EIC Meet and Greet at VivaTech 2025

The European Innovation Council will run a home base style stand at VivaTech in Paris from 11 to 14 June 2025. The stand is intended as a meeting point for EIC beneficiaries, stakeholders and partners to connect, network and hold informal meetings across the four days of the conference. The EIC is also organising two dedicated Meet and Greet sessions with drinks and dessert to encourage community interaction.

Practical details

Why the EIC presence matters, and what to expect

VivaTech markets itself as Europe’s largest technology and startup event and draws a broad ecosystem of corporates, investors, founders and policy actors. For EIC beneficiaries the EIC stand can work as a practical base for arranging meetings, getting visibility among peers and keeping momentum on commercialization conversations. That said, VivaTech is a crowded, attention intensive environment. Expect noisy halls, tightly booked schedules and competing marketing activities.

The EIC stand and the Meet and Greet sessions offer networking value. They are not a substitute for prepared investor or partner meetings. Beneficiaries should treat them as an opportunity to follow up leads, show progress updates and raise their profile within the EIC community rather than as a primary channel to close funding rounds.

How to register if you are an EIC beneficiary

If you are an EIC beneficiary and do not yet have a VivaTech ticket you can enquire about a limited number of tickets by emailing EISMEA-EVENTS@ec.europa.eu. When you contact them include your Grant Agreement Number. The communication emphasises limited availability so early contact is advisable. If you already have a pass, organisers encourage you to let the EIC team know so they can welcome you at the stand.

Preparing to make the most of the EIC stand and Meet and Greet sessions

Treat the EIC stand as a convenient hub. Have a concise update ready about your project and your needs. If you are seeking partners or investors prepare one page summaries and a short 60 second pitch. Use the Meet and Greet to expand your network but plan specific meetings for deeper conversations. Many high value connections at large events get made in scheduled follow ups after initial contact.

Remember to check your obligations under your EIC grant when attending promotional events. If you plan to discuss commercial deals, intellectual property or data sharing, ensure you have internal approvals and appropriate confidentiality measures in place. The EIC stand may be public and informal interactions there are not confidential by default.

Practical checklist

Context and caveats

VivaTech positions itself as Europe’s biggest startup and tech gathering and highlights large attendee numbers and media reach. Those claims are valid as promotional framing but they reflect organisers’ metrics and marketing language. Large scale events can deliver broad exposure but they are less effective for targeted deal making without prior organisation. EIC beneficiaries should calibrate expectations accordingly.

The original announcement also carries a standard disclaimer that the information is shared for knowledge and should not be taken as the official position of the European Commission or other organisations. That caveat remains relevant if you expect policy commitments or official endorsements at the stand.

Final practical note

If you plan to attend, register your interest early, prepare concise materials and use the EIC stand C21 as a logistical base to coordinate meetings across VivaTech. For ticket queries and verification contact EISMEA-EVENTS@ec.europa.eu and include your Grant Agreement Number.