On March 23 and 24, the European Association of Business and Innovation Districts (EABID) brought together its founding members for a strategic meeting that marked a decisive moment in consolidating the association as a leading European platform for innovation and territorial competitiveness.
On March 23, its first General Assembly was held at the Microsoft Innovation Hub in Brussels, with the participation of 17 organisations from 12 countries (11 from the European Union and Turkey). During the session, the new bylaws and the activity plan and budget for 2026 were approved. Key topics shaping the future of the association were also discussed, including the development of innovation ecosystems, interregional cooperation, and the definition of shared strategic priorities at the European level. Additionally, Ambassador António Martins da Cruz and Tiago Sousa Dias were elected as President of the General Assembly Board and Secretary-General, respectively, until December 2026, also serving as President and Secretary-General of OVIA.
Oeiras was also identified as the preferred city to host the first corporate event, with a theme yet to be defined but expected to focus on new technologies applied to the integrated management of business parks, highlighting the need to implement measures for data collection and the application of results to solutions such as security, digitalisation, mobility, circular economy, and R&D.
On March 24, a meeting took place highlighting the importance of strengthening connections between territories, institutions, and companies, creating synergies capable of boosting economic growth, attracting investment, and sharing best practices across different regions of Europe and the world. Speakers at this session included the Chairman of the Board of Directors of OVIA, Ambassador António Martins da Cruz; Irish Member of the European Parliament from the Fine Gael Party and EPP member, Regina Doherty; and representatives from Invest Hong Kong, the Shenzhen European Office, and Acció Catalonia, Paula Kant, Pauline Yan, and Ana Coelho, respectively.
Both sessions enabled alignment among members, fostering a collaborative approach focused on delivering tangible results. This milestone was instrumental in reinforcing EABID’s positioning as a dynamic and ambitious network, committed to developing more competitive, sustainable, and globally responsive innovation districts.
