From Research Excellence to Global Scale – Ministers for Research and Innovation hold informal online meeting

At the invitation of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, Ministers responsible for Research and Innovation from EU Member States, together with their counterparts from Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, held a virtual policy discussion on 31 March 2026 on strengthening Europe’s innovation potential.

The exchange focused on how to better translate research excellence into marketable innovation and reinforce Europe’s position in the global landscape. The meeting was chaired by Nicodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of Cyprus. The European Commission was represented by Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva.

Participants discussed remaining challenges for innovative companies, particularly with regard to scaling up across borders. They also explored ways to strengthen the research-to-innovation pipeline and accelerate the uptake of research results in the market. In this context, ministers were invited to share national and regional best practices and highlight successful initiatives that could serve as inspiration for broader European action. The discussion further addressed how Europe can enhance its attractiveness for researchers, innovators and investors, with a view to fostering breakthrough innovation.

The exchange built on recent initiatives, including the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, the Choose Europe initiative, and the proposal for a 28th regime/EU Inc.. The virtual meeting also took place in the context of forthcoming initiatives such as the Scaleup Europe Fund, the European Innovation Act, and the European Research Area Act.

The next official meeting of the Competitiveness Council (Research) is scheduled for 29 May in Brussels.