Where Innovation Leaders Connect
We bring together innovation executives from Europe's leading companies - sharing insights, building relationships, and shaping the future of business innovation
What is the Erasmus Center for Innovation?
The Erasmus Center for Innovation (ECI) is an exclusive European network of innovation and new business development executives from companies like Google, KPN, Royal Cosun, ASM International, Boskalis, Stedin, Damen, NXP, and AkzoNobel.
We create strategic opportunities for senior leaders to connect, learn, and collaborate on the innovation challenges that matter most. Through curated events, academic perspectives, and peer networks, ECI members stay at the forefront of emerging trends while building lasting relationships with fellow innovators across Europe's largest corporations.
Why join the ECI?
In a rapidly changing business landscape, innovation managers at large corporations face similar challenges: How do you stay ahead of disruption? Where do breakthrough ideas come from? How do you build capabilities while maintaining core business performance?
ECI answers these questions by bringing together the people best positioned to navigate them. Our members are innovation leaders at some of Europe's most influential companies, people who understand that learning from peers is just as valuable as learning from experts.
Our Mission
The Erasmus Center for Innovation exists to accelerate European corporate innovation by creating meaningful connections between experienced innovation leaders, cutting-edge academic research, and practical business insights.
We believe that the best innovation does not happen in isolation, it emerges when leading minds from different organisations and disciplines come together to challenge assumptions, share experiences, and explore solutions.
Four Events. Maximum Impact.
Full-Day Immersive Events (June & December)
In-depth, on-site experiences where members engage with world-class speakers, explore real innovation challenges, and network intensively.
Interactive Webinars (March & September)
Flexible, focused sessions on hot-button innovation topics, bringing together academic experts and business leaders for dynamic discussion and knowledge exchange.
Curated
Membership
Our network includes innovation and new business development leaders from major European corporations, ensuring every conversation is with someone who truly understands your challenges.
Academic & Business Perspective
We pair specialised academic speakers with business practitioners, offering both theoretical rigour and practical application.
Networking
at the Core
ECI exists for connections. Yes, we discuss trends and hear from experts, but the real value comes from the relationships you build with fellow members.
Member-Driven
Content
You shape our agenda. Members often speak, lead discussions, ensuring topics are always relevant.
Members
Will you be joining next?
News
Explore the latest updates and see what we’ve been working on
Strategy Working Session with Stedin
In collaboration with Stedin, ECI is designing and facilitating a strategic innovation working session focused on strengthening innovation at a systemic level.
The session brings together senior stakeholders to align strategic ambition, governance structures, and near-term initiatives, ensuring that innovation efforts are coordinated and mutually reinforcing across the organization.
The collaboration forms part of ECI’s 2026 theme, From Projects to Systems, supporting partners in shaping innovation as an integrated capability that connects leadership intent with sustained execution.
12th February 2026
ECI is leading a research collaboration with NEXTGEN focused on the scalability of advanced greenhouse technologies.
The project examines how advanced robotics and digital solutions can be translated into sustainable market adoption across advanced economies. By combining academic expertise from the Rotterdam School of Management with industry insight, the collaboration develops a structured perspective on how innovation scales across contexts.
This initiative contributes to the broader From Projects to Systems theme, exploring how technological innovation becomes embedded within durable market and business structures.
NEXTGEN – Scaling Advanced Greenhouse Technologies
12th February 2026
With 32 master students from the honours course, we are working on real innovation challenges of companies over a period of 9 months.
This year, we are collaborating with AkzoNobel and KPN on innovation challenges including GenAI adoption, as well as developing new business models focused on market entry, process optimization, and creating new value for customers and society.
As part of this project, we leverage design thinking methods and in-house expertise on innovation. Dr. Graham Cross and Dr. Jana Retkowsky are coaching the students through this 9 months journey.
12th February 2026
MSc Honours Class 2025-2026
RSM Innovation Management Group
Our academic portfolio brings together leading scholars, researchers, and practitioners from the RSM Innovation Management group, each contributing cutting-edge insights, evidence-based knowledge, and forward-thinking perspectives.
Upcoming Events
Get a sneak peek at our upcoming events below, including topics and dates.
Want to see what we have been up to? Take a look at our past events here.
Webinar - March 5th, 2026, 16:00 - 17:30 (CET)
How Non-Core Innovation Becomes Strategically Visible
Full-Day Event - June 11th, 2026
Why Good Innovation Projects Get Stuck or Lost and What to do About it
Webinar - September 3rd, 2026, 16:00 - 17:30 (CET)
Recovering Value from the Innovation Graveyard
Full-Day Event - December 3rd, 2026
From Recovered Projects to Innovation Systems
Membership
Membership includes full access to all listed activities under both Industry Collaboration and Academic Connections.
Industry Collaboration
- Access to two full-day event per year
- Access to two evidence-based webinars per year
- Access to exclusive member community and resources
- Off-site innovation strategy sessions
Academic Connections
- Tailored personal learning
- 25% discount in RSM's Executive Education programs
- Create and launch innovation projects
- Early recruitment opportunities
Our ECI Team
Dr. Chandrika Rathee
Learning & Engagement Lead
Innovation Disclosures & Evaluations
Dr. Graham Cross
Partner Development Lead
Cross Enterprise & Innovation Ecosystems
Dr. Juan Madiedo
Center Director
Experiential Learning & Project Management
Dr. Stefano Tasselli
Research & Content Lead
Organisations & Social Networks
Dr. Jana Retkowsky
Research & Content Lead
AI & Technology Adoption
Prof. dr. Jan v.d. Ende
Strategic Advisor
Horticulture & Innovation Strategy
Let's Talk Innovation
Whether you are curious about our membership, want to explore partnership opportunities, or simply have questions - we are here to help you find the perfect fit within the ECI community.
