On April 20-21, 2023, we will be welcoming you again to our annual EU-Startups Summit in Barcelona! This year, the event will be bigger and better than ever before and we’ll have lots of exciting speakers, panel discussions, networking activities, pitch competitions and much more. The EU-Startups Summit will gather over 2,000 founders, startup enthusiasts and investors for two days of networking, inspiration and learning!
This year, we’ve lined up a very interesting panel discussion about the different EU policies, initiatives and funding opportunities for startups.
The European Union aims to be one of the driving forces behind Europe’s startup and entrepreneurial community. It strives to provide a stable backdrop for economic growth and legislative framework, and, is also committed to supporting SMEs and startups to thrive. Small companies are the backbone of Europe’s economy, representing 99% of all businesses in Europe and hiring around 100 million people. They make up over half of Europe’s GDP and play a key role in adding value to every sector of the economy.
Thanks to startup innovation and small business, Europe is developing solutions to challenges like climate change, resource efficiency and social cohesion – critical parts of transitions to a sustainable and digital economy. The EU is committed to encouraging this development, placing Europe at the forefront of innovation in the global sphere. For that reason, there are a number of different initiatives, policies and funding opportunities in place, democratising innovation across the continent and fostering this entrepreneurial spirit to thrive.
During this panel discussion, we’ll meet the experts who can shed light on these opportunities. It’ll feature Eoghan O’Neill from the European Commission, the EIC Fund‘s Investment Officer, Rebeca de Sancho Mayoral and Alberto Gago, Presidency Board Member at European Startup Nation Alliance.
As an Investment Officer at the European Innovation Council (EIC) of the European Commission, Rebeca has worked since the EIC Fund pilot phase, supporting innovative Tech startups through blended finance (grant and equity funding). She also served as a Board observer member at a number of EIC Pilot companies. A passionate European, she is a thoughtful leader in innovation and tech startups, and an advocate for closing investment and funding gender gaps as well as promoting mentorship for female founders. Rebeca leverages more than 19 years of experience managing international EU projects and building partnerships.
The European Innovation Council is Europe’s flagship innovation programme. It aims to identify, develop and scale breakthrough tech and innovation. It operates with a budget of over €10 billion to support innovation throughout its lifecycle, from early-stage research to proof of concept, technology transfer, and the financing and scale-up of startups and SMEs.
Eoghan O’Neill is a Senior Policy Officer in the “Platforms Policy and Enforcement” Directorate of the European Commission which has responsibility for the enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DSA aims to make the online world safer and protect the fundamental rights of users in the EU. DSA introduces new obligations for online platforms, although there are exemptions for micro and small enterprises. The DMA on the other hand is aiming to establish a level playing field for online businesses. In the coming year, the DMA will create a wave of opportunities for ambitious, nimble startups, especially those with data at the core of their business.
Alberto is a Member of the Cabinet of the Spanish Secretary of State for Digitalisation and AI and a Member of the Presidency Board of the Europe Startup Nation for Alliance for Spain. In the cabinet, he is responsible for international and EU digital affairs, with the goal of making Spain a reference country in the human-centric and rights-oriented digital transformation. Spain, together with Portugal and Austria, founded the Europe Startup Nation Alliance to bring all EU Member States forward in the development of their startup policies in line with the 8 European Quality Standards. Previously, Alberto worked as a policy officer in the European Commission, DG CNECT and DG SANTE services in areas such as data economy or health information policy.
Based in Lisbon, Europe Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA) was established in 2021 to help Europe become a global player in entrepreneurship. It is the ‘implementation vehicle’ of the EU Startup Nations Standard policy initiative, which is focused on helping its member countries implement best practices across 8 policy areas to ensure startups have growth-friendly conditions. The Alliance is a first-of-a-kind entity that mobilises the Commission, policymakers in EU countries and National Entrepreneurship bodies, opening a new possibility to deliver a landscape that is optimised for the growth of European startups.
This Panel Discussion is sure to be full of incredibly interesting and valuable takeaways and it’s one you don’t want to miss. The panel features experts from the upper level of European policy-making and their insights will doubtlessly give you something to think about. Make sure not to miss it! Secure your ticket now!
Make sure you’re there to join us by securing your ticket now.
In the meantime, to learn more about the event, and the other wonderful speakers taking part, check out our dedicated event page, and enjoy the video below, which will give you some insights into what’s to come.
Our Event Sponsors
Silicon Castles is a Tech Company Builder and Strategic Business Accelerator for technology, intellectual property and licensing businesses, located in Salzburg, Austria. The focus is on European Diamonds: technology startups with a unique business idea, scalable technology and outstanding intellectual property. Silicon Castles also organizes the Startup Executive Academy (SEA), an international Go-to-Market program for founders and executives of early-stage startups, taking place annually since 2017.
Vanta is the easy way to achieve compliance certifications such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, and more. Over 4000 fast-growing companies trust Vanta to automate their security monitoring and get ready for compliance audits in weeks instead of months. Simply connect your tools to Vanta, fix the gaps on your customised dashboard, and then work with a Vanta-trained auditor to complete your certification. And for a limited time, EU-Startups readers and attendees of the EU-Startups Summit will get $1,000 off Vanta. Just go to vanta.com/eustartups to get started.
EPAM is the foremost global digital transformation services provider – leading the industry in digital and physical product development and digital platform engineering services. Through its innovative strategy; integrated advisory, consulting, and design capabilities; and unique ‘Engineering DNA,’ EPAM’s globally deployed hybrid teams help make the future real for clients and communities around the world by powering better enterprise, education and health platforms that connect people, optimize experiences, and improve people’s lives.
Airwallex is a global payments and financial platform for modern businesses. It removes the unnecessary friction and cost inherent in the traditional financial system to help entrepreneurs achieve their global ambitions. Leading companies around the world trust Airwallex to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend to embedded finance — all in one single platform. With an international footprint across the Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, Airwallex connects entrepreneurs, business builders and creators with opportunities in every corner of the world, and empowers them to grow without borders.
Italdesign is a state-of-the-art customer-centric, method-based company serving both traditional OEMs and newcomers in mobility, product and transportation design worldwide. It’s capable of influencing market changes with innovative designs and technologies and serves as a hub able to interconnect different sectors and expertise and integrate advanced technologies and services thanks to its technical and strategic partnerships. The 1000+ Italdesign professionals are providing an integrated set of methods, techniques and tooling aiming to the industrialization of new products, while providing services for every phase, from the initial idea to series production, including the turnkey process.
ACCIÓ – Catalonia Trade & Investment is the Catalan Government’s agency that works to attract foreign investment to Catalonia, promoting the region as attractive, innovative and competitive business location for startups. Check out their offerings and the Catalonia Startup Directory.
