Supporting European start-ups through regional diversity and local policy-making Startup Europe Week
"Each year, start-ups create more than 4 million new jobs in Europe making them one of the most important sources of employment"
Despite their great potential for local growth, Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions, warned that it is not policy-makers who will decide where businesses chose to set themselves up.
"To be successful in driving innovation, growth and job creation, cities and regions have to put an even stronger focus on measures and policies that can help companies get started, take risks, enhance their performance and grow"
Speaking at the launch of the Startup Europe Week today, alongside European Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip, President Markkula added
"Cities and regions also have to learn to function in a more entrepreneurial way by rewarding initiative, innovation, experimentation and capacity-building"
Commissioner Ansip was equally convinced of the resources that exist and the importance of involving local and regional authorities in the development of competitive start-up ecosystems.
"The future looks bright" he said. "Europe's regions can play an important role in helping start-ups. We should not underestimate how regional diversity and local policymaking can help them to develop and grow"
Launched this year, the European Startup Week has become one of the largest events to promote entrepreneurship with nearly 250 meetups and grass-roots events taking place across Europe. Speaking about the European added-value of such an initiative, President Markkula highlighted the need to build partnerships across borders and to exchange ideas so that a truly functioning digital single market can thrive.
A Committee of the Regions conference "Boosting the entrepreneurial spirit: pioneering regions and cities in Europe" taking place on 9 February, alongside the Plenary Session, will further the debate on the ingredients necessary for start-ups to thrive and share concrete measures to support entrepreneurs.
