ECGI is a global research network and international scientific non-profit association providing a forum for debate and dialogue between academics, legislators, and practitioners, focusing on major corporate governance and stewardship issues. It is a membership organisation open to all those with an interest in corporate governance and stewardship. Its 327* appointed research members publish their work on corporate governance in the ECGI Working Paper Series, a trusted source of global research used by practitioners and academics worldwide. *as at 24 May 2021.

CDSB is an international consortium of business and environmental NGOs. We are committed to advancing and aligning the global mainstream corporate reporting model to equate natural capital with financial capital. We do this by offering companies a framework for reporting environmental information with the same rigour as financial information. In turn, this helps them to provide investors with decision-useful environmental information via the mainstream corporate report, enhancing the efficient allocation of capital. Regulators also benefit from compliance-ready materials. Recognising that information about natural capital and financial capital is equally essential for an understanding of corporate performance, our work builds the trust and transparency needed to foster resilient capital markets. Collectively, we aim to contribute to more sustainable economic, social and environmental systems. For more information, visit or follow Climate Disclosure Standards Board on LinkedIn and Twitter 

ICONS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to bridge the gap between science and society through science communication, social and business innovation. ICONS supports researchers and innovators in maximising their impacts on society through impactful strategies involving citizens, scientists, investors, policy makers and the media.

Ecommerce Europe is the sole voice of the European Digital Commerce sector. As a result of joining forces with EMOTA, Ecommerce Europe now represents, via its national associations, more than 150,000 companies selling goods and services online to consumers in Europe. Ecommerce Europe acts at European level to help legislators create a better framework for online merchants, so that their sales can grow further.

SGI Europe (formerly CEEP, the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services and Services of general interest) represents employers and enterprises providing services of general interest (SGIs) since 1961. Our members are organisations active in fields such as: Central & local administrations, Healthcare, Education, Social services, Housing, Waste management, Energy, Transport, Water, Environment, Communications.Modern services of general interest (SGIs) serve the fundamental goals of the EU, supporting business, social and territorial cohesion, economic and social solidarity, and a better quality of life for all citizens.

EFAMA, the voice of the European investment management industry, represents 28 Member Associations, 60 Corporate Members and 24 Associate Members. At end Q2 2020, total net assets of European investment funds reached EUR trillion. These assets were managed by almost 34,200 UCITS (Undertakings for Collective Investments in Transferable Securities) and more than 29,100 AIFs (Alternative Investment Funds). More information is available at ;

ECIIA is the European Confederation of Institutes of Internal Auditing, representing internal auditors in Europe. The Association intends to be the consolidated voice for the profession of internal auditing in Europe and to promote the role of internal audit and good corporate governance by dealing with the European Union, its Parliament, and Commission, and any other European regulators and associations representing key stakeholders. It has a non-profit-making purpose.

At Pronovea we focus on delivering industry leading business conferences for our clients. Drawing on more than 20+ years of industry experience, we bring together the leading experts to provide best-in-class knowledge sharing events.

April 6, 1913 is a significant date in the history of Romanian economic higher education, as it is the date when the Academy of High Commercial and Industrial Studies was established in Bucharest by Royal Decree no. 2972. In the year 1967, the University was renamed as Bucharest University of Economic Studies. Bucharest University of Economic Studies has 13 Faculties, whose activity is supported by various administrative structures (non-teaching divisions, research centers and committees). Over time, Bucharest University of Economic Studies has conferred the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa to a series of great national and international scientific and political personalities, who have significantly contributed to the development of economic sciences and economic higher education.

BETTER FINANCE is a non-profit international NGO with its office in Brussels acting as an independent financial expertise centre to the direct benefit of European financial services users (individual shareholders, investors, savers, life insurance policyholders, pension fund participants, mortgage borrowers, etc.) and other stakeholders of European financial services who are independent of the financial industry. At present, we count more than forty national and international member and sub- member organisations. In turn those count more than four million individual members. The European Union supports BETTER FINANCE activities since 2012. For more information, please consult our website,

Vestbee is the biggest online matchmaking platform for startups and scaleups in Central & Eastern Europe supported by the global community of VC funds, corporates, business angels and accelerators.Being the regional pioneer in online startup events, Vestbee hosts CEE Startup & Scaleup Challenges, the biggest 100% ONLINE competitions in Central & Eastern Europe.Vestbee also provides tools for startups to manage fundraising in one place, and for investors, corporates and accelerators- to manage deal flow, applications, innovation programs and thanks to Startup Virtual Showroom, online matchmaking.

Schuman Associates is a leading public affairs and public sector funding business advisory firm in Brussels. With over 30 years’ experience, our reputation is built on our clients’ success and ; Our expertise is in impacting policy, unlocking funds and winning business for our clients. By understanding our client’s needs, we propose solutions to effectively engage with the dynamic EU and multilateral donor funding business environment. We offer end-to-end services, from intelligence gathering and analysis to policy engagement, project management and bid writing.

The SRB is the central resolution authority within the Banking ;Its role is to protect the public interest and act as a safety net to ensure that the price to pay when a bank fails does not fall first on the taxpayer; and to  ensure an orderly resolution of failing banks with minimum impact on the real economy, the financial system, and the public finances of the participating MS and ; The SRB works closely with the NRAs, the European Commission (EC), the European Central Bank (ECB), the European Banking Authority (EBA) and national competent authorities (NCAs).  The role of the SRB is proactive: rather than waiting for resolution cases to manage, the SRB focuses on resolution planning and enhancing resolvability, to avoid the potential negative impacts of a bank failure on the economy and financial stability.

About the Finnova Foundation FINNOVA is a European not-for-profit foundation whose main purpose is to seek international funding related to new technology transfer, modernisation, training and innovation. It also seeks to promote international and interregional cooperation through networks and events, its main fields of work being innovation and the financing of innovative projects with resources; FINNOVA's objectives are to promote public-private cooperation through innovation to address social challenges such as employment, training, entrepreneurship, the UN SDGs, the circular economy, etc. In its commitment to innovation, Finnova has been organising the StartupEuropeAwards since 2016, an initiative of the European Commission's DG Connect. Finnova, headquartered in Belgium and Spain, has its own delegations in Chile and Panama. In Spain, it is present in the Comunidad Valenciana, País Vasco, Andalucía, Madrid , and Islas Canarias. Head office: Avenue des Arts, 56, 1000 Brussles (Belgium). Comunidad Valenciana:  Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Nº 5, planta 5, puerta 15. E-46002 Valencia (Spain). Sevilla: Torneo Parque Empresarial. Calle Biología, 12. Edificio Vilamar II. 2ª planta, módulo 11-D. E-41015. Sevilla (Spain).   About Startup Europe Awards Startup Europe Awards is a methodology of DG CONNECT of the European Commission, implemented by Finnova Foundation since 2016. The SEUAs are an open innovation tool to identify disruptive startups that promotes public-private collaboration and raises awareness of the importance of self-entrepreneurship as a driver of employment. In addition to generating alliances that help to meet the SDGs of the United Nations and the actions of the European Green Pact, thus contributing to the circular economy, the fight against climate change and sustainable tourism. About StartupEuropeAccelerathon Startup Europe Accelerathon () aims to identify innovative ideas eligible for funding from the European Union, such as LIFE, Green Deal, Horizon 2020 or NextGenerationEU. StartupEuropeAccelerathon follows the indications of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, contributing from each challenge to the proposed SDGs; in the framework of the StartupEuropeAwards methodology of DG CONNECT of the European Commission, which was born from DG Research and Development in 2020 with the pan-European campaign Hackthevirus. It has been successfully carried out with governments such as that of the Valencian Community with the challenge of industrial polluting waters or the Andalusian Regional Government with the challenge of the fight against climate change, forest management and innovation in the prevention, fight against fires and regeneration of burnt areas.

In the European Standardisation System, Small Business Standards' mission is to: Represent the interests of SMEs in the standardisation process; Raise their awareness about standardisation and facilitating their uptake of standards; Motivate them to engage in the standardisation process. The association represents the interests of 12 million SMEs through 21 SME member organisations.

The International Union of Property Owners – Union Internationale de la Propriété Immobilière (UIPI ASBL) is a pan-European non-profit association comprising of 31 organisations from 28 countries. Jointly, they represent more than 5 million private property owners of some 20 to 25 million dwellings all over Europe. Founded in 1923 in Paris, UIPI ASBL is the leading organisation for individual owners and private landlords in Europe. The property owners represented by UIPI ASBL, range from individual home owners, private landlords with a single bedroom flat or multiple-occupancy houses, to landlords with large property portfolios in the private-rented and commercial ; OUR AIM IS TO: Protect and promote private real estate property rights. Promote the development, de facto and de jure, of private real estate property all around the world. Promote favourable economic, legal and fiscal conditions for the private real estate sector, access to home-ownership and the private rented sector. Demonstrate the role of private real estate property and private property ownership in the economy and society.

With an indisputable reputation for excellence and editorial integrity, The Economist and Hazlis & Rivas aims to deliver first-class programmes featuring leading thinkers and cutting-edge insights. The Economist Events bring the rigour of informed analysis and intelligent debate that The Economist is known for to life on stage in international forums. Over 80 events are hosted annually in over 30 countries on topics that convene world-class thought leaders on a range of strategic business issues. Since 1996 Hazlis & Rivas has been the exclusive and official representative of the Economist Events for Greece, Cyprus, Malta and SE Europe, holding full responsibility of planning and implementing all events that take place in the region. With an exceptional reputation and a high level of expertise, we run over 20 events every year for individuals who enjoy new ideas and are passionate about the issues that define our world. Government Roundtables and Summits Since 1996 government roundtables and summits have provided opportunities for senior executives from multinational firms to assess business conditions across borders and in emerging markets. Participants enjoy access to prime ministers, presidents and high-ranking officials, local companies and senior international business executives in an informal and interactive setting. In addition to valuable analysis of the key political, social, and economic trends in the country and within the region, the roundtables provide an opportunity for probing issues with speakers in open discussion and during dinner and regular breaks. Industry-specific conferences These conferences bring together senior executives from multinational firms to discuss critical operating issues and share experiences. High-level speakers from international, leading-edge companies provide innovative solutions to common challenges in various industries including automotive, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, water and energy.  

Acavent is a worldwide organizer of scientific conferences, workshops, and exhibitions. Our international company headquarters is based in Vilnius, Lithuania and we already have 10 years of experience in the events industry. Acavent is specialized in creating an academic environment for those who seek new ideas, new achievements, highly skilled academic people, and colleagues all over the world. As a Professional Conference Organizer, Acavent creates, organizes and plans conferences and events in various fields of science. Acavent also offers a thorough list of services required in organizing and holding in-person and online conferences for organizations, companies, and academic institutions. At Acavent, we gather professors, scholars, students, scientists, profit and non-profit organizations, research centers, fast-growing startups, and policymakers, to share ideas, knowledge and skills, to network and foster collaborative interdisciplinary research.

The Political Festival of Europe is a yearly democracy festival that aims to gather citizens of Europe over the course of four days to discuss politics and embrace Europe’s rich history and cultural heritage. The Political Festival of Europe takes place in a town called Mariager – also known as the city of roses – an old, idyllic medieval town with crooked houses, cobblestoned streets and timber framed houses. With a modest population of just over 2,500 inhabitants, Mariager town will soon become the place where European democracy will come to life gathering hundreds of thousands of Europeans who want in on the future of Europe. Our mission is to be a place of: Courage – where we dare discuss the future of Europe “Peoplelization” – where we build communities as well as celebrate, showcase, and spread insights to local, regional, and national cultures Inspiration – where we establish debates, dialogues, hearings, and citizen involvement Accessibility – where we create an informal environment for citizens, politicians, and business leaders to meet Anchoring – where we anchor and raise the importance of our democracy for the future of Europe at a local level  In line with our missions, our vision is to “peoplelize” European politics and become a platform, where we strengthen democracy and unity in Europe. We aspire to become the political Olympic Games, where everyone has the possibility of participating in creating the future of Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic has given us all the more reason to create a platform, where we together can discuss European politics and its future. A platform, where people actively can get involved in developing European democracy. The inspiration behind Political Festival of Europe comes from the Nordic tradition of folkemøder –  a concept we want to take to the next level and raise from national settings to a pan-European setting in order to discuss matters that influence everyone in Europe. What is a Folkemøde?  The Danish tradition of Folkemøde [Folk – people; møde – meeting] is a public meeting that dates back to 1839. It is a political event that gathers people with different political views and positions in the interest of democracy. A Folkemøde takes form of informal discussions and speeches across opinions and hierarchy that strengthens active involvement of all participants – every one has a say, every one is heard. After the concept faded away in the 1940s, neighboring Sweden’s own form of folkemøde – Almedalsveckan introduced in 1968 – became the inspiration and groundwork for Denmark to revive the concept on the island of Bornholm in 2011 with their very own annual Folkemøde. It took on popularity fairly fast and has generated thousands of national visitors ever since. So far held at national levels, we aim to expand this concept to the whole of Europe. Here is why. What the purpose of a Folkemøde? The Danish model of Folkemøde is the cornerstone for democracy and pays tribute to the community. The foundation of a Folkemøde lies in dismantling barriers between citizens, politicians and decision-makers in order to bring politics closer to the people and to make society a better place for everybody.  The aim is to lead discussions about how to improve the future of the society and have citizens participate in shaping change. A “folkemøde” aims to: o   Inspire and challenge political views and visions o   Let people meet and listen to politicians they voted for o   Let people have a say and be heard o   Increase trust between citizens and decision-makers and hold politicians accountable o   “Peoplelize”, ;build a community where culture is showcased and celebrated o   Facilitate meaningful debates and anchor them in the political agenda  As cultural heritage is also celebrated in a Folkemøde, entertainment and good food are an integral part of such an event. Hence, at the Political Festival of Europe, you will be able to find arts and crafts, music and gastronomy, alongside the political debates, speeches, workshops, hearings etc.

We champion entrepreneurs and innovators eager to ignite their growth to rewrite their future through easy-to-apply funding opportunities and tailor-made acceleration programmes. We matchmake global brands and investors with promising startups to put on track profitable collaborations that will accelerate their innovation processes.