Update - now the full details of the Canadian delegation are available (attached to this event announcement)

Is your company ready to take international collaborations to the next level? Meet leading Canadian companies and discover new opportunities for innovation and growth. Flanking the ITEA PO Days in Antwerp, we bring together the crème de la crème of Canadian companies with digital innovation potential with Belgian companies. Discover how you can strengthen your competitive position through strategic partnerships and shared expertise.

You have probably seen presentations about cross-border R&D collaborations, where the theory often seems simple. But in practice, setting up international partnerships is complex and challenging. During this event you will have the opportunity to come into direct contact with experienced Canadian companies, and to hear what (subsidy) options are available to build successful R&D collaborations.

Programme

The matchmaking will take place on Tuesday, September 10 in Antwerp. We start with a networking breakfast, followed by presentations about the Belgian IT landscape, explanations about financing options and inspiring success stories. The morning ends with a networking lunch with the Canadian delegation.

The Canadian delegation will then participate in the ITEA PO Preparation Days, an excellent opportunity to further connect with other European players within the Software Innovation ecosystem. Would you also like to participate in this? Which can. Please note that your registration for this is done separately via the link above.

Optionally, on Thursday afternoon, September 12, you can participate, together with the Canadian delegation, in an inspiration session at Nokia, with keynote presentations on “lessons learned” in R&D collaborations, followed by demonstrations of advanced technologies. We end the afternoon with a coffee and networking session for questions and further discussions.

Also optional, on Friday morning, September 13, we will be guests at FARI, the independent and not-for-profit initiative in Brussels that focuses on AI for the Common Good. The program includes a visit to their Test & Experience Center and keynotes from senior researchers and local companies via the European Digital Innovation Hub Sustain/brussels.

After the event, online follow-up is provided by your Enterprise Europe Network, which guides SMEs in their innovation and internationalization process. Are you looking for partnerships after the matchmaking? EEN will help you further.

Who is this event for?

This event focuses on key figures within the innovation and R&D cells of companies that already have a track record in digital innovation. Are you a CTO, R&D manager, innovation leader or strategic decision maker within such a company? Then this event offers you a unique opportunity to expand your network, explore new collaboration opportunities and come into direct contact with leading Canadian companies and research institutions.

Whether you’re looking for new technologies, strategic partnerships or inspiration for future projects, this meeting provides valuable insights and concrete opportunities for growth and innovation.

The Canadian Delegation

The Canadian delegation consists of a diverse group of about ten leading companies, supplemented by a few researchers from research centers and universities. The companies are active in diverse sectors such as fintech, healthcare, cybersecurity, and space, but all share a strong focus on digital technology. These companies are at scale-up level (between 30 and 500 employees). They strive for more international R&D collaborations, it are:

- Aequilibrium Software,
- Canadian Space Mining Corporation,
- Dejero Labs,
- ISA Cybersecurity,
- Mobile Innovations,
- Operto Guest Technologies,
- Translucent Computing/Kubert and
- VerticalScope.

Check the attachment for full profiles (name, description, ...) of the participating companies. Or check the profiles of the persons that will attend the mission in the Canadian booklet. 

More information & registration via the VLAIO website