Join us in Prague for a high-impact Mutual Learning Event exploring how organisations can strengthen their valorisation capacity by unlocking complementary funding opportunities.

This one-day event will focus on how to effectively align funding instruments — including Horizon Europe, ERDF, and RRF — to support the translation of research into societal and market value. Through expert inputs, success stories, and interactive discussions, participants will explore practical mechanisms and policy tools that boost visibility, follow-up funding, and long-term impact of EU-funded projects.

Participants will also be introduced to a self-assessment tool and take part in peer-to-peer exchanges on enablers, barriers, and real-life applications of synergistic funding approaches.

 

Programme Highlights

  • Knowledge valorisation as a funding driver

  • Mapping of complementary EU instruments

  • Case examples of successful synergy-based funding strategies

  • Tools and policy recommendations for 2028–2034

  • Networking lunch and CIIRC site visit

The event is open to selected participants of the Study Visit as well as eligible innovation and R&I stakeholders from Widening countries.

 

Agenda 

Download the full agenda here
11 February 2026 | Prague, Czechia

 

10:00 – 10:30 Registration & Welcome Coffee
10:30 – 10:35

Welcome & Setting the Scene

▪ Katarzyna Walczyk-Matuszyk, Coordinator of widerAdvance Facility, Deputy Head of Centre for EU funded projects, IPPT PAN
▪ Ian Gauci Borda, Senior Executive, Xjenza Malta
10:35 – 11:00

Keynote: EC expectations on knowledge valorisation as a driver for additional funding

▪ Federica Roffi, Deputy Head of ‘Widening Participation’ Unit, European Research Executive Agency
11:00 – 11:20

Synergy tools of the widerAdvance Facility

▪ Evelyne Tarnus, Co-Director, RUIZIA
▪ Carolina Medeiros, Senior Project Manager, FRCT 
11:20 – 12:10

Showcase of success stories

▪ Dušan Galusek, Centre for Functional and Surface Functionalized Glass
▪ Viera Pechancová, TwinVECTOR
▪ Fabio Figurella, BCTHubs 
▪ Tomáš Mozga, MOLIPEC
12:10 – 13:00

Policy instruments supporting synergies

▪ Omar Cutajar, Senior Director, Xjenza Malta,
▪ Piotr Świerczyński, Director of NCP Department, National Centre for Research and Development
▪ Alžběta Plachá, Project Manager, Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
13:00 – 14:00 Networking lunch
14:15 – 16:00 Interactive case exchange on best practices, enablers and barriers
16:00 – 16:15 Wrap-Up & Conclusions
 
 Moderated by:


▪ Ian Gauci Borda, Senior Executive, Xjenza Malta
▪ Paola Gortan, Policy officer, APRE