On April 24-25, 2025, the EU-Startups Summit returns to Malta for an unmissable two-day event bringing together around 2,200 founders, startup enthusiasts, and investors for inspiring talks, networking, and industry-leading discussions.
As AI and quantum computing reshape industries worldwide, Europe faces a critical moment in defining its role on the global stage. To explore this pivotal topic, we have assembled a panel of experts who are actively shaping the future of AI and quantum innovation in Europe in our panel “How Europe Can Compete in Quantum & AI on the Global Stage.”
This panel will tackle Europe’s position in the global AI and quantum race, the funding and scaling challenges deep-tech startups face against well-funded rivals in the US and China, and the role of policy and regulation in fostering innovation. Our panellists will also explore real-world applications of these technologies in finance, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing and discuss what needs to happen for Europe to lead in this deep-tech revolution. Meet the speakers:
Anca Albu – QAI Ventures
Anca is the Chief Operations Officer at QAI Ventures, where she helps lead one of Europe’s most dynamic efforts to build a thriving quantum and AI ecosystem. With over 15 years of experience in the global tech startup space, she oversees strategic operations, fund expansion, and accelerator programmes aimed at supporting deep-tech startups from lab to IPO. Before QAI Ventures, Anca scaled Switzerland’s largest angel investor network as Managing Director of SICTIC and contributed to the global Startup Weekend movement. She brings a multicultural perspective and strong expertise in venture building, ethical marketing, and sustainable innovation across Quantum, AI, and Advanced Computing.
Sabrina Maniscalco – Algorithmiq
Sabrina is the Co-founder and CEO of Algorithmiq, a quantum computing company pioneering advanced algorithms for life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and materials discovery. With a background in quantum information and computing, she is also a Professor at the University of Helsinki and an Adjunct Professor at Aalto University, where she leads research on quantum technologies. Under her leadership, Algorithmiq is at the forefront of leveraging near-term quantum devices to solve real-world problems, pushing the boundaries of quantum innovation in Europe and beyond.
Serge is the Senior Director of the Startups Program at NVIDIA, a global leader in AI, quantum computing, and high-performance computing solutions. He works directly with strategic partners, investors, and deep-tech startups globally. The NVIDIA Inception program helps startups scale through various benefits and access to cutting-edge AI tools and software. With NVIDIA at the epicentre of Al’s evolution, Serge brings unparalleled insights into the future of Al and quantum computing
Secure your ticket today and stay tuned for exciting updates on our event page—you can also check out the full agenda here to keep track of all the speakers and panels.
OUR HEADLINE SPONSOR
Malta Enterprise is Malta’s economic development agency, facilitating economic growth, investment, and innovation, by offering a range of support services for local and foreign enterprises setting up a productive presence in Malta. As a key player in Malta’s economic landscape, it contributes to the nation’s prosperity by attracting investments, supporting businesses, and driving innovation, thereby reinforcing Malta’s position as an attractive destination for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Malta Enterprise actively cultivates a vibrant startup ecosystem, playing a pivotal role in fostering a conducive environment for startups and offering tailored support and incentives to empower emerging businesses.
OUR SPONSORS
Scytale helps startups get compliant and stay compliant with frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, NIS 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS and more, without breaking a sweat.
Airwallex is a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, offering trusted solutions to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend management to embedded finance. With their proprietary infrastructure, Airwallex takes the friction out of global payments and financial operations, empowering businesses of all sizes to unlock new opportunities and grow beyond borders. Proudly founded in Melbourne, Airwallex supports over 100,000 businesses globally and is trusted by brands such as Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more.
EUROCROWD is an independent network organisation aiming to support and promote crowdfunding as an alternative funding mechanism for small and medium-sized enterprises and innovative projects. EUROCROWD promotes and supports the development of Crowdfunding mechanisms as a viable funding source to European entrepreneurs and funders.
M. Demajo Group is a leading business player in Malta, with a successful history spanning 115 years. The Group’s growth and diversification have resulted in a wide coverage of business sectors through a commitment to long-term results. M. Demajo Group’s workforce is 500 strong and their various activities have been developed through organic growth, acquisitions, partnerships, and startups. Its strong financial situation and ethical standards, its business reputation, and its renowned track record as a business partner are all key factors in its continued expansion.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) is a flagship initiative of the European Commission to turn disruptive European science into groundbreaking commercial propositions and accelerate the scale-up of “game-changing” innovations. It is a key building bloc of a reinforced European ecosystem and the New European Innovation Agenda, filling the gap between R&D support, private investors, and the market. With a budget of over €10 billion under the Horizon Europe Programme (2021-2027), it seeks to position Europe as a global leader in the current wave of deep tech innovation.
