Potsdam International Forum »Science Parks and Competitiveness: Bridging Regional Growth and European Innovation and Research Policy« on April 15-16, 2026

It offers a unique platform to connect science parks, regions, and innovation ecosystems with key EU stakeholders. The two-day conference is an interactive cross-sectoral gathering of policy makers, leading experts and practitioners from Science and Technology Parks, cluster managers, and innovation agency representatives from across Europe.

100 experts and participants from 18 countries will conjointly explore how Science Parks and further innovation hubs can become key engines of progress within Europe’s wider innovation ecosystem.

Program Download

Download the conference program here (PDF)

The Sessions on Both Days

• Opening Remarks & Welcome
• The Relevance of Science Parks for Competitiveness & Innovation in Europe
• The Single Market as a Tool to Power Europe’s Economy
• Europe’s Innovation Capacity – What It Takes to Compete Globally
• Policy to Value – Excellence to Regional Innovation Leadership
• Tackling Key Tech – European Model Regions for Strategic Technologies
• From Single Sites to Networked Ecosystems – How Science Parks Orchestrate Multi Site Innovation and European Value Pipelines

The Breakout Sessions on Day 1 | April 15 (Themed Working Groups)

• A | European Competitiveness Fund – Tapping Into the ECF and Combining EU-Level Instruments with Regional Funding for Impact Innovation
• B | New Horizon for Competitiveness – Perspectives for Science Park Managers
• C | Co-Generating Excellence – Cities and Science Parks for Regional Innovation

Expert Speakers at the Potsdam International Forum 2026

• Maria Cristina Russo – Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation at DG RTD, European Commission
• Tobias Dünow – State Secretary for Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg
• Prof. Oliver Günther, PhD. – President of the University of Potsdam
• Agnes von Matuschka – Potsdam Science Park & President, IASP European Division
• Dr Justyna Adamska – Poznan Science and Technology Park, Poland
• Cristina Andrés Urarte – Basque Country Technology Park, Spain
• Mali M. Baum – WLOUNGE and MAGDA GROUP & European Innovation Council (EIC) Former Board Member
• Roz Bird – Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP, Norwich Research Park, UK
• Dr Derya Çağlar – Ostim Teknopark, Turkey
• Gemma Carpenter – University of Strathclyde, Glasgow City Innovation District, UK
• Lucas Resende Carvalho – EU Economic Policy, Bertelsmann Stiftung
• Christine Chang – EU Affairs, Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council | Uudenmaan liitto, Finland
• Dr Anna Christmann – SAI Europe – Strategic Agency for Innovation in Europe
• Alessandro Corrado – EUIPO European Union Intellectual Property Office
• Prof. Dr Carsten Dreher – University Professor and Member of the European Innovation Council
• Claire Duranton – EUIPO European Union Intellectual Property Office
• Karen Esser – Potsdam Science Park, Standortmanagement Golm GmbH, Germany
• Natacha Faullimmel – European Commission Representation Berlin
• Thorsten Kohlisch – Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
• Mateusz Kowalewski – Department for Urban Development Strategy in the Office of the Mayor of Szczecin, Poland
• Christoph Krüger – JUNI – Just Unite to Innovate, Capital Region Berlin-Brandenburg, Germany
• Fredrik Larsson – Linköping Science Park, Sweden
• Janne Leino – Helsinki EU Office, Brussels, Belgium
• Ebba Lund – International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation
• Elisabetta Maini – Directorate General for Knowledge, Labour and Enterprises, Region Emilia-Romagna, Italy
• Dr Salvatore Majorana – Kilometro Rosso S.p.A. & President of IASP
• Dr Maria Marquardt – »Net Zero Valley Lausitz«, City of Cottbus/Chóśebuz, Germany
• Birgit Mayr – NOI Techpark, Bolzano, Italy
• Dr Adam Mikołajczyk – Department of Regional and Spatial Development, Marshal’s Office of the Pomorskie Voivodeship, Poland
• Dr Wolfgang Münch – DG REGIO Smart and Sustainable Growth, European Commission
• Prof. Matthias Notz – Start2 Group, RISE & SCALE & Deggendorf Institute of Technology, Germany
• Dr Rafael Popper – Foresight Executive and Sustainability Strategist (tbc.)
• Roland Sillmann – WISTA Management GmbH, Germany
• Dr Christina Quensel – BVIZ – German Association of Innovation, Technology and Business Incubation Centres
• Lars Wirbatz – Unit for EU Economic and Financial Policy and the Coordination EU Funds, Ministry of Finance and for European Affairs of the State of Brandenburg
• Prof. Dr Andreas Zaby – SPRIN-D – German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation

Conference Venue

Potsdam Science Park
Fraunhofer Conference Center
Am Mühlenberg 12
14476 Potsdam
Germany

Registration is Closed

The event is fully booked.
We are looking forward to welcoming all registered experts and participants in Potsdam!

Planning Your Journey To Potsdam

The Potsdam Science Park is easily accessible from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and Berlin Central Station via direct train connections, with a travel time of around 30 minutes. A taxi ride typically takes 55–60 minutes, depending on traffic. For the most convenient route planning, use Deutsche Bahn’s DB Navigator app and search for connections from »Flughafen BER« to »Golm Bahnhof, Potsdam«. The app also provides local tram and bus information for getting around Potsdam during your stay. Find further details on getting to the Potsdam Science Park here on our website.

We have arranged hotel contingents. Please note that rooms within these contingents are available until April 10, 2026, subject to availability. You will receive hotel details and a booking code upon registration.

This Conference is Funded

This conference is funded by the State of Brandenburg.
Diese Konferenz ist gefördert mit Mitteln des Landes Brandenburg.

This conference and the projects implemented by Standortmanagement Golm GmbH at Potsdam Science Park are co-funded by the European Union and the Federal State of Brandenburg.