EAI SIB Summits

ICST supports the European Alliance for Innovation (EAI) Science for Innovation, Business and Technology (SIB) Summits. One of the central goals of ICST is to provide an innovative forum for exchanging ideas and presenting business opportunities related to the areas of technology transfer and innovation. ICST aims to create such a platform through the EAI Community SIB Councils Summit program, with the specific mission of bringing together experts from academic, industrial and governmental sectors. SIB Summits put special emphasis on transferring innovative ideas from research to business communities, promoting interaction between scientific and regulatory sectors and transforming theoretical ideas into concrete products and applications.

The SIB Summits consist of various tracks including:

Policy and Regulation Track

This track provides a forum in which leading European policymakers, regulators and IP experts provide perspectives, analysis and insight on the challenges and opportunities for European innovation in light of current or prospective policies affecting innovation in ICT-enabled areas. Conclusions and recommendations will also be integrated into EAI Strategic Forum and will become part of ongoing EAI Innovation Book Series.

Engineering for Innovation Track

This track provides an opportunity for the presentation of the latest research in innovative technologies.  Presenters are selected based on technology relevance, innovative edge, business approach and practical applicability. Preference will be given to individuals and small teams. The online submission and peer review process also affords innovators an opportunity to disseminate their innovation abstracts and demonstrations for the feedback of respective SIB community. Top technical presentations will be selected for EAI awards and appear in EAI member organizations’ digital publications.

Education and Innovation Track

Sessions in this track will feature relevant issues in education related to ICT-enabled areas in innovation.  Additionally, a Student Innovation Competition within the SIB focus will be run and winners will be highlighted at the Summit.  Students are required to demonstrate that their research is at a prototype level and ready for commercial applicability. Submissions are uploaded via the SIB Portal enabling evaluation both by the Community and an expert review committee. Criterion includes technology relevance, innovative edge, business approach, practical applicability and timing to commercialization.  Winner(s) receive recognition, appear in the EAI digital publications and present their innovation at the Summit.

Prototype Review Track

This track provides innovators with a unique opportunity to introduce their prototype demos to a broad range of EAI Community stakeholders including business development experts, private equity and venture capitalists, patent attorneys, consultants and other service providers.  Submissions consisting of descriptive information and video demonstrations are uploaded via the SIB Portal for review and/or testing by the EAI Community and expert review committee.  Selected companies or individuals are invited to showcase their entries as exhibitors at SIB Summit. In addition, top prototypes are recognized with EAI Awards and prominent postings in EAI digital publications.

Funding and Innovation Marketplace

Sessions in this track will provide innovators with information and resources on the latest public and private funding sources to bring ideas to the marketplace. Experts will explain what type of funding is available and how to obtain the necessary backing. Policymakers will provide insights on existing and future plans for national or European-wide project funding as well as associated best practices.  As part of this track, inventors will also have the opportunity to advance their technology development by leveraging EAI Community expertise in direct one-to-one feedback sessions with EAI members including scientists, engineers, IP experts, business advisors, marketing experts, and investor.

Market Trends and Society Track

Sessions in this track will address future market needs and demands in Europe in ICT-related.  As Europe has historically been at the forefront of socially responsible enterprise, this track will also address the impact of innovation on societies and recommend measures to guarantee that the current ICT revolution provides long term societal benefits.

Tangible Benefits for Participants and Providers

SIB Summits will bring about a wide range of benefits both for individual innovators and for the service providers that participate to support the previous in their path from idea to successful innovation.

Visit the SIB Summits webpage of the EAI for more.