The following agenda is subject to changes

Event Programme

In 2026, the EPSI Annual Conference returns to Greece at the iconic Peace and Friendship Stadium. Three days of inspiring sessions, funding opportunities, networking and business meetings will be enriched by unforgettable experiences: a boat cruise, a taekwondo workshop and cultural visits through the historic heart of the city.

Day 0 - tuesday, September 22nd

Welcome to Piraeus!

All day

Piraeus, Greece

Arrival of participants and guests

Participants, speakers, and guests arrive and get settled. All social activities on this day are optional.

Day 1 – Wednesday, September 23rd

EPSI General Assembly & Official Opening
Hellenic Olympic Committee Headquarters & Athens Ancient City Center

7.30

Lapland University of Applied Sciences

Transfer to Conference Venue

Bus transfer to the Hellenic Olympic Committee

8.30 - 9.00

Hellenic Olympic Committee

Participants arrival

Accreditation & Registration

9.00 - 10.45

Conference Hall
2bd Floor Foyer

EPSI General Assembly

  • 2026 Highlights & Strategy
  • Members’ engagement
  • “Member of the Year” Award 2026
  • Communication & Project Reports
  • Business outline
  • Legal & Financial Update
  • Future developments and conference presentation

Signature of collaboration agreement

10.45 - 11.15

Lapland University of Applied Sciences

Coffee break

Welcoming to the Art Exhibition “ARTic” 

11.15 - 12.30

Conference Hall
2bd Floor Foyer

The Greek Excellence

Official opening by inspiring keynotes from Greece, among which:

  • Kostas Lianomatis, Member, Chair of Sports and Environment Commission (HOC)
  • Soula Kelesidou, Member, Chair of Gender Equality Commission  (HOC)
  • Ioannis Vroutsis, Deputy Minister of Sports of Greece

  • Sofia Zacharaki, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports of Greece

12.30 - 13.30

Hellenic Olympic Committee
5th Floor Patio

Networking Lunch

Hosted at the Art Exhibition “ARTic” 

13.30 - 14.30

Conference Hall
2bd Floor Foyer

The European Excellence

  • Jan Debets, Head of Business Development and Partnerships at META Group
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norwegian Sport Excellence

15.00 - 15.30

Conference Room
Lunch area

Coffee break

Art Exhibition “ARTic”

15.30 - 16.30

Conference Hall
2bd Floor Foyer

Projects co-funded by the EU

  • Sports and Health Innovation Accelerator (SHIA), Erasmus+ Innovation Alliances Project

16.30 - 19.00

Panathinaikon Stadium / Athens City Centre

Family Photo + City Centre Discovery Tour

Visit to the Stadium of the Rival of the Olympic Games, Torch relay Museum

20.00

Astakos Glyfada
Diadochou Pavlou 46, Glifada 166 75

Social Dinner

Day 2 – Thursday, September 24th

Business & Investment in Sport
Boat Cruise & Agistri Island

7.30 - 8.15

Marina Zeas
Piraeus 185 36, Greece

Boat Cruise Departure

Have you ever experienced a conference… on a boat? If not, then get ready!

9.00 - 11.00

Boat Cruise

EPSI Innovation Competition

5 Startup pitches on the stage with real-time judge feedback and official voting from the public. Introduced by the EPSI Head of Business Department, Francesca Passeri.

The Pitch Off (Round 1):  Presentation 5-minutes Pitches + 5-minutes judge’s reactions.

After the pitches, the word will be given to the public for the official voting via Mentimeter.

Final Pitches (Round 2): The word to the finalists

11.00 - 11.15

Boat Cruise

Strategic Partnership Opportunities

Value creation in sports trough common synergies

  • Mike Yang, Founder & CEO of AquaBloom International Sports Technology Group (ABSG)

  • Representative from 28Digital

11.15 - 12.00

P. F. Stadium Library

Coffee Break & Winner Annoucement!

Let’s celebrate the winner of the EPSI Innovation Competition 2026

12.00 - 14.00

Agistri Island

Networking Lunch and arrival on the Agistri Island

An incredible experience awaits the AC attendees in Agistri Island, a small, pine-covered island in the Saronic Gulf, famous for its emerald waters.

14.00 - 15.00

Agistri Island

Networking icebreaker: Concentric circles exercise

Designed to connect innovators with shared goals.

15.00 - 16.00

Boat Cruise

Departure from the island & “One Drink, One Idea”

Exchange project concepts notes over a drink in the unforgettable setting of the Greek sea.

17.00 - 19.30

Arrival at Marina Zeas
Piraeus 185 36, Greece

#BeActive | Taekwondo Lesson

Bring your fitness clothes:

Filippo Barcellona, Official Trainer from the Italian Federation of Taekwondo (FITA) will hold an active workshop on this fascinating martial art. 

20.30

Gajah Restaurant
SEF park, Piraeus 185 36, Greece

Free Time & Social Dinner

Day 3 – Friday, September 25th

EU Project development & funding opportunities
Peace & Friendship Stadium

9.00

Lapland University of Applied Sciences

Welcoming and last day opening

9.15 - 10.45

Lavrio Cultural Center

EU Sport funding opportunities

Presentation of funding schemes and best practices:

  • Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Programme: Kirill Dimanopolous (Project Adviser and Policy Professional at European Union)
  • WeBike Project: Elena Ciarlo (Head of International Cooperation and European Projects Unit at ANCI Piemonte)

10.45 - 11.00

Lapland University of Applied Sciences

Coffee break

11.00 – 12.15

Lavrio Cultural Center

Open innovation pitching sessions

New project ideas presentation, open to questions, feedback, and matchmaking.

  • Takala Katri, Senior Lecturer in Sports at Kajaani University of Applied Sciences and Project Manager of the I3-INSHAPE project.

12.15 – 13.30

Lavrio Cultural Center

Brokerage round tables for project building

Discover the new project ideas on the table, join new consortia and start preparing the basis for new applications.

13.30 - 14.30

Ravintola Tekuila
Lapland University, Jokiväylä 11, 96300 Rovaniemi

Networking Lunch & Event Final Evaluation

Hosted at the Art Exhibition “ARTic”

14.30 - 18.00

Poseidon Temple & Aegeon Hotel Sounio

Sport Activities

We will end our stay in the name of sports and physical activity. Join our games and have fun while staying active.

20.00

Street Food, Celebration Night & Farewell

Let’s celebrate this three-day conference with some traditional street food, then let’go party!

19.00 - 21.00

Apukka Resort’s Restaurant

Social dinner and farewell

Wrap up the event with a casual dinner 

Day 4 – Saturday, September 26th

Departure day