Europe opens its doors to start-ups and innovation, ‘invest here’

Brussels (ANSA) – Europe bets on innovation. The new strategy for start-ups, presented today by the Vice President of the European Commission Stéphane Séjourné, aims to make the continent a fertile ground for the birth and growth of excellent tech companies, bridging the gap with the United States and China.

Five pillars underpin the ‘Choose Europe’ plan: regulatory simplification, greater access to funding, support for growth and commercialization, attraction and enhancement of talent, and easier access to technological infrastructures.

Among the most relevant innovations are the 28th regime, designed to harmonize and simplify tax and bankruptcy laws, the Scaleup Europe fund, launching in 2026, to support the growth of tech companies, and the Blue Carpet program, aimed at attracting highly qualified professionals from around the world.

A central role is then assigned to strengthening the link between universities and businesses: Lab to Unicorn is created to connect the academic world with the start-up ecosystem through European hubs, shared models for managing intellectual property, and forms of direct participation of universities in spin-offs.

“Companies born in Europe must grow in Europe. With the launch of the EU strategy for start-ups and scale-ups, we unlock the engines of growth for the most innovative and promising European companies. We reduce bureaucracy, facilitate their access to funding, and improve their ability to operate in our single market,” highlighted Séjourné, indicating the goal of “placing Europe at the center of the global innovation map, for companies and investors” (May 28).