Innovation At The Heart of NextGenerationEU

“The NextGenerationEU is more than a recovery plan. It is a once in a lifetime chance to emerge stronger from the pandemic, transform European economies, create opportunities and jobs. We can make this happen. We have the vision, we have the plan, and we have agreed to invest 750 billion euro together. It is now time to get to work, to make Europe greener, more digital and more resilient.” (Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission).

Next generation innovations and technologies are the major drivers behind the NextGenerationEU. It is clear that the EU finds itself in a pivotal moment. Now is the time to get to work, to make Europe greener, more digital and more resilient. Wherever they are in Europe, all innovators and entrepreneurs must be empowered to realize their full potential, for they are the active force powering the wave of the green industrial revolution. The NextGenerationEU fund needs to support ambitious innovation projects in various industrial ecosystems, in healthcare, for a sustainable food provision, the generation of green energy and clean mobility. The projects being funded are needed to secure a sustainable future for the planet and people. 

Opening and moderation by Roland Strauss, Managing Director, Knowledge4Innovation

  • Welcome by Maria da Graça Carvalho, MEP, Chair of the K4I Forum
  • Keynote by Minister Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal
  • Keynote by Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth

National Action Plans – Driving the Green Transition - Innovation at the Heart of NGEU

Representative of the Portuguese government

Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Portugal 

Representative of the Slovenian government

Andrej Čuš, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology

Welcome by Franc Bogovic, MEP

Representative of the Austrian Government

Brigitte Weiss: Head of Unit for International Technology Policy and Programs, Directorate General Innovation and Technology, Austrian Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology

Representative of the Belgium Government

Thomas Dermine, State Secretary for Economic Recovery and Strategic Investment

Representative of the Finnish Government

Maria Kaisa Aula, State Secretary, Ministry of Finance

Representative of the Italian Government

Michele QUARONI, Ambassador — Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy

Representatives of the Spanish Government

Teresa Riesgo Alcaide, Secretaria General de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación

Javier Ponce Martinez, Director General, Centro de desarrollo tecnológico e industrial (CDTI)

Representative of the Latvian Government

Dmitrijs Stepanovs, Deputy State Secretary for the Higher Education and Research, Ministry of Education and Science 

Representative of the Romanian Government

Prof. Dragoş Mihael Ciuparu, Secretary of State for Research,  Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization

Responses by Members of the European Parliament

Questions from Stakeholders

Closing Remarks, Maria da Graça Carvalho, MEP, Chair of the K4I Forum

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