On 5-8 January 2023, 20 EIC-funded SMEs, startups and scale-ups with extraordinary deeptech solutions, met in Las Vegas, USA at CES 2023 under EIC Overseas Trade Fairs (OTF) Programme 2.0. The world’s most influential tech event brought together more than 5000 exhibiting companies, 4700 global media and over 100.000 visitors from more than 173 countries, ensuring that attendees will gain insights and strengthen business ties with international counterparts.
The European Pavilion hit the stage on this year’s tradeshow, featuring the latest developments in consumer electronics, artificial intelligence, robotics, smart cities and digital health, offering an immersive experience around the quality and authenticity of European novelties.
For the very first time, the European Union has been recognised by Consumer Technology Association (CTA) as ‘’Global Innovation Champion’’, based on an assessment of policies and practices around the world that fuel tech innovation or stand in the way of economic growth and social progress. Specifically, the Global Innovation Scorecard has been produced by CTA after the review of 71 countries and constitutes a comparative analysis of 40 indicators that enable the development of tech innovation across 17 categories. Jean-David Malo, Director of the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), received the innovation award from the President of CTA, Gary J. Shapiro.
In addition to the exhibition, the European Innovation Council (EIC) along with representatives from European National Pavilions organised the European Night Reception, an exclusive networking event to connect business counterparts and innovation leaders exhibiting at CES 2023. The invitation-only business reception brought together more than 300 participants, including the Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, Antonino Laspina, Coordinator of ITA in the US, and some of the best entrepreneurs exhibiting in CES from 22 European countries, who seized the opportunity to establish remarkable partnerships while attending CES.
Among the key highlights of the famous tradeshow stood out the high-level panel discussion on How Governments are Approaching Emerging Technologies with the participation of Jean-David Malo, Director of EISMEA, who stressed out the fundamental role of the EIC in backing visionary entrepreneurs in Europe, focusing not only on the new models for innovation funding, but also on the policies that should be adopted in order to support emerging technology.
The European companies impressed global audience with groundbreaking innovations and business deals. One of them, Biel Glasses, a Barcelona-based startup and exhibitor at the European Pavilion, made public during CES their business agreement with multinational Panasonic on their smart glasses that support the visually impaired. The joint product integrates Panasonic’s lightweight 5.2K HDR capable VR goggles with Biel Glasses' high technology for low vision. It solves the mobility issues caused by low vision and expect a multi-million impact in business.
To find out more on the EIC-funded companies that participated in CES 2023, please read this article. Under the EIC OTF Programme 2.0, the next European delegation is ready to exhibit game-changing innovations in Arab Health 2023, taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 January to 2 February 2023.
About EIC Overseas Trade Fairs Programme 2.0
The EIC Overseas Trade Fairs Programme 2.0 supports EIC-funded SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups to develop their large-scale commercialisation strategy in foreign markets and leverage entrepreneurial opportunities at global innovation hubs, strengthening the European Union’s (EU) brand around the world.
Building on the success of the Pilot OTF Programme, which took place between 2017-2018, the EIC OTF Programme 2.0 is running throughout 2022 and 2023, offering EIC beneficiaries the unprecedented opportunity to showcase their unconventional ideas at 15 international trade fairs in diverse sectors across EU and extra-EU markets.
Check EIC OTF Programme 2.0 for additional information and the list of the upcoming trade fairs, as well as the EIC OTF Programme 2.0 – Application Dos & DONTs video to find out how you can submit a successful application. For stories, open calls and events, you may also visit the EIC Community Platform.
To follow the latest news and learn more about getting involved, please visit the EIC’s official social media accounts on Twitter and LinkedIn.
