The ELEVATE consortium is pleased to announce the Phase I Final Conference, taking place on 17 December 2025, from 15:00 to 16:30 CET. This online event marks an important milestone in the implementation of the ELEVATE Project, funded by the EIT HEI Initiative, showcasing the progress achieved throughout the first year of activities.
Bringing together partners, mentors, students, startups, and ecosystem stakeholders, the conference will highlight the main accomplishments of Phase I, including capacity-building actions, entrepreneurship training developments, innovation ecosystem strengthening, and institutional transformation initiatives carried out across all participating regions.
The programme features keynote talks by distinguished experts in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Creative and Cultural Industries, Health Sciences, Biotechnology, and Entrepreneurship, offering insights into emerging trends and cross-disciplinary opportunities shaping the future of innovation in Europe.
A central moment of the event will be the presentation of the winning teams of the ELEVATE Case Competition, selected from among this year’s cohort for the quality, novelty and societal relevance of their entrepreneurial solutions. These teams represent exemplary interdisciplinary collaboration—one of the core ambitions of ELEVATE.
Conference highlights
Phase I Online Conference of the ELEVATE Project, funded by the EIT-HEI
17 December
15:00–16:30 CET
ELEVATE – Pathways to Inspire Innovation & Entrepreneurial Talent
Main achievements of Phase I
Key talks in AI, Creative Industries, Health, Biotech and Entrepreneurship
Winning Case Competition teams
We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you!
Programme
Online Conference – EIT-HEI ELEVATE Project
17 December | 15:00–16:30 CET
ELEVATE – Pathways to Inspire Innovation & Entrepreneurial Talent
- 15:00 – ELEVATE: Vision, Achievements & Impact
João Cortez, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), Portugal
The project’s mission, main achievements of Phase I, and the impact generated so far. - 15:10 – Empowering HEIs: How Initiatives Like ELEVATE Strengthen Entrepreneurial Mindsets and Startup Creation
Jeppe Darpø Olesen, Aarhus University, Denmark
The importance of innovation projects in transforming higher education institutions’ role in supporting future entrepreneurs. - 15:25 – Creative Industries Across the Atlantic: University–Industry Bridges that Spark Entrepreneurship
Cristiano Max Pereira Pinheiro, Pontificia Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Insights from Brazilian and Latin American experiences on how academia and industry collaborations foster entrepreneurial ventures in the creative sector. - 15:40 – AI-Powered Innovation: Artificial Intelligence for Ideation and New Venture Creation
Carlo Moreto, Prodigys, Italy
Role of AI tools and methodologies in transforming creativity, problem-solving, and early-stage business development. - 15:55 – Entrepreneurship Training for the Agrifood Sector: Success Stories
Cláudia Costa, Food for Sustainability
A look at success cases and emerging opportunities shaping innovation in agrifood. - 16:10 – Pitch Session: Best Teams of the ELEVATE Case Competition
Presentation of the best teams and their innovative solutions. - 16:30 – Final Remarks & Closing
Wrap-up of the conference and next steps for Phase II of the ELEVATE project.
Participants will also gain an overview of the project’s impact to date and the outlook for Phase II, as ELEVATE continues to foster innovation capacity, strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions and industry, and empower the next generation of European innovators.
We invite all stakeholders to join us for this celebration of progress, collaboration and interdisciplinary innovation.
