About the conference

INNOVA — Innovative Approaches to Ageing and Well-being — is an international conference held on the French Riviera, dedicated to promoting academic research and innovation in the fields of ageing and healthy living. The event is organized under the auspices of the Innovation Hub “Ageing & Well-being”, recently granted the status of 2IP (Institute for Partnership and Innovation) in the same thematic area.

In its second edition, INNOVA 2026 aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue by exploring ageing and well-being from multiple perspectives — including social, economic, biomedical, psychological, and public health dimensions. Bringing together researchers, PhD candidates, and startups from the 2IP ALIVE programme, the conference creates a dynamic platform to share knowledge, highlight emerging talent, and build collaborative opportunities within the Ulysseus ecosystem. Startups affiliated with the 2IP ALIVE programme will actively participate through pitches and networking sessions, showcasing innovation in ageing and well-being.

Themes

1- Public Health: Taking Complexity into the Equation

Chairs: Anne Vuillemin (Université Côte d’Azur) & Emilio Di Maria (University of Genoa)

Scope: This session will address aging from a public health perspective, emphasizing complexity, systems thinking, and multi-level determinants of health.

2- Ageing Brain in the Neuroscience 3.0 Era

Chairs: Paula Pousinha (Université Côte d’Azur) & Rafael Chacon (University of Seville)

Scope: This symposium will explore how emerging paradigms in neuroscience (“Neuroscience 3.0”) are reshaping our understanding of brain aging. It will integrate multi-scale approaches—from molecular mechanisms to cognitive systems—and highlight technological advances (AI, neuroimaging, data integration).

3- Digital Interfaces: Solution or Risk?

Chairs: Lili Aunimo (Haaga Helia University of Applied Sciences) & Stevo POPOVIC (University of Montenegro)

Scope: This session will critically examine the role of digital technologies and interfaces in societies, balancing opportunities for inclusion and risks related to trustworthiness.

4- Economic, Social Transformation, and the Demographic Transition

Chairs: Samira Karrach (Université Côte d’Azur) & Ayman Fouda (MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®)

Scope: This symposium will focus on the economic implications of demographic aging and the transformations required in labor markets, innovation ecosystems, and policy frameworks.

Key Objectives

Promoting academic research and cutting-edge innovation from Ulysseus
Crossing the approach of ageing and well-being in all its dimensions (social, economical, biomedical, psychological, public health…)
Enlightening our PhDs, youngs researchers (pair of researchers and PhDs)
Creating bridges between academic and socio-economic world
Developing attractive opportunities of collaboration for our Ulysseus ecosystem

Who can apply

PHD student, post-docs, startups, academic researchers, professors.

Some applications may have funding available. To maximize the chances of receiving funding, it is recommended to apply as soon as possible.

Agenda

Day 1 - Wednesday, November 25th

Symposium 1 | Public Health: Taking Complexity into the Equation

Chairs: Anne Vuillemin (Université Côte d’Azur) & Emilio Di Maria (University of Genoa)

09:00-09:30 Registration & Welcome coffee
09:30-09:40 Welcome words
09:40-10:00 Scaling health innovation for healthy ageing (Dr Moredreck Chibi, WHO Europe)
10:00-10:30 Keynote Address | The Potential of Complexity Science for Ageing Research and Practice (Almar Kok, VU University Amsterdam)
10:30-11:00 Oral presentations
11:00-11:30 Coffee break & Poster session
11:30-12:00 Startup pitches
12:00-12:30 Panel discussion
12:30-12:40 Official group picture (all participants)

12:40-14:00 Lunch & Networking

Symposium 2 | Ageing Brain in the Neuroscience 3.0 Era

Chairs: Paula Pousinha (Université Côte d’Azur) & Rafael Chacon (University of Seville)

14:00 – 14:30 Keynote Address | Eugenio Fornasiero (University Medicine Göttingen)
14:30 – 15:30 Oral presentations
15:30 – 16:00 Coffee break & Poster session
16:00 – 16:30 Startup pitches
16:30 – 17:00 Panel discussion

Day 2 - Thursday, November 26th

Symposium 3 | Digital Interfaces: Solution or Risk?

Chairs: Lili Aunimo (Haaga Helia University of Applied Sciences) & Stevo Popovic (University of Montenegro)

09:00-09:15 Welcome coffee
09:15-09:45 Keynote Address | Gauden Galea (Former Strategic Adviser – WHO Regional Office for Europe) (TBC)
09:45-10:45 Oral presentations
10:45-11:15 Coffee break & Poster session
11:15-11:45 Startup pitches
11:45-12:15 Panel discussion

12:15-13:45 Lunch & Networking

Symposium 4 | Economic, Social Transformation, and the Demographic Transition

Chairs: Samira Karrach (Université Côte d’Azur) & Ayman Fouda (MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®)

13:45-14:15 Ulysseus IPO Session
14:15-14:45 Keynote Address | Adel Benyoussef (Université Côte d’Azur)
14:45-15:15 Oral presentations
15:15-15:45 Startup pitches
15:45-16:15 Panel discussion
16:15 Goodbye coffee & Final networking

Event Venue

The INNOVA Conference will take place at Saint Paul Hotel, located in Nice, France.

Address:
Saint Paul Hotel – Nice
29 Bd Franck Pilatte
06300 Nice

The hotel is easily accessible by public transport and is ideally located near the city centre and the coastline, facing the sea. It offers a pleasant and convenient setting for all participants.