VARIO delegation at the autumn meeting of the European Science and Innovation Councils

Last week on October 20-21, the autumn meeting of the European Science and Innovation Councils took place in Lausanne, at the EPFL campus in Switzerland. Advisory councils from fourteen countries participated. As usual, also a delegation from VARIO took part: council member Reinhilde Veugelers, director Danielle Raspoet and senior policy advisor Elie Ratinckx. The focus of the meeting was on closing the gap in the value chain and the policy instruments that help promote innovation. Sabine Süsstrunk, Prof. EPFL and chairman of the Swiss Science Council, hosted the meeting. There were presentations by, among others, Dominique Foray, professor at EPFL and council member of the Swiss Science Council, on the paradox of declining Research & Development in Switzerland and by two innovative entrepreneurs, Amin Shokrollahi (Kandou Bus SA) and Sami Arpa (Largo Films SA). Robert Giezendanner presented the Innovation Park at EPFL and Jamie Paik gave an inspiring lecture on the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab. VARIO will host the two-day meeting in autumn 2023.