EIC Summit 2025: three Brussels satellite events for innovators — AI training, Partners Day and Pathfinder Challenges Info Day
- ›Three satellite events will run around the EIC Summit 2025 in Brussels: an in-person AI training for EIC beneficiaries on 1 April, the EIC Partners Day on 1 April with matchmaking on 2 April, and the EIC Pathfinder Challenges Info Day on 4 April.
- ›The AI training is in-person only and open to EIC-backed innovators with an interest deadline of 13 March 2025.
- ›EIC Partners Day focuses on linking EIC beneficiaries with service providers from the EIC Service Catalogue and is linked with the EIC ACCESS+ co-funding initiative; register by 14 March 2025.
- ›The Pathfinder Challenges Info Day will present the 2025 Pathfinder Challenge calls, run parallel technical sessions, and be livestreamed with recordings and slides available afterwards; in-person registration closes 25 March 2025.
- ›Practical points to note include capacity limits, that travel costs are not covered, and eligibility rules for EIC ACCESS+ co-funding which can provide up to EUR 60,000 per beneficiary covering 50% of service costs.
EIC Summit 2025 satellite events in Brussels
The European Innovation Council will host three satellite events around the EIC Summit 2025 in Brussels. These are scheduled in the days immediately before and after the Summit and target different parts of the EIC ecosystem. The events are an EIC Community training titled Artificial intelligence tools for innovators on 1 April 2025, the EIC Partners Day on 1 April with additional matchmaking sessions on 2 April, and the EIC Pathfinder Challenges Info Day on 4 April 2025.
EIC Community Training - Artificial intelligence tools for innovators
Organised by the EIC Business Acceleration Services under the EIC Community Programme, this half day training will take place in person on Tuesday 1 April 2025 from 13:00 to 18:30 CEST in Brussels. The session is open to all EIC-backed innovators and will showcase practical AI tools aimed at improving productivity for startups and researchers across domains. Accepted participants will be informed of the exact venue. The event is in-person only and prospective attendees were asked to express interest by 13 March 2025.
EIC Partners Day 2025
The EIC Partners Day is designed as a networking and co-creation space for EIC Partners, EIC beneficiaries and other ecosystem actors. Main activities take place on 1 April 2025 from 10:00 to 17:30 CET at Convent Garden Floor 25 in Brussels. There are speed dating and matchmaking sessions on 2 April from 09:00 to 10:00 CET at Tour & Taxis, immediately before the Summit day dedicated to beneficiaries and partners. Registration for the Partners Day was set to close on 14 March 2025 and places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis subject to venue capacity. Travel and accommodation costs are not covered by the EIC.
| Event | Date and time | Location | Registration deadline / notes |
| EIC Community Training - AI tools for innovators | 1 April 2025, 13:00 - 18:30 CEST | Brussels, exact venue communicated to accepted participants | Express interest by 13 March 2025. In-person only |
| EIC Partners Day 2025 | 1 April 2025, 10:00 - 17:30 CET plus matchmaking 2 April 09:00 - 10:00 CET | Convent Garden Floor 25, Brussels. Matchmaking at Tour & Taxis | Register by 14 March 2025. Places limited |
| EIC Pathfinder Challenges Info Day | 4 April 2025, 09:00 - 13:00 CET | Albert Borschette Congress Center, Brussels and online | Register for in-person attendance by 25 March 2025. Remote participation available |
EIC Pathfinder Challenges Info Day
The Info Day on Friday 4 April 2025 runs from 09:00 to 13:00 CET at the Albert Borschette Congress Center in Brussels and online. It explains the specific features of the EIC Pathfinder Challenges published in the EIC 2025 Work Programme. The session includes a plenary introduction and parallel technical sessions led by the EIC Programme Managers. All parts are livestreamed and recorded. Remote participants could ask questions via sli.do and recordings and slides were to be posted after the event.
EIC ACCESS+ co-funding details
EIC ACCESS+ is the mechanism that co-funds EIC beneficiaries and Seal of Excellence holders to purchase services from the EIC Service Catalogue. The scheme reimburses up to 50 percent of service costs and provides a maximum cumulative grant of EUR 60,000 per beneficiary. The call is continuous with applications accepted on a first-come-first-served basis following eligibility checks. The open call for applications runs online from 1 November 2024 until 31 May 2026 unless otherwise communicated.
| Package | Maximum grant per beneficiary | Typical services covered |
| Research | Up to EUR 60,000 | Access to infrastructure and R&D support, prototyping and proof of concept |
| Skills improvement | Up to EUR 10,000 | Coaching and mentoring, HR and talent development |
| Business acceleration | Up to EUR 30,000 | Acceleration, incubation, venture building, business planning, matchmaking and internationalisation |
| Access funds | Up to EUR 30,000 | IP and legal, due diligence, fundraising support |
Logistics, registration and practical points
Important operational notes from the announcements and supporting pages. The AI training is in-person only and requires prior expression of interest. The Partners Day has a registration cutoff and venue capacity limits. The Info Day is hybrid with livestream and recordings. The EIC does not cover travel or accommodation for participants. For EIC ACCESS+ grants, the assessment is first-come-first-served after eligibility checks and applications are assigned an electronic timestamp.
Why attend and what to watch for
These satellite events offer practical value for innovators who want quicker access to services, direct contact with vetted providers, and a clearer picture of EIC research priorities. The Pathfinder Info Day is specifically useful for researchers considering risk heavy early research proposals. Partners Day helps beneficiaries discover paid or co-funded services and prototype commercial relationships. The AI workshop can be helpful for teams that wish to experiment with productivity tools while understanding operational and governance implications.
At the same time, attendees should be realistic about outcomes. Networking and matchmaking increase the possibility of collaborations but do not guarantee contracts or funding. Co-funding schemes like EIC ACCESS+ reduce costs but add administrative steps and eligibility constraints. In-person only elements and limited venue capacity reduce accessibility for participants from outside Brussels or those with mobility constraints. Finally, the strategic value of any contacts or services depends on a startup's specific stage and needs, so prospective attendees should prepare a short briefing about their objectives before attending workshops or matchmaking.
Where this fits in the EIC ecosystem and next steps
The satellite events tie into the broader EIC Summit 2025 on 2 and 3 April, which brings together deep tech, investors and policy makers at Tour & Taxis in Brussels. The EIC Business Acceleration Services and the EIC Ecosystem Partnership programme use these touch points to channel beneficiaries toward acceleration, procurement and investment opportunities. Interested parties should consult the EIC Community Platform and the official EIC webpages for registration forms, agendas, recordings and the EIC Service Catalogue. Be mindful of deadlines and of the administrative requirements for co-funding applications.
This information is provided for knowledge sharing. It reflects the event notices and supporting programme pages published by the European Innovation Council and associated projects. It should not be interpreted as an official position of the European Commission.