COINTT Conference 2022
On October 18 and 19, 2022, the COINTT (Cooperation Innovation Technology Transfer) conference was held in the Saffron Hotel in Bratislava. COINTT is a professional international conference devoted to technology transfer, intellectual property rights, innovations, and business support. The main conference objectives are to support and popularize the topic of technological transfer, to connect scientific research institutions with the business environment, and to implement innovations for enterprise in one place, which creates space to share experience for representatives of all relevant actors active in the innovative ecosystem in Slovakia as well as abroad.
CIVITTA Slovakia participated at the conference as an expert guarantor of four-panel discussions:
• How can European digital innovation hubs accelerate digitalization in the Slovak industry?
• The role of the state and local authorities in start-ups and innovations support
• What to avoid when looking for external funding for startups?
• Occasions for innovators: How to receive support from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)?
Panel discussion on the topic “How can European digital innovation hubs accelerate digitalization in Slovak industry?” was moderated by the associate partner of CIVITTA Slovakia, Anna Brziaková, who was accompanied by representatives of all Slovak National Digital Centres (EDIH). The panel shed a light on the project European digital innovation hubs, discussed what are the main objectives, and gave an idea of how the project can improve and modernize the Slovak entrepreneur environment.
Partner of CIVITA Slovakia – Peter Kolesár led a panel discussion on the topic “The role of the state and local authorities in start-ups and innovations support”. The panel consisted of people who are the most competent on the given issue, ranging from public sector representatives to a foreign successful example. The discussants summarized what is currently being done at the level of the state and municipalities, introduced future plans, and vividly discussed how the municipalities can back innovations and raise new talents in schools.
“What to avoid when looking for external funding for start-ups?” was the title of another CIVITTA-led discussion headed by the associate partner of CIVITTA Slovakia – Eva Šimeková, who invited actors from the investment sector. The panel participants attempted to diagnose the problems of the Slovak ecosystem from the perspective of financing and addressed the issue of an insufficient number of exited start-up founders in the Slovak ecosystem. Besides, the debate provided guidance on how to look for investors/ start-ups, how to communicate with investors/funders effectively, and provided personal best practices of participants.
The last panel, which was hosted by CIVITTA Slovakia, was named “Occasions for innovators: How to receive support from European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)?”, and led by CIVITTA project manager Silvester Krčméry. Among the invited discussants were people working on EIT projects, specifically a Slovak national contact of Horizon Europe, responsible people of EIT HUBs operating within Slovakia, and a successful EIT fund applicant. The debate mapped all institutions and projects within Horizon Europe and activities of Slovak EIT Hubs. The panel also touched upon, the assets of EIT Hubs to the ecosystem, universities, and their students and a success story of EIT funding applicants.