Innovation begins locally: supporting start-ups and scale-ups across Europe

The seminar, "Thriving Regional Innovation Ecosystems for Competitive European Start-ups & Scale-ups", served as a forum to explore how regions and cities can foster local talent, accelerate innovation, and create an enabling environment for start-ups to grow, scale, and stay in the EU. Discussions took place in the broader context of the upcoming EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy, a flagship initiative announced by the European Commission to boost Europe’s competitiveness and innovation capacity. The strategy is set to be published on 28 May 2025.

High-level speakers from the European Commission, the European Parliament, national representatives, the expert community, and CoR members debated the importance of regional innovation ecosystems in supporting Europe’s green and digital transitions. They discussed the vital role of a strong cooperation between local authorities, businesses, academia, and research institutions for an interconnected, place-based approaches for unlocking local potential. Long-term success hinges on providing systemic support, including funding, skills development, and infrastructure to foster sustainable growth and resilience.

Regions and cities shared practical examples of successful local initiatives, underlining the benefits of cross-border cooperation, joined-up regional strategies, and bottom-up innovation models. They emphasised that public-private engagement and targeted cluster development are essential to build resilient, innovative ecosystems.

CoR members emphasised that research and innovation (R&I) are key to enhancing European competitiveness. They advocated for a systemic approach that recognises the crucial role of local and regional communities in fostering innovative ecosystems that support start-ups and scale-ups. They stressed the importance of turning scientific knowledge into real-world solutions.

The Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP), jointly run by the CoR and DG R&I, remains a vital mechanism for dialogue and mutual learning between EU institutions and regional actors on research and innovation policy.

 Quotes:

Heike Raab (DE/PES), State Secretary, Rhineland Palatinate State Government and Chair of the SEDEC Commission: "Innovation is no longer just a driver of growth – it is a necessity for long-term sustainability and sovereignty. Start-ups and scale-ups are key to Europe’s green and digital transitions. But they cannot thrive without strong, inclusive regional innovation ecosystems. Our goal must be to build a truly European innovation fabric that harnesses regional diversity.”

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