The ECO Science Foundation in collaboration with the Imran Pervaz Khan Institute (IPKI) and the Union of Iranian Societies of Mathematical Sciences (UISMS), hosted a joint webinar on “Innovation Leadership in Europe: Lessons from Central and Eastern European Ecosystems” on 11 December 2025. The online session drew researchers, policymakers, academics, and innovation stakeholders from across the ECO region to gain insight into Europe’s innovation landscape and extract practical lessons for emerging ecosystems.

The webinar was delivered by Ms. Eva Mejtová, Innovation Specialist & Founder of GrantHub and EIT Community Officer for Czechia, who shared her expertise on how Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries such as Czechia, Estonia, Poland, and Slovakia have transitioned from post‑transition economies into competitive innovation systems. She highlighted how these countries build research capacity, aligned with broader European innovation frameworks, and supported startups and SMEs, while also navigating persistent challenges such as fragmented funding, brain drain, and gaps between research and industry.

Ms. Mejtová explained how strategic long‑term policies, stable institutions, international cooperation, and investments in young talent have underpinned European innovation ecosystems — insights that can be adapted to strengthen systems in ECO member countries.

Participants engaged in a discussion on how to foster innovation through enhanced collaboration between academia, industry, and government, and how emerging ecosystems can learn from Europe’s experience to spur inclusive economic and technological growth.