Event in Brussels, 19 February 2025

Topic:

‘Research and innovation as drivers of growth: How market-oriented solutions secure prosperity in Europe’

Venue and date:

Wednesday, 19 February 2025, 7.00–8.30 pm,
Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union,
Rue Wiertz 77, 1000 Brussels

Research and development into innovations, as well as successful business ideas, form the foundation for the creation of new businesses. They also lay the groundwork for tomorrow’s prosperity. This applies to Europe too!

Start-ups typically create only a few new jobs. However, as these companies succeed and grow in the market, the multiplier effect in terms of job creation increases significantly. Even global corporations such as Apple, Amazon, Google, HP, Meta and Microsoft once started small. None of these companies originated in Europe. Currently, China and the US top the list of successful start-ups. Nevertheless, Europe holds great potential. According to the European Patent Office, a record number of almost 200,000 patent applications was reached in 2023. Business-friendly conditions for research and development are therefore key factors for the successful commercialisation of patents in Europe. The event ‘Research and Innovation as a Driver of Growth – How we can secure prosperity in Europe through market-oriented solutions’, organised in cooperation with the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria, SME Europe, the European People’s Party (EPP), the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSS) and the European Economic Senate (EES), is dedicated to addressing key questions regarding the safeguarding of our economic future in Europe: How can we strengthen research and development? How can we retain technological innovations and start-ups in Europe? How can we improve the framework conditions for technological innovation?

Opening and welcome

• Eric Beißwenger, Member of the Bavarian Parliament (MdL
  ) Minister of State for European and International Affairs in Bavaria

Welcome

• Dipl.-Kfm. Michael JÄGER
  President of the Taxpayers Association of Europe (TAE),
  CEO of the European Economic Senate (EES)

Keynote speeches

• Dr Andreas Schwarz,
  Head of Cabinet at the European Commission for Start-ups, Research and Innovation

Panel discussion

• Eric Beißwenger, Member of the Bavarian State Parliament (MdL
  ) Minister of State for European and International Affairs in Bavaria

• Dr Andreas Schwarz,
  Head of Cabinet at the European Commission for Start-ups, Research and Innovation
• Niels Flemming Hansen,
  Member of the European Parliament and of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Vice-President of SME Europe, Co-Chair of the SME Circle

• Frank Obrist,
  Founder and Chairman of the Obrist Group
• Dr Richard BEYER
  Scientific Director of the European Institute for Public Finance (EIPF)

Moderator:

• Dr Ralf Schneider,
  President of the Association of European Journalists (VEJ)

Closing remarks

• Dr Ingo Friedrich,
  President of the European Economic Senate (EES), former Vice-President of the European Parliament, Head of the European Policy Committee of the Bavarian Economic Advisory Council,
  Member of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, Honorary President of SME Europe within the EPP