ERC plenary session at the European Business Summit

19 November 2025
11.30 - 12.30 CEST
Egmont Palace, Brussels
ERC
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European Business Summit
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EBS event
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The European Research Council (ERC) will host a plenary session at the 2025 edition of the European Business Summit (EBS).  The session entitled ‘Breakthrough discovery and innovation: Securing Europe’s competitive edge?’ will start with an opening address by Philippe Aghion, 2025 Nobel Laureate in Economics and ERC grantee. Pascal Lamy, Vice-President of Paris Peace Forum and coordinator at the Delore Institute, Jean-François van Boxmeer, Chair of the European Roundtable of Industry (ERT), and Maria Leptin, ERC President, will engage in a discussion on the pivotal role of scientific research and innovation in bolstering Europe’s competitiveness on the global stage. 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to put research and innovation at the heart of the EU economy last year and the Mario Draghi report on EU competitiveness warned that Europe risks focusing too much on the industries of the past, whilst global competitors surge ahead in high-tech sectors. To keep pace, how can Europe step up its investment in cutting-edge  research and spur innovation? 

With the “Choose Europe for Science” initiative, the EU more than ever aspires to be a hub for the best scientists globally, also attracting those from abroad. 

By spotlighting the transformative power of science, the ERC session at the EBS will gather leaders in a conversation on the role of research and innovation as the bedrock of Europe’s competitiveness and resilience in a rapidly changing world. 

The session will also be livestreamed. 

Speakers 

  • Philippe Aghion, 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics, ERC grantee, Professor at the Collège de France and INSEAD
  • Pascal Lamy, Vice-President of Paris Peace Forum, Coordinator of the Jacques Delors Think Tanks (Paris, Berlin, Brussels), Former DG of WTO, Former EU Trade Commissioner
  • Jean-François van Boxmeer, Chair of the European Roundtable of Industry (ERT) 

Discussion leader: Maria Leptin, ERC President

Attendance in person involves a fee: registration

For interview request, please contact ERC-PRESS@ec.europa.eu