The 2025 INESC Brussels HUB Summer Meeting – titled “Strategic Autonomy & Dual-Use R&I: Coherence, Capabilities & Europe’s Future” – is a high-level European event that brings together research and innovation actors, EU policymakers, industry leaders, and national authorities.
Amid increasing geopolitical complexity and a rapidly evolving R&I landscape, the meeting will foster critical dialogue on how Europe can strengthen its strategic autonomy through innovation, dual-use technologies, and coherent funding frameworks.
By convening thought leaders and practitioners from across Europe, the event aims to shape forward-looking R&I policy and practice, while highlighting the contributions of European research-performing organisations. It also seeks to position the R&I stakeholders as dynamic players in this collective European effort, bridging civil and defence research, and contributing solutions aligned with EU strategic priorities.
The 2025 INESC Brussels Hub Summer Meeting is primarily an in-person event.
While live streaming will be available, online participants will have access to view the sessions only. Interaction, Q&A, or participation in working groups will be reserved for on-site attendees.
Deadline for registration is: 19th June 2025
The 2025 INESC Brussels HUB Summer Meeting aims to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing European debate on strategic autonomy, dual-use innovation, and research and innovation (R&I) governance by pursuing the following objectives:
The 2025 INESC Brussels HUB Summer Meeting is rooted in a critical moment for Europe’s research and innovation system, as the continent grapples with intensified geopolitical tensions, accelerating technological transitions, and a demand for deeper industrial and technological sovereignty.
This meeting aligns with key EU policy frameworks and strategic documents, including:
It responds to Europe’s growing need to:
We are organising this event in close partnership with key institutions in the European Research Area, in Portugal and with Science | Business as Media Partner.
A key institutional partner in this strategic dialogue is PlanAPP – Centro de Competências de Planeamento, de Políticas e de Prospetiva da Administração Pública. Integrated into the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, PlanAPP is a central service of the Portuguese government under the authority of the Prime Minister. It operates with administrative autonomy and plays a leading role in supporting strategic planning, defining government priorities, ensuring coherence across sectoral and transversal planning instruments, and evaluating the implementation and impact of public policies.
PlanAPP’s engagement brings a unique dimension to the Summer Meeting: it embeds public policy foresight and planning within the broader debate on dual-use R&I and strategic autonomy. It reinforces the event’s ambition to bridge research, governance, and societal relevance and to support the development of a coherent, impact-driven European research and innovation strategy.
In this context, the meeting also seeks to engage with the Foresight Unit of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, a key actor in promoting anticipatory governance and long-term thinking across EU institutions. The potential dialogue between PlanAPP and the JRC Foresight Unit represents a unique opportunity to bridge national and European approaches to foresight, policy planning, and strategic coherence. This collaboration would contribute to shaping a more resilient and future-oriented research and innovation ecosystem across Europe.
The thematic structure of the Summer Meeting reflects the multi-dimensional nature of Europe’s strategic autonomy agenda, bridging research, technology, policy design, and foresight. Each pillar is designed to foster high-level dialogue between R&I actors, EU institutions, national authorities, and strategic stakeholders, contributing to a collective understanding of Europe’s innovation governance and future capabilities.
1- Programme Coherence and Strategic Design
Focus: Alignment and complementarity across EU funding programmes (FP10, EDF2, EDIS, Digital Europe, and national strategies).
Why: Fragmentation across instruments risks undermining Europe’s strategic ambitions. A more integrated design is needed to reflect the cross-sectoral nature of strategic autonomy.
Intended outcome: Shared strategic reflections on programme coordination and coherence, including the role of different types of actors in shaping and delivering future missions.
2- The Role of Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) in Dual-Use and Defence R&I
Focus: Elevating the contribution of RTOs, technical universities, and public research organisations in dual-use and defence ecosystems.
Why: Despite their central role in innovation, RPOs face constraints in accessing defence-oriented instruments. Addressing institutional and regulatory barriers is essential for a more inclusive and effective innovation strategy.
Topics: Eligibility, institutional models, value creation, consortia structures
Intended outcome: Strategic reflections on how RPOs can be more effectively mobilised to contribute to Europe’s defence and resilience objectives.
3- Dual-Use Innovation for Resilience and Distributed Capability-Building
Focus: Identifying key areas where civil and defence research intersect such as AI, sensors, energy resilience, photonics, autonomous systems, and cyber-physical security.
Why: A resilient Europe requires investments that scale innovation across its full geographic and institutional spectrum. Dual-use innovation offers a pragmatic path forward.
Use cases: Health biosensing, smart textiles, maritime autonomy, critical infrastructure protection, mobile energy systems
Intended outcome: Cross-sectoral insights into future-oriented technology development, with a focus on fostering partnerships and distributed innovation ecosystems.
4- Knowledge Security and Open Strategic Research
Focus: Navigating the emerging governance challenges between open science and strategic protection in a fragmented geopolitical landscape.
Why: Europe must maintain academic openness while developing safeguards for critical and dual-use knowledge domains.
Framing source: “As open as possible, as restricted as necessary”
Topics: Export controls, knowledge value chains, dual-use research ethics, IP management
Intended outcome: Strategic reflections on institutional and policy mechanisms that balance openness with resilience and security imperatives.
5- Foresight and Strategic Planning for R&I Governance
Focus: Embedding anticipatory capacity in research policy design and innovation strategy.
Why: Strategic autonomy requires today’s capabilities and tomorrow’s foresight. Planning and futures thinking are key to informed and coherent decision-making.
Key contributors: PlanAPP (national strategic planning), JRC Foresight Unit (EU-level foresight and anticipatory governance), EPRS (EU Policy)
Topics: Scenario-building, impact planning, cross-sector foresight, anticipatory governance models
Intended outcome: Initiation of a structured dialogue between national and EU foresight actors, promoting shared learning and long-term vision for Europe’s R&I system.
Day 1 – Strategic Landscape and Systemic Challenges
Setting the scene: European ambition, institutional coherence, and foresight framing
Day 1, 25 June
12:00 Reception networking and light lunch
Plenary Panel I Coherence in Strategic Autonomy – Aligning FP10, EDF2 & EDIS
Plenary Panel II The Role of RPOs in Dual-Use and Defence R&I
Foresight Session How to think the future of defence and dual-use?
Parallel Thematic Roundtables A
A1: Distributed Capability-Building
A2: Policy Instruments for Knowledge Security
Heading #3 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Time | Session | Description | |||||
12:00 | Check-in and Light Lunch | ||||||
13:00 | Welcome and Opening Keynotes | Welcome:
Inês Lynce, Chair of the Management Committee of the INESC Brussels HUB and President of INESC ID
Manuela Teixeira Pinto, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union | |||||
13:30 | Plenary Panel I: Strategic coherence: How best to align Europe’s defence tech programmes? |
Michalis Ketselidis, Senior Expert, Defence Industry and Space, General Secretariat of the European Commission
Katarzyna Ananicz, Head of Common Security and Defence Policy Unit at Polish Permanent Representation to the EU Renzo Tomellini, General Manager, Brussels Office, Leonardo Muriel Attané, Secretary General, EARTO Moderation: Simon Pickard, Science Business | |||||
14:30 | Plenary Panel II: On the front line: Which role for RPOs in dual-use and defence R&I? | Doris Schroecker, Head of Unit, Industrial Research, Innovation & Investment Agendas (RTD.E.1)
António Gaspar, Business Development, INESC TEC António Braz Costa, General Director, CITEVE Technological Centre Geraud Gilloud, EU R&I Manager, TNO Guillermo Cisneros, Rector Emeritus, UPM – Universidade Politécnica de Madrid Moderation: Simon Pickard, Science Business | |||||
15:30 | Foresight Session How to think the future of defence and dual-use? |
Gabriel Osório de Barros, Deputy-Director-General, Centre for Planning and Evaluation of Public Policies (PlanAPP)
João Farinha, Foresight Unit, Joint Research Council (JRC) Henri van Soest, Senior Analyst, Defence, Security and Justice, RAND Europe TBD, European Parliament Research Service (EPRS) Moderation: Eduardo Silva, INESC TEC and Simon Pickard, Science Business | |||||
16:30 | Coffee break and networking | ||||||
17:00 | Parallel Thematic Roundtables A | A1: Distributed Capability-Building
Firestarter presentations: – Navy Commander Bruno Pica, National Focal Point for the European Defence Fund, PoC for the Capability, Armament & Planning Directorate of the European Defence Agency – Pedro Lousã, Chief Operating Officer, Beyond Vision – Pedro Petiz, Director of Strategic Development, TEKEVER – Lieutenant-Commander Tiago Lopes Monteiro, Portuguese Naval Staff, innovation and Transformation Division Moderator and rapporteur: Ana Ribeiro, EU Funding Defence Unit, Magellan-Circle A2: Policy Instruments for Knowledge Security Firestarter presentations: – Johan Evers, Technical Coordinator Export Controls, Sanctions, Security & Defense and Knowledge Security at IMEC and representative of European Export Control Association for Research Organisations (EECARO) – Linda Solstrand Dahlberg, Head of Brussels Office, UiT – the Artic University of Norway, on research security and academic-military cooperation Moderator and rapporteur: Sophie Viscido, Partner, Technopolis Group | |||||
18:00 | Day 1 Wrap-up | Summary of key insights, synthesis of foresight session, and framing for Day 2. | |||||
19:30 | Summer Meeting Dinner + Guest Talk | Hosted by INESC in partnerships with ADRA – The European Association on AI, Data and Robotics (open to all speakers and per invitation only) | |||||
Day 2 – Technology Frontiers, Strategic Actors and Collaboration Pathways
Zooming in: Dual-use innovation domains, partnerships, and future directions
Heading #3 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Time | Session | Description | ||||
08:45 | Check-in and Welcome Coffee | |||||
09:30 | Plenary Panel III: Key enablers: How can dual-
use innovation boost Europe’s
resilience? | Dirk Peters, European Commission, Defence Technologies (DEFIS.2)
Mihnea Costoiu, Rector, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest Thibauld Jongen, Head of Industry Futures, ADRA (AI, Data and Robotics EU association) and CEO Common Sense Robotics Krister Talvinen, Manager of Defence Programmes, VTT John Rodrigues, Director, INESC INOV Moderation: Simon Pickard, Science Business | ||||
10:30 | Parallel Thematic Roundtables B | B1: Health, Cyber, and Sensors for Societal Resilience
Firestarter presentations: Paulo Freitas, President, INESC Microsystems and Nanotechnologies Hugo Paredes, Coordinator of the Centre for Human-Centered Computing and Information Science (HumanISE), INESC TEC Nazua Costa, Business Development Manager, INESC INOV Moderator and rapporteur: Ricardo Marvão, Co-founder, Beta-I, Entrepreneur. B2: Robotics, Power Systems and Autonomy – Strategic Tech for Civil and Defence Firestarter presentation: Ignacio Gil, Senior Researcher, Energy Flexibility & Smart Grids, INESC TEC Nuno Cruz, Coordinator, Centre for Robotics and Autonomous Systems, INESC TEC Moderator and rapporteur: TBD | ||||
11:30 | Coffee & Networking | Open networking opportunities. | ||||
11:45 | The road to FP10: Can Europe build the right foundations for its R&I future? | Focus on identifying synergies, gaps, and forward-looking coordination.
Andreas Schwarz, Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva Carla Matias dos Santos, Research and Space Councilor, Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union Verena Fennemann, Head of Fraunhofer EU Office Brussels Mattias Bjornmalm, Secretary General, CESAER Moderation: Simon Pickard, Science Business & Ricardo Migueis, Head of INESC Brussels HUB | ||||
12:45 | Conclusions and next steps | All moderators concluding remarks
João Claro, Vice-Chair of INESC Brussels HUB, President and CEO of INESC TEC | ||||
13:00 | Light Lunch and farewell | |||||
🔹 A1: Distributed Capability-Building – Regional Innovation for Strategic Autonomy
Objective
To explore how Europe’s strategic autonomy can be strengthened through a geographically distributed, networked approach to innovation and production rather than through centralised, siloed systems. Focus on empowering R&I ecosystems across Member States, with special attention to regions often overlooked in strategic agendas.
Format
Moderated roundtable with regional innovation actors, EC, RTOs, industry representatives, and national foresight agencies (e.g. PlanAPP).
Topics
Expected Insight
Strategic reflections on the value of a decentralised innovation model, actionable ideas for regional engagement in FP10/EDF, and inspiration for coalition-building beyond the usual suspects.
🔹 A2: Policy Instruments for Knowledge Security
Objective
To address the rising importance of knowledge protection, technology control, and institutional capacity for managing sensitive research while preserving scientific openness and collaboration.
Format
Closed-door (Chatham House-style) discussion with CESAER, EC, national security offices, university compliance officers, and INESC R&I leadership.
Topics
Expected Insight
Greater clarity on shared concerns and divergent national approaches, informal benchmarking of institutional practices, and emerging areas for support in FP10.
🔹 B1: Health, Cyber, and Sensors for Societal Resilience
Objective
To highlight how dual-use innovation can simultaneously enhance national security and civil protection. The focus is on health preparedness, cyber-resilience, and next-gen sensing systems.
Format
Mixed technical-policy session with contributions from INESC MN, EDA Biosensors NCP (e.g. Major Wilson Antunes), SMEs, public health authorities, and DG HOME/DEFIS.
Topics
Expected Insight
An inventory of emerging technological capacities, and identification of application domains where civil-defence convergence is ripe for scaling.
🔹 B2: Photonics, Power Systems and Autonomy – Strategic Tech for Civil and Defence
Objective
To examine technologies that are central to both defence capabilities and Europe’s digital and green transitions, notably photonics, widebandgap semiconductors, autonomous systems, and secure energy.
Format
Technology-focused roundtable with R&I entities, Tekever, TopGaN, Nanovation, Thales, and tech leads (e.g. EC’s Photonics Partnership or CHIPS JU).
Topics
Expected Insight
Shared vision of where Europe must invest and coordinate to ensure global competitiveness in enabling technologies that serve both civilian and strategic security needs.
The INESC Brussels HUB Summer Meeting 2025 is designed to stimulate shared learning, policy-oriented dialogue, and institutional alignment in support of Europe’s strategic autonomy and dual-use research agenda. The expected outcomes include:
With the support and strategic collaboration of:
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