem, the discussion will focus on new approaches — from exposomics and personalised medicine to digital health and policy frameworks — aimed at shifting from reactive care to proactive, prevention-driven health systems.

14:30 - 14:50

Fireside Chat: Project HEART — From National Study to Personalised Support
Maria Aleksandrova, Founder of Project HEART
The first initiative to systematically identify and address the unmet needs of breast cancer patients. In partnership with the Bulgarian Breast Cancer Society, this national study goes beyond data collection by turning insights into personalised support and making psychotherapeutic care more timely.

14:50 - 15:10

Fireside Chat: ECHoS — Cancer Mission Hubs in Europe
Ivaylo Petrov, PharmD, Board Member, Bulgarian Joint Cancer Network (BJCN)
An overview of the ECHoS initiative and its role in establishing Cancer Mission Hubs across Europe, supporting the implementation of the EU Cancer Mission through coordination, knowledge exchange, and integration of national and regional ecosystems.

15:10 - 15:30

Fireside Chat: Rethinking Obesity and Metabolic Health — From Treatment to Prevention
Powered by: Danish-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce & Novo Nordisk (TBC)
A forward-looking discussion on obesity as a chronic disease and a key public health challenge, exploring innovations in treatment, prevention strategies, and the broader impact on healthcare systems, society, and the economy.

15:30 - 15:50

Keynote: Open Opportunities within the EIT Ecosystem
Ina Stoyanova, EIT Community Officer
An overview of current open calls, funding instruments, and collaboration opportunities within the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) ecosystem. If you're interested in specific programmes, you can connect directly with the EIT team at the dedicated information stand.

15:50 - 16:50

Panel 4: Funding the Future — Investor Insights into Spinoff Opportunities
Moderator: Pavel Lisev
Speakers: Henk Joos (Silver Arrow) · Anton Todorov (National Innovation Fund, TBC) · Jan Debets (META GROUP) · Sven De Cleyn (imec.istart) · Ivaylo Ivanov (Founder Institute CEE) · Yordan Zdravkov (CleanTech Bulgaria / TEA) · Anıl Atılgan (Founder of IdeaEvaluator
Investor perspectives on funding, scaling, and de-risking spinoffs, with a focus on emerging technologies and high-impact ventures.

16:50 - 17:00

Demo VR pitch deck of the future

16:10 - 16:20

Best Student-Led Spinoff

16:20 - 17:20

Pitchings: SEE Champions in Medtech
Powered by: HTIS26 and Health and Life Sciences Bulgaria

17:20 - 18:00

Pitching: Champions of Clean Tech, AI, Microelectronics & Cybersecurity

18:00 - 18:30

Spinoff of the Year Awards Ceremony

18:30 - 22:00

Spinoff EUROPA Party & Networking (dinner, wine and good vibe)

SIDE EVENTS (Day 1 / 11 June 2026)

10:30 – 13:00

Partner event

14:00 – 15:00

Inside the Investor’s Mind: How Spinoffs Get Funded

Agenda: Day 2 / 12 June 2026

9:00 – 9:30

Registration Spinoff Europa Conference 2026 & Morning Coffee

9:30 – 9:35

Short Keynote by founders of the Spinoff Europa Initiative: Kristina Eskenazi, Dimitar Dimitrov, Paulina Chotrova

9:35 – 10:00

Official Guest Speaker / Senior Government Stakeholders
Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation (TBC)
Aleksey Andreev, Ambassador at Large for AI and Digital Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria
Darinka Georgieva, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network Bulgaria
Prof. DSc Eng. Georgi Todorov, Dean of the Faculty of Industrial Technologies, Technical University of Sofia

10:00 – 11:00

Panel 1: Advancing Europe’s Technological Independence in Microelectronics
Organised by: C3BG — Chips Competence Centre Bulgaria
Moderator: Assoc. Prof. Dimitar Nikolov, PhD — Technical University of Sofia, Head of MINOLab (Micro Nano Laboratory), Coordinator of C3BG
Accelerating Europe’s Digital Capacity Discussion on strengthening Europe’s leadership in microelectronics, strategic autonomy, and industrial resilience.

11:00 - 11:20

Keynote: Centre of Excellence “Mechatronics and Clean Technologies”

11:20 - 11:40

Keynote: Advancing Global Perspectives in Innovation and Research
Daniela Alvarado Placencia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Insights into international approaches to innovation, research collaboration, and the role of global academic ecosystems in shaping the future of science-based entrepreneurship.

11:40 – 12:00

Fireside Chat: Strengthening Europe’s Cybersecurity Ecosystem
Steve Faulkner, Chief Executive Officer, NED & Cyber Security Evangelist
A discussion on Europe’s cybersecurity landscape, focusing on resilience, cross-border collaboration, and the role of industry and innovation ecosystems in addressing emerging digital threats.

12:00 - 12:40

Panel 2: Cybersecurity in Europe — From Strategy to Implementation
Powered by: Cyber4All
Moderator: Dr. Hristian Daskalov — Security Compliance Director, Evrotrust
Speakers: Jasen Tanev (Country Manager, Zucchetti Bulgaria) · Aleksey Andreev (MFA Bulgaria) · Steve Faulkner , Chief Executive Officer, NED & Cyber Security Evangelist
Strengthening Europe’s cybersecurity ecosystem with a focus on practical implementation, SME support, digital resilience, and the role of innovation hubs and collaborative frameworks in addressing emerging cyber threats.

12:40 - 13:00

Keynote: Enabling Dual-Use Innovation Through Advanced Aluminium Solutions
Powered by: Alcomet (TBC)

13:40 - 13:00

Keynote: Mechatronics and Clean Technology — Driving Europe’s Industrial Transformation
Powered by: Carbonsafe (TBC)

13:20 - 14:20

Lunch & Networking

14:20 - 14:40

Fireside Chat: EU AI Factories — Scaling AI Innovation and Infrastructure
Kiril Kirilov, BRAIN++ AI Factory
Exploring the role of EU AI Factories in strengthening Europe’s AI capabilities, supporting large-scale infrastructure, and enabling innovation across industry, research, and the public sector.

14:40 - 15:00

Keynote: Global Market Access for EU Deep-Tech Companies — Scaling Beyond Europe Through Strategic Innovation Partnerships
Leena Pishe Thomas, Director, Global Business Inroads (GBI) — EU, India, USA, UK

15:00 - 15:20

Keynote: Digital Twins – From Industrial Applications to System-Level Impact
Exploring the role of digital twins across industry, infrastructure, and public services.
Powered by: GATE Institute

15:20 – 16:20

Panel: Women in Deep Tech — Driving Innovation and Leadership in Europe
Moderator: Paulina (Polly) Chotrova — Founding President, Women in Deep Tech
Speakers: M. Betül Yerer Aycan (TÜSEB) · Darinka Georgieva (UN Global Compact Bulgaria) · Neli Paeva (Founder, Healthix Ltd.) · Leena Pishe Thomas (GBI)
A discussion highlighting the role of women in advancing deep-tech innovation, addressing challenges in access to funding, leadership, and visibility, and showcasing best practices for building inclusive and high-impact innovation ecosystems.

16:20 - 16:30

Closing Remarks

Speakers

Join Spinoff Europa Initiative Now

www.SpinoffEuropa.eu

Become part of a growing European movement that champions innovation, entrepreneurship, and research commercialisation.
By signing the Spinoff Europa initiative Declaration, your organisation shows its commitment to fostering science-based entrepreneurship and helping transform research into real-world impact.

Join a vibrant, cross-sector European network
Support spinoff creation and scaling
Access collaboration, visibility, and policy-shaping opportunities
Be part of shaping Europe’s innovation-driven future

🔗 Sign the Spinoff Europa initiative Declaration and make your commitment official.

Sign the Spinoff Europa initiative Declaration and make your commitment official.

Founder of the Spinoff Europa Initiative

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Memorable moments from 4th edition Spinoff Europa Conference 2025

What to expect?

Main Conference - Inspirational talks, discussions, panel sessions
B2B Matchmaking & Horizon Europe Partnerships
Workshops: 360-degree Labs for: Personalized Medicine, Clean Tech, AI adoption, Cybersecurity
Triple AI Zone – A dedicated space for attendees to engage in fun and intuitive AI prompt learning, experiment with AI-generated content, and explore real-world AI applications.
CyberTech Zone
Spinoff Showcases
Spinoff of the Year Award Ceremony
Round Table Discussions

Next Conference editions:

6th edition Spinoff Europa Conference 2027 / 17 - 18 June 2027

7th edition Spinoff Europa Conference 2028 / 15 - 16 June 2028

8th edition Spinoff Europa Conference 2029 / 21 - 22 June 2029

9th edition Spinoff Europa Conference 2030 / 20 - 21 June 2030

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SPINOFF EUROPA INITIATIVE 2026 Building Europe’s Deep Tech Future