Pascal Lamy, the chair of the High Level Group on maximising the impact of European research and innovation programmes, will present the Group's vision and recommendations for the future, based on the results of the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020.

The conference will build further momentum for research and innovation as an investment for our future by:

• Discussing the recommendations of the High Level Group
• Debating game-changing ideas in an interactive panel format
• Launching the stakeholder consultation for the successor framework programme.

Stakeholders have already confirmed the attractiveness of Horizon 2020 as a well-performing programme and a key investment in safeguarding our future. Europe is home to leading global companies, top universities and frontier research and technology centres.

How to capitalise on these strengths in order to face up to the challenges of a changing world and rapidly evolving innovation dynamics? How to best seize the opportunities and research and innovation capital we have to create solutions for the future? What is the role of the European research and innovation in a global context? How can research and innovation shape future of our citizens? These are the questions we would like to answer today in order to face our future tomorrow.

Visionary speakers will include Nobel Prize winners, captains of industry, researchers and innovators at the frontier of progress, politicians and movers and shakers in society but also youngsters who have expectations for the(ir) future. They will discuss with the audience how research and innovation could transform our economy and improve our society.

Updates to follow