Europe has stopped viewing innovation as a wish and has decided to make it its mission. Consequently, the EU Strategy for Emerging and Expanding Companies (Startups) is a statement of intent with its feet on the ground and its eyes on the future.
The objective? To turn our continent into the ideal place to create, scale and consolidate global technology companies. And no, this is not just a simple institutional speech: we are talking about a plan with concrete, urgent and necessary measures, with a comprehensive approach that covers from the creation of a startup to its consolidation as a global benchmark.
👉 Innovation-friendly regulation.
Europe already has an advantage: its regulatory standards generate confidence, both for investors and entrepreneurs. But in a world where innovation is advancing at a dizzying pace, the European legal framework can be bureaucratic and uneven across Member States, slowing down projects. Europe cannot afford to lag behind. Slowness, fragmentation and legal disparities between Member States are real stumbling blocks for companies that want to grow and grow fast.
Let’s see if it doesn’t:
- The “28th regime”: establishes a harmonized set of rules, designed for startups that want to operate in any country.
- The European Innovation Act: will allow the creation of test environments where startups can experiment without unnecessary obstacles.
- The European Business Portfolio: will digitize key processes so that all European citizens can carry out procedures remotely throughout the territory.
- The Innovation Resilience Test: will ensure that all new legislation is analyzed under the lens of its innovative impact.
✅ Better financing for startups and scaleups.
Having a good idea is not enough if you don’t have the resources to scale it. And although European venture capital has gained momentum, it is still not at the level that the ecosystem needs. Many projects die before they get off the ground due to lack of investment, especially those that require large amounts to grow, such as deeptech.
For this reason, the European Commission has modernized the European Innovation Council, expanding its network of investors and opting for more agile models.
🔵 The key player will be the new European Fund for Scale-Up Companies, designed to mobilize private and public capital for startups with global ambition. And in addition, a European Innovation Investment Pact is envisaged along with the development of intellectual property-based guarantees.
🔵 The ecosystem is completed by a European Corporate Network that will connect startups with large companies, strategic buyers and corporate investors.
🔵 A crucial point of this strategy is the reduction of the gender gap in access to capital: currently, startups led by women or by mixed teams still receive only a tiny fraction of total investment.
📈 Rapid market adoption and expansion.
How do you get a brilliant solution to market quickly? This remains one of the biggest challenges in Europe. Despite the support networks this is not enough, scientific advances often remain stagnant in the laboratory and this is where the “Labor to Unicorn” initiative comes in, which connects universities and research centers with startups. This will facilitate the licensing of technologies, shareholding from academia, intellectual property and public procurement.
💡Supporting the best talent in Europe
Although tools such as the Blue Card exist, there are still too many obstacles for talent to move freely between countries, recognize their qualifications or compete with the benefits of large corporations.
That is why the “Blue Carpet” is being rolled out: an initiative that integrates everything from entrepreneurial education and skills recognition to tax harmonization for stock options and remote employees. It will also promote the entry of international talent with fast-track permits for founders, tech-friendly visas and campaigns to position Europe as a destination where it pays to work and create. Services such as EURAXESS will also be strengthened, including customized legal support for highly skilled ICT profiles.
📰 Other news
- Access Letter: This will standardize the terms of use of technological infrastructure, opening the doors to more entrepreneurs. Access to AI and supercomputing factories will be financed, and a one-stop digital hub will be launched where startups, investors, and suppliers can find all available information, services, and financing.
- European Scoreboard: This will measure the number of startups and scaleups and become the official benchmark for European success. In addition, an annual survey of founders will be launched to assess how the measures are actually working on the ground. Because listening to the ecosystem will be key to adapting to its needs.
📌Now what?
New regulations, strategies, and projects bring opportunities for entrepreneurs. Are you ready to choose Europe as the place where your idea becomes an impact? At The Lighthouse Team, we have a portfolio of services to meet your needs… and we can help you achieve the best results. We advise startups, scaleups, universities, research centers, and investors who want to support these initiatives, preparing transactions with the utmost legal rigor. Contact us!
We move forward, as a team 🤝✨ Will you join us?
