The Gdańsk Blueprint – Lessons for the European Tech Map

While high-level policy often dominates the European discourse, the true measure of our success lies in the execution of ecosystem building at the regional level. This session utilizes our host city, Gdańsk, as a primary case study for how high-potential European hubs can achieve global relevance through strategic "exit-to-reinvestment" cycles and the retention of deep-tech intellectual capital.

The Gdańsk ecosystem exemplifies the "Founder Flywheel" - a phenomenon where successful exits serve as the catalyst for a new generation of innovation, anchoring R&D excellence within the region. By exploring how early pioneers reinvest capital and expertise back into the local scene, we will analyze the transition from traditional industrial roots to a high-tech sovereign anchor.

Topics:
● Strategic M&A and Ecosystem Retention: How the EU can ensure that international acquisitions strengthen, rather than hollow out, regional innovation hubs.
● From Exit to Reinvestment: Mechanisms for fueling the "Founder Flywheel" to keep capital and mentorship within the European ecosystem.
● Sovereignty in Deep-Tech: Navigating the intersection of global hyperscale platforms and European digital sovereignty (AI Act vs. Cloud Act).
● Scaling the Blueprint: Strategies for replicating the Gdańsk model across other CEE cities to create a unified network of high-tech powerhouses.
● Infrastructure Transformation: Lessons on transitioning regional economies toward high-value R&D and specialized deep-tech niches.

​ A panel focused on the practicalities of ecosystem resilience, moving beyond theory to examine the concrete cycles of talent, capital, and policy required to build a competitive, pan-European innovation landscape.