CHAMPIONS OF GROWTH – BRUSSELS
- The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) - Meeting room JDE 62 (6th floor)
- March 23 & 24, 2026
- From €10 Billion to the Trillion Ambition
March 23
NIGHT OWL REFLECTION
PRIVATE CONVENING | SPEAKERS & PRINCIPALS ONLY
Host: Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement
Keynote: Jean-Marie Solvay, Chairman of the Board, Solvac S.A.
The Keynote
Jean-Marie Solvay will examine the “Economic DNA” of Europe, focusing on how family-anchored ownership and long-term capital stewardship provide the cultural foundations necessary for global competitiveness.
A closed-door, off-the-record speakers and leadership dinner, a restricted forum for strategic dialogue on Europe’s industrial heritage and generational growth under the Chatham House Rule.
Led by: Alexandra Vacroux, Kyiv School of Economics, Harvard Davis Center
March 24
OPENING REMARKS
Program Lead and Moderator:
Alexandra Vacroux, Kyiv School of Economics, Harvard Davis Center
- Ionut Sibian, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Vice President of the External Relations Section
- Jörn Fleck, Senior Director, Europe Center, Atlantic Council
- Peter Grk, Secretary General, Bled Strategic Forum
- Stjepan Orešković, Founder, Future 500, Bosqar Invest
Focus
Europe’s scale-up gap, the trillion-scale ambition, and how founders, capital markets, and institutions must align.
Opening Keynotes: Capital, Markets, Scale
- Maria Luís Albuquerque – European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union
Brief
How Europe can better mobilise long-term savings, deepen capital markets integration, and align financial architecture with innovation-driven growth.
- Kerstin Jorna , Director-General, DG GROW, European Commission
In conversation with Jörn Fleck, Senior Director of the Europe Center, Atlantic Council
Brief
Addressing fragmentation, late-stage capital constraints, and structural policy levers.
- Michiel Scheffer – President of the Board, European Innovation Council (EIC)
Topic
The role of blended finance, equity participation, and strategic risk-taking in building global deep-tech leaders.
In discussion with Stjepan Orešković.
- Marta Oliveira, Co-founder and COO, Atmos Space Cargo GmbH
- Fabrizio del Maffeo, CEO & Co-Founder, Axelera AI
- Miroslav Virijevic, CFO, HTEC
- Matteo Patrone, Vice-President, EBRD
Moderated by:
Ajša Vodnik, Chair, AmChams in Europe
Focus
Market size, patient capital, industrial ambition, and founder decision-making.
- Guntram B. Wolff, Université libre de Bruxelles, Bruegel
- Damian Boeselager, Vice-Chair, ECON Committee, European Parliament
In conversation with Erika Staël von Holstein, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Re-Imagine Europa
Brief
A macro-strategic view of Europe’s growth model and political economy of scale.
PANEL I -ERSTE GROUP LEAD
Introduction:
Peter Bosek – CEO & Chief Retail Officer, Erste Group Bank
Panelists
- Delphine d’Amarzit, CEO Euronext Paris & Member of the Managing Board Euronext N.V.
- Adam Kostyál, President, Nasdaq Stockholm
- Rolf Kjaergaard, Innovation Lead, Novo Nordisk Foundation
- Ivana Gažić, CEO, Zagreb Stock Exchange
- Aart de Geus, Chair, ABP National Civil Pension Fund
- Dinko Lucić, President of the Management Board, PBZ, Intesa Sanpaolo Group
Moderated by:
Miljan Ždrale, Regional Director CEE, EBRD
Brief
IPO readiness, pension capital mobilisation, and long-term European ownership structures.
Hosted by Erste Group · Atlantic Council · Future 500
PANEL II –
EIF LEAD
Introduction:
Luciana Tomozei Schwandt, Head of the Global Affairs & Sectoral Policies Division, EIB
Panelists:
- Robert Knorr, Managing Partner, MidEuropa
- Gordan Kolak, President of the Board, Končar
- Andreas Zaby, Innovation Manager, SPRIND
- Lucien Burm, President Dutch Startup Association
- William Stevens, Co-Founder, Tech Tour
Moderated by:
Bjorn Tremmerie, Head of Division, Mandate Origination & Relationship Management at the EIF
Brief
Evidence-based policy, institutional design, and talent ecosystems for systemic scale-up success.
(10 min Q&A)
PANEL III
Introduction:
Siegfried Mureșan, MEP
Participants:
- Guillaume Klosa, Chairman, EuropaNova, Conclave Co-President, Europa power initiative CEO, T-life
- Marco Janezic, Founder & Managing Partner, BlueRibbon
- Carin Isabel Knoop, Executive Director, Harvard Business School
- Mili Sanwalka, Strategy leader at Google DeepMind
- Tamara Zajec Balažič, Director, SPIRIT Slovenia
- Mark Pleško, Founder, Cosylab
Moderated by:
Lucien Burm, President Dutch Startup Association
Focus
Founder reflections on location, ownership, regulatory friction, and scale decisions.
(10 min Q&A)
Special Address
- Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement
Moderated by: Valbona Zeneli, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Europe Center, Atlantic Council
Brief
EU enlargement as an economic instrument expanding market size, resilience, and competitiveness.
High-Level Roundtable
Introductory Remarks:
Philipp Rösler, Former Vice-Chancellor of Germany, Vice-President of the Board, Bosqar Invest
Roundtable Participants:
- Nataša Mikuš Žigman, Minister of Regional Development and European Funds, Croatia
- Petrit Malaj, Minister of Finance, Albania
- Maria João Rodrigues, Chair, Re-Imagine Europa
- Blaž Brodnjak, President of the Management Board, Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB)
Moderation:
Alexandra Vacroux, Kyiv School of Economics, Harvard Davis Center
Brief
A data-driven perspective on enlargement, convergence, and productivity gains.
(10 min Q&A)
Closing Remarks
- Stjepan Oreskovic, Future 500 Founder in conversation with Jörn Fleck, Senior Director, Europe Center, Atlantic Council
Scale · Integration · Patient Capital · Institutional Confidence
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