1. Overall Objective of the Strategy
To transform the EU into a startup and scaleup powerhouse, facilitating innovative companies to ‘Choose Europe’ for launching and expanding globally, thus boosting productivity, quality job creation, and technological sovereignty. This addresses challenges such as market fragmentation and difficulties in scaling up.
2. Key Strategic Pillars
The strategy is based on these pillars of action to support innovative companies across all their phases:
- Regulation Favorable to Innovation: Simplify and harmonize the legal framework.
- Better Financing: Increase access to venture capital, especially for ‘deep tech’.
- Rapid Market Adoption and Expansion: Facilitate commercialization and growth within the Single Market.
- Support for Top Talent: Attract, retain, and train skilled and diverse talent.
- Access to Infrastructure, Networks, and Services: Improve access to key resources for research and development.
- Measurement of Progress: Establish clear definitions and tracking tools to evaluate impact and adjust policies.
3. Most Relevant Actions
Regulation
- Propose a European $28^{th}$ Regime for single rules and a European Digital Business Portfolio.
- Launch a European Innovation Act to foster ‘regulatory sandboxes.
Funding
- Expand the European Innovation Council (EIC) and launch a Scaleup Europe Fund.
- Develop a Voluntary European Innovation Investment Compact.
Market
- The ‘Lab-to-Unicorn’ Initiative to accelerate the commercialization of research.
- Measures for Pro-Innovation Public Procurement.
Talent
- The ‘Blue Carpet’ Initiative to attract and retain talent (includes ESOs, cross-border mobility, and visas).
- Promote entrepreneurial education and upskilling.
Infrastructure
- Develop a Charter for Access to research and technology infrastructure.
- The European Innovation Act will promote access to this infrastructure.
Measurement of Progress
- Propose a harmonized definition of startups, scaleups, and innovative companies.
- Establish a European Startup and Scaleup Scoreboard to measure the performance of the ecosystem and the strategy’s impact (KPIs: number of startups, centaurs, and high-potential companies).
- Conduct an annual survey of founders to assess improvements in the regulatory environment
4. Conclusion and Focus
The success of this strategy lies in its rapid and effective implementation, the integration of policies, and the collaboration among Member States to transform Europe into a global innovation powerhouse. The Commission will report on the Strategy’s implementation by the end of 2027.
