EIT GB contribution to startup and scaleup strategy

Ref. Ares(2025)3120327 - 16/04/2025 EIT GOVERNING BOARD CONTRIBUTION TO THE EU STARTUP AND SCALEUP STRATEGY: DELIVERING FURTHER PAN-EUROPEAN IMPACT INTRODUCTION The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) is committed to driving Europe's competitiveness through innovation and entrepreneurship. As a key enabler of the European innovation ecosystem, the EIT strongly supports the European Commission's development of an EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, recognizing its crucial role in fostering economic growth, job creation, and solutions to pressing societal challenges. Significant obstacles continue to hinder European startups from reaching their full potential. This document outlines key issues, proposes concrete recommendations, and highlights how the EIT and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) can help to overcome these challenges and achieve the Strategy's objectives, ultimately creating a more dynamic and globally competitive European innovation landscape. KEY ISSUES HINDERING STARTUPS AND SCALEUPS The experience of the EIT KICs in the field allows the EIT Community to identify the major issues related to Startups and Scaleups in Europe: 1. Fragmented Access to Capital: Startups struggle to navigate a complex and often nationallyfocused funding landscape. Europe faces a limited VC pool, leaving a critical financing gap for scaleup phase companies. This is echoed across sectors, highlighting the need for more accessible...