Unveiling the Future: Tech Talks with EIC Programme Managers
- ›European Innovation Council Programme Managers outline visions across health, quantum, space, construction, energy, environment and food through a series of short Tech Talk videos.
- ›The talks promote challenge-driven portfolios managed by Programme Managers who identify technology gaps and actively steer selected projects toward impact.
- ›Content is exploratory and does not represent official European Commission positions, highlighting the promotional nature and early-stage status of many claims.
- ›Programme Managers bridge research and market by shaping Pathfinder Challenge portfolios, advising on Transition and Accelerator selections, and brokering investors and partners.
Inside the EIC Tech Talks: visions, portfolios and the Programme Manager model
The European Innovation Council is using a video series called Tech Talks to showcase how its Programme Managers intend to steer portfolios of projects across strategic fields. The scope ranges from medicine, cell and gene therapy and medical robotics to quantum technologies, semiconductors, renewable energy, space systems, construction, environment and novel food. The aim is to present priorities for upcoming challenge calls and to explain how active portfolio management is meant to accelerate breakthrough innovation in Europe.
The videos feature EIC Programme Managers who describe their technology roadmaps and the role portfolios play in moving research toward market outcomes. The content is explicitly presented for knowledge sharing and is not an official view of the European Commission. As with most promotional formats, concrete impact metrics are not detailed and timelines are indicative rather than binding.
What EIC Programme Managers actually do
The Programme Manager model is a defining feature of the EIC. Programme Managers develop mission-like visions in specific technology domains and then curate and shepherd portfolios of EIC-funded projects to execute those visions. Their work combines foresight, stakeholder convening and hands-on portfolio steering that goes beyond grant administration.
How the Tech Talks link to EIC funding instruments
The Tech Talks tie directly to how EIC funding is structured. Challenge calls typically sit in the Pathfinder instrument and are curated into portfolios which Programme Managers oversee. The same managers contribute technical insight to selections for Transition and Accelerator calls. This portfolio logic is intended to increase the probability that projects move up the technology readiness scale and find adoption partners.
| Instrument | Purpose | Programme Manager role |
| Pathfinder (Challenge) | High risk research on novel concepts shaped as a portfolio | Co-define challenges, co-select coherent projects, lead portfolio roadmaps and collaboration |
| Pathfinder (Open) | Bottom-up high risk research | May convene relevant projects into portfolio dialogues where useful |
| Transition | Advance validated results toward prototypes and business models | Active observer in juries, broker synergies with challenge portfolios |
| Accelerator | Scale deep tech startups with grants and equity | Active observer in juries, connect to advisory services, investors, partners and booster grants |
Who features in the Tech Talks and what they focus on
The Tech Talks series highlights Programme Managers presenting their domain visions. The selection spans health, energy, materials, construction, quantum and space, as well as food systems and sustainable electronics. The lineup evolves as portfolios and personnel change, but the following figures are featured in the video links promoted alongside the talks.
| Programme Manager | Focus area highlighted in Tech Talks | Technology themes mentioned |
| Iordanis Arzimanoglou | Health and biotechnology | Cell and gene therapy and a broader EIC approach to health and biotech |
| Carina Faber | Renewable energy conversion and alternative resource exploitation | Vision of renewable fuels and a circular economy by 2050 |
| Francesco Matteucci | Advanced materials for energy and environmental sustainability | Recycling and reuse of critical raw materials and new extraction technologies |
| Franc Mouwen | Architecture, engineering and construction | Technologies to change how buildings are designed and built to slow climate change |
| Samira Nik | Quantum tech and electronics | Semiconductors and quantum technologies for complex problem solving |
| Antonio Marco Pantaleo | Energy systems and green technologies | Mobilising transformational research in clean cooling |
| Enric Claverol Tinturé | Medical technologies and devices | Technology trends, opportunities and the coming role of robotics in medicine |
| Stella Tkatchova | Space systems and technologies | Tackling space debris and scaling game changers from idea to business |
| Isabel Obieta | Responsible electronics | Sustainable semiconductor and electronics solutions |
| Ivan Stefanic | Food chain technologies and novel foods | Biodiversity and soil health with environmental and social responsibility |
Current Programme Manager roster and domains
The Programme Manager roster is updated over time. The EIC currently lists the following domains and managers, reflecting an emphasis on semiconductors, AI, advanced materials, space, built environment, health and agrifood. Names and portfolios may change as calls and strategic priorities evolve.
| Programme Manager | Declared domain | Notes |
| Carina Faber | Renewable energy conversion and alternative resource exploitation | Energy and circular resource focus |
| Samira Nik | Quantum tech and electronics | Semiconductor and quantum stack emphasis |
| Isabel Obieta | Sustainable semiconductors | Responsible electronics and supply chain sustainability |
| Stella Tkatchova | Space systems and technologies | In-orbit services and debris mitigation focus |
| Federica Zanca | MedTech and AI in healthcare | Clinical technologies and data-driven care |
| Franc Mouwen | Architecture engineering construction technologies | Built environment and climate impact |
| Ivan Stefanic | Food chain technologies, novel and sustainable food | Agri-food and soil health |
| Paolo Bondavalli | Advanced materials for energy | Materials enabling energy transition |
| Hedi Karray | Artificial Intelligence | AI methods and applications across sectors |
| Orsolya Symmons | Health and Biotechnology | Biotech and health innovation portfolios |
What the videos promise and what they do not
The Tech Talks offer short explanations of where Programme Managers see transformative potential and how the EIC intends to support it through challenge calls and active portfolio management. They are primarily a signposting tool for applicants and stakeholders. The disclaimer is clear that the views expressed are not official positions of the European Commission or other organisations. The series does not present validated impact results, costed delivery plans or formal policy commitments.
Context from the EU innovation landscape
The EIC model is inspired by programmatic approaches such as those at DARPA, which rely on empowered programme managers to set bold visions and coordinate multi actor execution. In Europe, this is meant to counteract fragmentation between research and market, support scaleup financing for risky technologies and create portfolios that compound learning across projects. The approach complements national initiatives and other EU programmes but requires consistent coordination with member state agencies, industrial alliances and regulatory pathways. Its effectiveness depends on speed of call management and contracting, clarity of challenge scopes, and the availability of follow on capital and demand side pull from industry and public buyers.
The EIC has built mechanisms around this model such as Business Acceleration Services, investor matchmaking and the use of booster grants to support promising lines of work within portfolios. A broader EIC Tech Report has also flagged a watch list of emerging technologies that could influence European competitiveness, indicating where Programme Manager led portfolios could concentrate effort. These instruments and analyses are useful signals, though the eventual outcomes hinge on execution, cross border collaboration and the health of downstream markets.
How to engage with the portfolios and calls
Potential applicants should track EIC Pathfinder Challenge calls aligned to these Programme Manager visions and attend info days and workshops to understand call boundaries. Transition and Accelerator applicants can benefit from the technical focus of Programme Managers and from access to advisory services and investor networks if selected. Stakeholders such as corporates and investors can use the Tech Talks to identify collaboration areas with curated portfolios. The EIC Community portal hosts the videos and related links and requires login to comment or contribute.
Administrative and thematic details
The Tech Talks page is public and oriented to knowledge sharing. The post is tagged under business development, biotechnology, energy, environmental sciences, engineering and technology, construction and transport networks and food and beverages. The call to action is to learn more about Programme Manager priorities and to explore related videos. Users must register to comment on the EIC Community site.