During StartUp Europe Week's (SEW) 5 days, start-ups and local start-up ecosystems including accelerators, incubators and people interested in creating their own start-up will discover regional resources available to them.Refer to map for an event near you.
They can find information on licences, local taxes & local bureaucracy or hear insider tips on how to access local grants, office space and other local support. They can also find sources of additional funding, subsidies, office space and infrastructure, educational resources and employment initiatives among others.
SEW is launched today by European Commission Vice President for Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip and European Committee of the Regions President Markku Markkula in a dedicated event in Brussels.
European Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip said: “Start-ups could be given an easier beginning and helped more to bridge the gap from lab to market. This is why the European Commission has the StartUpEurope programme. We should not underestimate how regional diversity and local policymaking can help European startups to develop and grow. StartUpEurope Week brings together entrepreneurs and European regions. The benefit will be mutual".
President of the European Committee of the Regions, Markku Markkula said: "To be successful in driving innovation and creating growth and jobs, cities and regions have to put a strong focus on putting measures and policies in place that help businesses get started, take risks, enhance their performance and grow. Moreover, the cities and regions themselves also have to learn to function in a more entrepreneurial way by rewarding initiative, innovation, experimentation and development".
SEW includes different types of events, like meet-ups, conferences and workshops. During the week, some of the biggest start-up support agencies will show how they can help local businesses. The best initiatives promoted by regions to support businesses will be on show, so local authorities can learn best practices from others. Last but not least, regional officers, investors and funding organisations will be connected to create stronger local ecosystems.
Igor Tasic, CEO of SEW said: “I think Europe can do much better as a global entrepreneurship powerhouse. I see so much talent spread over, sometimes small regions, and small countries. Why can a young entrepreneur in the countryside of Spain or Slovenia, for example, not have equal opportunities to fulfil her dream to start a business as someone based in New York? I know it sounds utopian, but I believe if all European regions work together, the opportunities for all will grow exponentially. Alongside that, this will create jobs, strengthen the local economy and develop better institutions.”
StartUpEurope Week is a bottom up event, organised by StartUpEurope, along with businesses and start-ups, policy makers, incubators and universities. Regions and local authorities provided free event spaces, speakers and resources to promote the 1-on-1 consulting sessions that have been settled.
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<p>"We should not underestimate how regional diversity and local policymaking can help European startups to develop and grow. Startup Europe Week brings together entrepreneurs and European regions. The benefit will be mutual", said EC Vice President for Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip.</p>
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