Accelerating Autonomy with European Frontiers

Bridging the Frontier of European Innovation

The Accelerating Autonomy with European Frontiers is a strategic bridge connecting the immediate needs of today with the sovereign stability of tomorrow.

As the Seeds of Bravery project reaches its milestone conclusion, we are gathering in Warsaw to define what comes next for the European Digital Frontier.

Together with GIZ, through the 2 regional projects: EU4Digital and DT4SME project, co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), we are on a mission to transition the tech ecosystems of Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans from a state of emergency resilience to a position of strategic strength within the EU Single Market. By bringing together institutional leaders, deep tech founders, and private investors, we are building a roadmap that ensures frontier innovation is not just supported, but integrated into the very fabric of European autonomy.

EDIHs as Europe’s innovation catalysts

09:00-9:30	Registration & Welcome Coffee. Instead of a simple signature, participants engage with a large wall-sized matrix divided by technology (AI, HPC, Cyber). Participants place a Green Sticker on their strongest capacity and a Red Sticker on their missing capability.
9:30 - 10:10	Institutional opening The support to EDIHs to boost SME competitiveness with advanced tech access and testing services. - Mihaela Lafont, European Commission - Ilir Rexha, GIZ
10:10 - 10:30	Introduction to the session Introduction to the agenda and the objective of the session, fostering collaboration between innovation ecosystems across Europe - Mayte Carracedo, FundingBox
10:30 - 11:30	The Reality of EDIH Management E6 experienced managers explain how they handle their management operations and respond to the audience's questions. - Olena Loenko, Eastern Ukraine EDIH - Mario Vukelic, EDIH ADRIA, Croatia - Miroslav Janak, EDIH Cassovium, Slovakia - Lidia Mocanu Betoaea, Digital Innovation Zone, DIZ, Romania - Marcin Czyża, WAMA EDIH, Poland - Besmir Krasniqi, DIG4K Moderator: Maria Roca, FundingBox
11:30 - 12:00	Coffee Break & Ecosystem Meet-Up A break with hot tea and coffee served in colour-coded cups representing areas of interest to inspire conversations.
12:00 - 13:00	Service Delivery in Action (Case Studies) - Kristine Zunde, Latvian IT Cluster EDIH - Dimitar Tashkovki, EDIH, INNOFEIT - Christina Todorova, InnovationAmp EDIH - Boglarka Tompa, AI EDIH Hungary - Kamar Aden Omar, EDIH-DO Moderator: Vladyslav Kavelin, GIZ Q&A from the audience
13:00 - 14:00	Networking Lunch
	Working session for EDIHs (closed to EDIHs)
14:00 - 14:50	Examples of cross-border collaboration activities and initiatives Presentation of GIZ-funded initiatives. - Mirca Petic, EDIH DIH of Moldova - Zhivko Kokolanski, Inofeit EDIH - Liudmyla Bukhansova, CLOTEX EDIH - Anastasiia Kravchenko-Uhrekhelidze, USF, WIN2WIN - Sinisa Marcic, RCC Moderator: Ema Kuzmanovska Velevska, Advisor EU4Digital and RegioTrade, GIZ
14:50 - 16:00	World Café: Transitioning from Knowing to Doing Small round tables around topics related to cross-border collaboration. Participants discuss the trigger question for 15 minutes. - The Switch: When time is up, participants rotate to new tables, but the "Table Host" remains. - Table hosts present the results to summarise the group's insights.
16:00 - 17:00	Workshop: Collaborative Problem Solving Template on how to build the next steps for collaboration. Progression timeline, establish milestones for future events.
17:00 - 17:30	Wrap up of the day

09:00-10:00	Opening Press & Ecosystem Meet-Up A briefing with our keynote speakers and the press. Networking is facilitated by our signature colour-coded cups, designed to connect you with peers in your specific area of interest. During the session our speakers will discuss the struggles and opportunities for founder friendly funding highlighting EU SCALE as a needed mechanism to continue financing. - Michiel Scheffer, President of the European Innovation Council Board - Marcin Chruściel, Director of the Office of Polish-Ukrainian Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Poland. - Ilir Rexha, Programme Component Manager, GIZ - Anastasiia Kravchenko-Uhrekhelidze, Deputy Head of Projects at the Ukrainian Startup Fund - Anna Dymowska, Coordinator of DeepSAFE, COO at FundingBox Group - Kateryna Ryabiko, Founder of Hydratico Moderator: Karolina Krzeska, Rocket Science Communication
10:00 - 10:10	Harvesting the Seeds of Bravery - Welcome Speech An overview of Ukrainian DeepTech’s needs and opportunities and a summary of achievements by the Seeds of Bravery project - Anna Dymowska, Coordinator of Seeds of Bravery & DeepSAFE, COO at FundingBox Group - Sanyu Karani, Co-CEO of FundingBox Group
10:10 - 10:30	Keynote Speech EU as an engine for innovation, driving economic growth and ensuring safety through a targeted investment strategy. Presentation of EIC opportunities. - Michiel Scheffer, President of the European Innovation Council Board
10:30 - 10:40	Strategic Autonomy Investor Network Announcement Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding - Peter Torstensen - CEO at Accelerace, UASEEDs Partner - Juan L. Santamaría, Partner at Kibo Ventures - Sanyu Karani - co-CEO of FundingBox Group Relevance of a Strategic Autonomy focus by European Investors - Michiel Scheffer - President of the European Innovation Council Board
0:40 - 10:55	IFC in Ukraine & Western Balkans - Marcin Wisniewski, Poland Country Officer at IFC - World Bank Group
10:55 - 11:10	Expanding Europe’s Eastern Frontier in Research and Innovation - Frederik SONDERGAARD, Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG Research & Innovation
11:10 - 12:00	Enabling European Autonomy through Financing a Robust Innovation Ecosystem at European Frontiers This moderated panel discussion will focus on the strategic imperative of funding domestic deep tech innovation and cultivating a robust ecosystem of interconnected businesses. It will include an exploration of the public and private financing mechanisms available to fuel deep tech expansion, along with an overview of the EU SCALE initiative. - Marcin Chruściel, Director of the Polish-Ukrainian Development Cooperation Office - Leszek Stypulkowski, Ex-Board Member of the Polish Development Bank - Ilir Rexha, Programme Component Manager, GIZ. - Oleksandr Yatcenko, CEO of TEO, UASEEDs Partner Moderator: Tomasz Mazuryk, Co-CEO at FundingBox Group
12:00 - 13:00	Best Practices in Collaboration & Funding Two fireside chats focused on Ukraine’s pathway to full European Digital Integration. From Grant to Growth: Sustaining the EU-Ukraine Deep Tech Corridor by ensuring sustainability post-funding. - Peter Torstensen, CEO at Accelerace, UASEEDs Partner - Stjepan Orešković, Founder & Majority Shareholder, BOSQAR INVEST - Jan Debets, Head of Business Development & Partnerships, META Group Moderator: Michal Olszewski , Project Manager at FundingBox, UASEEDs Partner Recovery through Innovation: Engineering a Tech-Forward Ukraine: Session addresses the dual necessity of funding Ukraine's digital reconstruction and aligning its tech ecosystem with EU standards. Discussion will focus on leveraging innovation to drive economic recovery and social equity, as well as the policy frameworks required to sustain this progress. - Vladyslav Kavelin, Senior Advisor, Lviv office, GIZ - Andrii Zaikin - Founder & CEO at YEP Accelerator, UASEEDs Partner - Anastasiia Kravchenko-Uhrekhelidze, Deputy Head of Projects at the Ukrainian Startup Fund, UASEEDs Partner Moderator: Mayte Carracedo, Chief Ecosystem Officer at FundingBox Group
13:00 - 13:30	Dual-use as a new normal Panel discussion Showcasing the versatility of innovation and its role in resilience building. - Michiel Scheffer - President of the European Innovation Council Board - Krzysztof Lipiec - Director of Commercialisation Department, Łukasiewicz, PIAP Dual Use Seeds of Bravery startups: - Dmytro Kiriukhin - COO, Scopa Industries - Iurii Vysoven, Founder and CEO, Aerobavovna, Aerobavovna - Yuriy Dyachyshyn - LifesaverSIM CEO & Co-founder, THUNDERMARK LTD Moderator: Sanyu Karani, Co-CEO at FundingBox Group, UASEEDs Partner
13:30 - 14:30	Networking Lunch
14:30 - 17:30	Seeds of Bravery final pitching competition Showcasing top beneficiaries of Seeds of Bravery to the network of investors and supporters through a format of a pitching competition.
14:30 - 17:30	Visit to TEF Smart CitiCom AI EDIHs supported by GIZ projects and initiatives will be visiting the TEF Smart CitiCom AI (often referred to simply as CitCom.ai) - one of the four flagship European Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs) for Artificial Intelligence.

Christina Todorova

ICT Cluster/InnovationAmp EDIH

Mario Vukelić

STEP RI - Science and Technology Park of the University of Rijeka

Frederik Søndergaard

European Commission, DG Research & Innovation

Stjepan Orešković

Bosqar Invest / IEDC – Bled School of Management

Marcin Chruściel

Polish-Ukrainian Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Poland

Marcin Wiśniewski

IFC - International Finance Corporation

EDIHs as Europe’s innovation catalysts (10 March)

9:00-9:30 (CET)

Registration and welcome coffee

Instead of a simple signature, participants engage with a large wall-sized matrix divided by technology (AI, HPC, Cyber) and Sector (Agri, Health, Manufacturing).

• Participants place a Green Sticker on their strongest facility and a Red Sticker on their missing capability.

9:30-10:10 (CET)

Institutional opening

The geopolitical necessity of integrating WB6/UA hubs into the Single Market and the role of the EU4DIGITAL and the support to EDIHs to boost SME competitiveness in the Western Balkans with advanced tech access and testing services, while NCP training on finance readiness helps attract investment and close the EU convergence gap.

Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement.

Ilir Rexha, EU4DIGITAL/EU4Trade, Component Lead, GIZ

10:10-11:30 (CET)

Introduction to the session

Introduction to the agenda and the objective of the session fostering collaboration between innovation ecosystems across Europe

Mayte Carracedo, FundingBox Partner and Chief of Ecosystems and Services

10:30-11:30 (CET)

The Reality of EDIH Management

6-4 experienced managers explain how they handle their management operations and respond to the audience questions "How do I handle a rejected cost statement?" or "What if I miss my SME target?".

EDIHs- Peer learning, Supportive partners, strategy.

Moderation: FundingBox Team

11:30-12:00 (CET)

Coffee break & “tech” networking

Refreshment stations are positioned to force movement through the "AI, HPC, IoT" encouraging organic mixing

12:00-13:00 (CET)

Service Delivery in Action (Case Studies)

Story 1 (Public Sector): How an EDIH digitized a local municipality

Story 2 (Finance): How an EDIH helped a SME secure funding

Story 3 (TBI): A successful case of a company having received test before invest services (BIBA)
Story 4 (Networking): Example of services delivered
Moderation: GIZ/FundingBox
Q&A from the audience

13:00-14:00 (CET)

Networking lunch

14:00 -14:30 (CET)

Presentation of cross-border projects in the Western Balkans funded by GIZ.

Each project (2) presents in 10 minutes its main objective and focus areas of expertise.

GIZ Moderator: Ema Kuzmanova

14:30 – 15:30 (CET)

World café

Small round tables around topics related to corss-border collaboration. While contacts with EU EDIHs exist, EDIHs struggle to transition from "knowing" partners to "doing" business. They face ambiguity on how to initiate and structure joint initiatives or shared service delivery.

Participants discuss the trigger question for 15 minutes.
The Switch: When time is up, participants rotate to new tables, but the "Table Host" remains.
Table hosts present the results to summarise the group's insights.

15:30 – 16:30 (CET)

Workshop

Part 2: group exercise (problem solving)

16:30 – 17:30 (CET)

Speed networking

Check the responses included in the matrix and match green with red participants

The Eastern Frontier (11 March)

09:15-10:00 (CET)

Press Conference

Summary of Seeds of Bravery as an example of public investment in innovation to enable sovereignty & EU SCALE as a needed mechanism to continue financing

- Michiel Scheffer - Chairman of European Investment Council
- Anastasiia Kravchenko - Project Manager at Ukrainian Startup Fund
- Anna Dymowska - coordinator of Seeds of Bravery & DeepSAFE, COO at FundingBox Group
- Tomasz Mazuryk - co-CEO at FundingBox Group
- Sanyu Karani - co-CEO at FundingBox
- Kateryna Ryabiko - beneficiary of UASEEds - founder of Hydratico

09:15-10:00 (CET)

Registration Coffee & Ecosystem Meet-Up.

A warm welcome with hot tea and coffee served in colour-coded cups representing areas of interest to inspire conversations.

10:00 - 10:20 (CET)

Harvesting the Seeds of Bravery - welcome speech

An overview of Ukrainian DeepTech’s needs and opportunities and a summary of achievements by the Seeds of Bravery project

Anna Dymowska -coordinator of Seeds of Bravery & DeepSAFE, COO at FundingBox Group
Sanyu Karani - co-CEO of FundingBox

10:20 - 10:40 (CET)

Europe at the digital crossroads - the impact of European Frontier’s innovation on Digital Sovereignty.

Keynote speech

10:40 - 11:00 (CET)

Keynote Speech

Keynote speech

EU as a motor for innovation driving economic growth and ensuring safety though an encompassing investment strategy. Presentation of EIC opportunities

Michiel Scheffer - EIC Chairman

11:00 - 11:50 (CET)

Enabling European Autonomy through Financing a Robust Innovation Ecosystem at European Frontiers

This moderated panel discussion will focus on the strategic imperative of funding domestic deep tech innovation and cultivating a robust ecosystem of interconnected businesses. It will include an exploration of the public and private financing mechanisms available to fuel deep tech expansion, along with an overview of the EU SCALE initiative.

Michiel Scheffer - Chairman of European Innovation Council
Katarzyna Pełczynska Nałecz - The Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, Republic of Poland, Republic of Poland
Anastasiia Kravchenko - Project Manager at Ukrainian Startup Fund
Moderator: Tomasz Mazuryk, co-CEO at FundingBox Group

11:50 - 12:50 (CET)

Best Practices in Collaboration & Funding

Fireside Chats

Series of three firechats focused on Ukraine’ pathway to full European Digital Integration

From Grant to Growth: Sustaining the EU-Ukraine Deep Tech Corridor - how to ensure sustainability post funding?

- Peter Torstensen - CEO at Accelerace
- Michal Olszewski - Project Manager at FundingBox (moderator)

Digital Reconstruction: Tech as the Backbone of Ukraine’s Recovery - how to ensure sufficient funding for innovation and make it a driver for economic growth while increasing social equity (Tech4Good)?

- Andrii Zaikin - Founder & CEO at YEP Accelerator
- Mayte Carracedo - Chief Ecosystem Officer at FundingBox Group (moderator)
Blueprint for the Future: Policy Recommendations for a Tech-Forward Ukraine - what can EU learn & benefit out of digital acceleration in Ukraine?
- Anastasiia Kravchenko, Project Manager at Ukrainian Startup Fund
- Maria Karpiłowska - Project Manager of Seeds of Bravery at FundingBox

12:50 - 13:20 (CET)

Dual-use as a new normal

Panel discussion

Showcasing the versatility of innovation and its role in resilience building.

Michiel Scheffer - Chairman of European Innovation Council
Dual Use Seeds of Bravery startups

Moderator: Sanyu Karani, Co-CEO at FundingBox Group

13:30 - 14:30 (CET)

Networking Lunch

14:30 - 17:30 (CET)

Seeds of Bravery final pitching competition

Showcasing top beneficiaries of Seeds of Bravery to the network of investors and supporters through a format of a pitching competition.

Day 1: EDIHs as Europe’s innovation catalysts Tuesday, 10th March 2026
	09:00-09:30 (CET)	Registration and welcome coffee Instead of a simple signature, participants engage with a large wall-sized matrix divided by technology (AI, HPC, Cyber) and Sector (Agri, Health, Manufacturing). • Participants place a Green Sticker on their strongest facility and a Red Sticker on their missing capability.
	09:30-10:15 (CET)	Institutional opening The geopolitical necessity of integrating WB6/UA hubs into the Single Market and the role of the EU4DIGITAL and the support to EDIHs to boost SME competitiveness in the Western Balkans with advanced tech access and testing services, while NCP training on finance readiness helps attract investment and close the EU convergence gap. Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement.Ilir Rexha, EU4DIGITAL/EU4Trade, Component Lead, GIZ
	10:10-10:30 (CET)	Introduction to the session Introduction to the agenda and the objective of the session fostering collaboration between innovation ecosystems across Europe
		Mayte Carracedo, FundingBox Partner and Chief of Ecosystems and Services

	10:30-11:30	The Reality of EDIH Management 6-4 experienced managers explain how they handle their management operations and respond to the audience questions "How do I handle a rejected cost statement?" or "What if I miss my SME target?".
		EDIHs- Peer learning, Supportive partners, estratégicos. Moderation: FundingBox Team
	11:30-12:00 (CET)	Coffee break & “tech” networking Refreshment stations are positioned to force movement through the "AI, HPC, IoT" encouraging organic mixing
	12:00-13:00	Service Delivery in Action (Case Studies) Story 1 (Public Sector): How an EDIH digitized a local municipality Story 2 (Finance): How an EDIH helped a SME secure funding Story 3 (TBI): A successful case of a company having received test before invest services (BIBA) Story 4 (Networking): Example of services delivered Moderation: GIZ/FundingBox Q&A from the audience
	13:00-14:00	Networking lunch
	14:00 -14:30	Presentation of cross-border projects in the Western Balkans funded by GIZ. Each project (2) presents in 10 minutes its main objective and focus areas of expertise. GIZ Moderator: Ema Kuzmanova
	14:30 – 15:30	World café Small round tables around topics related to corss-border collaboration. While contacts with EU EDIHs exist, EDIHs struggle to transition from "knowing" partners to "doing" business. They face ambiguity on how to initiate and structure joint initiatives or shared service delivery. Participants discuss the trigger question for 15 minutes. The Switch: When time is up, participants rotate to new tables, but the "Table Host" remains. Table hosts present the results to summarise the group's insights.
	15:30 – 16:30	Workshop Part 2: group exercise (problem solving)
	16:30 – 17:30	Speed networking Check the responses included in the matrix and match green with red participants

09:15-10:00 (CET)	Registration Coffee & Ecosystem Meet-Up. A warm welcome with hot tea and coffee served in colour-coded cups representing areas of interest to inspire conversations.
10:00 - 10:20 (CET)	Harvesting the Seeds of Bravery - welcome speech An overview of Ukrainian DeepTech’s needs and opportunities and a summary of achievements by the Seeds of Bravery project
10:20 - 10:40 (CET)	Europe at the digital crossroads - the impact of European Frontier’s innovation on Digital Sovereignty. Keynote speech
10:40 - 11:00 (CET)	Keynote Speech by EIC Chairman Keynote speech EU as a motor for innovation driving economic growth and ensuring safety though an encompassing investment strategy. Presentation of EIC opportunities
11:00 - 11:50 (CET)	Enabling European Autonomy through Financing a Robust Innovation Ecosystem at European Frontiers This moderated panel discussion will focus on the strategic imperative of funding domestic deep tech innovation and cultivating a robust ecosystem of interconnected businesses. It will include an exploration of the public and private financing mechanisms available to fuel deep tech expansion, along with an overview of the EU SCALE initiative.
11:50 - 12:50 (CET)	Best Practices in Collaboration & Funding Fireside Chats Series of three firechats focused on Ukraine’ pathway to full European Digital Integration From Grant to Growth: Sustaining the EU-Ukraine Deep Tech Corridor - how to ensure sustainability post funding?
12:50 - 13:20 (CET)	Dual-use as a new normal Panel discussion Showcasing the versatility of innovation and its role in resilience building.
13:30 - 14:30 (CET)	Networking Lunch
14:30 - 17:30 (CET)	Seeds of Bravery final pitching competition Showcasing top beneficiaries of Seeds of Bravery to the network of investors and supporters through a format of a pitching competition.

UASEEDS: Funded by the European Union under the European Innovation Council (EIC), paving the way for the participation of Ukrainian start-ups in future EIC calls. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission or EIC. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them. UASEEDs project has received funding from the Horizon Europe Framework Programme under grant agreement № 101104445.

DEEPSAFE: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

About the Event

Bridging the Frontier of European Innovation

Agenda

Meet the Speakers

Michiel Scheffer

Anna Dymowska

Vladyslav Kavelin

Mayte Carracedo

Sanyu Karani

Sinisa Marcic

Kateryna Ryabiko

Anastasiia Kravchenko-Uhrekhelidze

Ola Sawicka Green

Christina Todorova

Kamar Aden Omar

Tomasz Mazuryk

Michal Olszewski

Mario Vukelić

Maria Karpiłowska

Ema Kuzmanovska Velevska

Ilir Rexha

Lidia Mocanu

Maria Roca

Dmitry Kiryukhin

Kristine Zunde

Miroslav Janak

Frederik Søndergaard

Iurii Vysoven

Stjepan Orešković

Boglárka Tompa

Krzysztof Lipiec

Yuriy Dyachyshyn

Leszek Stypułkowski

Mihaela Lafont

Marcin Czyża

Jan Debets

Marcin Chruściel

Marcin Wiśniewski

Strengthen Institutional Resilience

Secure DigitalSovereignty

Drive Deep TechInvestment

The Numbers

M€+

in "Seeds of Bravery" support showcased.

+

Frontier EDIHs integrated.

Regional Hubs aligned.

Unified Roadmap for European Digital Reconstruction.

The Organisers

Secure Digital
Sovereignty

Drive Deep Tech
Investment