A Global Innovation Summit to commemorate 40 years of Eureka

On 6 May 2026, close to 1,000 attendees from over 50 countries participated in a unique Eureka experience: the Global Innovation Summit. This 2026 edition was organised by Eureka’s Swiss Chair, represented by Innosuisse, and took place in the European life science hub of Basel, Switzerland.

Eureka’s global community, veterans and newcomers alike, gathered to discover how to stay ahead of the innovation curve, explore public funding mechanisms and, most importantly, make connections with future international research and business partners.

Indeed, Michael Altorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the Swiss Biotech Association, set the tone for the event, which generated more than 700 matchmaking meetings, with the opening statement: “The chances are huge that when you know each other, you will be able to collaborate.”

Simon Michel, Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Directors at Ypsomed Group, Achim Wambach, President of Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research and Piret Tõnurist, Innovation Lead at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), inspired audiences with keynote speeches on the trajectory of research and development and innovative companies, whilst panel discussions offered insider knowledge on the major trends redefining industries. Regular intermezzos performed by the acrobatic group Uni-2-tre provided a refreshing mental break and space to formulate new ideas.

Also on site were representatives from Eureka network ministries and funding agencies, who answered questions on the benefits of harnessing Eureka programmes for international cooperation.

Held back-to-back with Swiss Biotech Day, the Global Innovation Summit welcomed many life science innovators from small- and medium-sized enterprises, multinationals, research institutes and universities, as well as experts in digitalisation, translational research and development, chemistry, manufacturing and quality control processes, amongst other sectors.

Making history with 40-year anniversary celebrations

The 2026 edition of the Global Innovation Summit marked a special milestone, as we commemorated Eureka’s 40^th anniversary. A dedicated session showcased the continued relevance of a network united by the conviction that common challenges can be addressed together, even in complex geopolitical periods.

Andy de Mets, Coordinator of External R&D and Innovation Programmes at Barco, Léa Perles, Associate Director at Brenus Pharma and Guillermo Soriano, Chief Executive Officer of West Ingeniería, are three innovators who have previously led standout Eureka projects. During the session, they highlighted the advantages of expanding horizons, fostering camaraderie and embracing different perspectives in their journeys towards research breakthroughs and financial growth.

Geovana Millalen, also representing Chilean small- and medium-sized enterprise West Ingeniería, recalled Eureka’s mission of generating societal impact by saying, “technology only matters if it creates real value for real people.”

Hear their stories in three 40-year anniversary videos:

Until the next event

Martina Hirayama, Swiss State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, stated in her closing speech, “knowledge is the only asset that grows when you share it,” emphasising the importance of balancing openness and security.

Echoing this sentiment, Andre Kudelski, President of Innosuisse, said, “no country is big enough to do innovation alone.”

These statements serve as a reminder of why Eureka is committed to international cooperation in research, development and innovation. In this spirit, Eureka aims to continue providing ample opportunities for global networking and knowledge sharing beyond borders.

It will not be long until more networking events with a Eureka presence. In the meantime, open and upcoming calls for projects are set to spur more innovation.