InnoNext at Tech Villa 2026: bridging researchers, start-ups and the European innovation ecosystem
- ›InnoNext will present its matchmaking and internship model at Tech Villa 2026 in Turin on 7 October 2026.
- ›The initiative is funded by the European Innovation Council and the EIT and aims to place researchers and innovators in fully funded internships with start-ups and SMEs.
- ›Speakers include programme coordinators, hosting-company founders, visiting talent alumni and regional innovation network representatives.
- ›Open calls for hosting companies and talents are active and the InnoNext programme window has been extended through 31 July 2027.
InnoNext at Tech Villa 2026: connecting research talent, companies and innovation ecosystems
On 7 October 2026 InnoNext will take part in Tech Villa 2026 in Turin with a presentation and roundtable that brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, corporates and innovation intermediaries. The session aims to show how the InnoNext model works in practice and to discuss community building, eligibility updates and the potential for stronger links between research programmes and industry. Entry to the event is free and the roundtable will be held in English at Villa Sanquirico at 17:00.
What InnoNext is and how it positions itself
InnoNext describes itself as a flagship initiative of the European Innovation Council and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Its stated goal is to connect highly skilled researchers and innovators with start-ups and SMEs through innovation internships and a matchmaking platform. The programme emphasises fully funded internships that last between three and six months and that are intended to accelerate knowledge transfer from research to real world applications. InnoNext also positions community building and network effects as central to generating long term value for both talent and host companies.
The Turin conversation: focus and format
The Tech Villa session will combine a short project presentation with a roundtable. The organisers say the conversation will cover the mechanics of matchmaking the latest eligibility updates, and the role of community building and networking. The ambition is to move beyond individual internship matches and to consider systemic opportunities for synergy between European research and innovation programmes.
| Event detail | Information |
| When | 7 October 2026, 17:00 |
| Where | Villa Sanquirico, Turin |
| Language | English |
| Cost | Free entry, registration required |
Who will speak and which perspectives will be represented
The roundtable will assemble voices from across the InnoNext community including programme coordinators, a hosting-company founder, a visiting talent alumnus, regional innovation intermediaries and representatives from other EIC and EIT programmes. The conversation aims to surface practical experience from both hosts and talents and to examine broader ecosystem questions.
| Speaker | Role and affiliation |
| Fabrizio Dominici | Head of AI Data and Space at LINKS Foundation and InnoNext Coordinator |
| Krassen Dimitrov | Founder of Voltera and InnoNext hosting company representative; associated with EIC Pathfinder |
| Giorgio Roffi | InnoNext visiting talent; affiliated with an EIT programme and Climate-KIC |
| Nicoletta Marchiandi Quatraro | Head of Innovation Digital Hub and Sustainability at the Chamber of Commerce of Turin; Enterprise Europe Network |
| Daniele Conti, PhD | Founder of Syndiag and EIT Health programme alumnus |
| Alessandro Zerbetto | Programme Manager at DeepACT |
Who is eligible and how participation works
InnoNext targets two broad groups. On the company side the priority is start-ups and SMEs that have received or are connected to EU innovation support schemes. On the talent side the programme focuses on early career researchers and alumni from EU research programmes. Matches are intended to be tailored to company needs and to provide researchers with hands on industry experience.
| Participant type | Examples |
| Hosting companies | EIC Accelerator awardees, EIC Transition, EIT-backed SMEs, Seal of Excellence holders |
| Visiting talents | PhD or postdoctoral researchers from MSCA, ERC, EIT, EIC Pathfinder or Transition |
Open calls and timelines
According to the InnoNext programme page the open calls have been extended by 12 months and are now active until 31 July 2027. At the time of the announcement both the call for hosting companies and the call for talents were open. Organisations and individuals interested in participating are invited to prepare profiles and internship offers on the InnoNext platform and to consult the programme page for application details.
How InnoNext fits into the wider EU innovation landscape
InnoNext sits within the EIC Business Acceleration Services portfolio which packages practical supports for innovators including investor readiness, procurement engagement and internationalisation. The approach reflects a broader policy emphasis on connecting excellence in research with market-facing organisations. In theory the programme tackles well known frictions in European innovation systems such as the gap between academic career incentives and commercialisation needs and the difficulty SMEs have in recruiting specialised research skills.
Practical next steps and contact
Researchers innovators SMEs and other stakeholders who want to learn more or to take part can attend the Tech Villa event in Turin on 7 October or register via the EIC Community pages. The InnoNext programme encourages potential hosts and talents to prepare profiles and internship descriptions. For questions the InnoNext page suggests contacting the EIC Community contact form with the category 'InnoNext'.
Source note and further reading
This article restructures and expands on information published by the EIC Community and the InnoNext programme pages. Readers seeking sign up forms specific eligibility requirements or the programme's full data protection and service terms should consult the official InnoNext and EIC Business Acceleration Services webpages and the EIC Community platform.