Scaling Innovation: Europe’s Startup Strategy
On March 26, 2025, the European Commission completed a public consultation for the forthcoming EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy. The European Commission is taking decisive steps to strengthen Europe’s innovation landscape with the development of a dedicated EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy.
The goal is to create an environment where innovative companies can grow faster, scale across borders, and compete globally—without having to leave the EU.
Startups and scaleups play a critical role in driving Europe’s economic growth, technological leadership, and job creation. Yet, many still face hurdles such as fragmented regulations, complex administrative procedures, limited funding opportunities, and difficulty attracting top talent.
To help dismantle these barriers, the Commission collected views from nearly 600 contributors representing 36 countries. These inputs helped highlight five crucial areas requiring attention:
- Facilitating greater investment opportunities for growth;
- Aligning legal and administrative processes across countries;
- Broadening access to domestic and international markets;
- Improving access to skilled personnel and retaining talent;
- Strengthening business support networks and infrastructure tailored to growth-stage companies.
The forthcoming plan will introduce targeted measures to support the expansion of innovative businesses within Europe and reinforce their ability to compete at an international level. It will also contribute to the EU’s overarching priorities in sustainability, digital leadership, and economic resilience.
This strategic shift reflects the EU’s clear intent: not just to support the launch of new ventures—but to ensure they have the resources and environment they need to grow and scale right here in Europe.