EIT Governing Board Calls for Bold Action to Strengthen Europe’s Startup and Scaleup Ecosystem

The EIT is committed to shaping a dynamic and inclusive innovation ecosystem across the EU. Drawing on the Institute’s decade-long experience driving entrepreneurship and innovation, it is calling for ambitious reform to unlock the full potential of Europe’s startups. This call to action is laid out in the EIT’s Contribution to the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, which outlines pressing challenges and recommendations for a stronger, more competitive Europe. The message is clear: we need bold, targeted and integrated reforms to elevate Europe from fragmented efforts to a world-leading startup ecosystem. Moving from Fragmentation to Integration The EIT identifies several structural barriers that limit startup and scaleup growth. Among these are fragmented access to capital, particularly in early stages and underrepresented regions; regulatory complexity and bureaucratic burdens that slow down innovation; and limited access to markets and industrial customers. Skills shortages—especially in deep tech and entrepreneurial expertise—further weaken the ecosystem. Gender disparities in startup funding and leadership persist, while support for intellectual property (IP) strategy and commercialisation remains insufficient. Finally, innovation support structures across Europe are often fragmented, creating duplication and inefficiencies that hinder progress. Recommendations for a Future-Focused EU Startup Strategy To address these systemic challenges, the EIT proposes a set of...