ECI Roundtable
Erasmus Center for Innovation

Erasmus Center for Innovation, formerly New Business Roundtable, is a European network of executives in New Business Development and Innovation from companies such as Google, KPN, Rabobank, Royal Cosun, ASM, Boskalis, Damen, Bunge, NXP and AkzoNobel.

Jan van den Ende, professor of Innovation and Technology Management at Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University Rotterdam, is the initiator of this. From 2018, VKOZ will organize events in collaboration with Jan. This time for the first time a physical event under the new name, in collaboration with Murat Tarakci, to whom the baton has been handed over, professor of Innovation Strategy at Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Erasmus Center for Innovation looks slightly different. Members can choose two different packages: ECI Roundtable partnership or ECI Academic partnership, with the aim of creating a brighter future together with academics and students.

To achieve ECI's goals, innovation managers from the above-mentioned companies meet four times a year. This happens twice a year physically and twice a year online. For example, we have a physical event in April and October and a webinar in January and June. Professors from major universities tell their stories and share knowledge. Members can also be speakers at the events.

Various topics are discussed that are relevant to innovation managers. Networking is central to this, so that experiences are shared with each other.

We organized the conference in April 2024 in Utrecht, at the beautiful location of Grand Hotel Karel V. With the topic "Agile portfolio management" we provided an interesting and informative program. This is composed of five speakers, each with a different topic.

Discussions take place in breakout sessions, where innovation managers share topics from the field. The breaks in various rooms ensured that the beautiful location, right in the center, was put to good use. To conclude, the participants had drinks with each other during a networking moment while enjoying a drink and snacks.