Tune in to the discussion on 15 September via the player above and learn how the EU can establish a genuinely competitive startup environment.
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Europe has no shortage of brilliant minds or scientific breakthroughs. Yet despite this, only around 8% of the world’s global scaleups are based in the European Union, compared to 60% in North America. The EU’s share of global venture capital raised sits at just 5% – a striking figure when measured against the United States at 52%, or China at 40%.
It’s in this context that Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, launched the EU’s Startup and Scaleup Strategy earlier this year: a wide-reaching plan to make the EU the best place in the world to start and grow a global, innovation-driven company. But turning this ambition into reality is another matter.
That’s exactly what a new Euronews satellite event will explore. Building a Startup Powerhouse: The European Startup and Scaleup Strategy brings together senior policymakers and tech founders to discuss how to translate strategy into results – connecting Brussels-led initiatives with the lived experience of Europe’s entrepreneurs.
Watch the debate live on 15 September on the player above and discover how the EU can build a truly competitive startup ecosystem.
What to expect from the debate
The event will be hosted by Euronews journalist Méabh McMahon. With her expertise covering European politics and innovation, McMahon will guide the conversation toward a central question: how can Europe move from high-level ambition to measurable action on the ground?
The debate begins with a one-minute welcome and opening, followed by a 15-minute one-on-one interview with Commissioner Zaharieva, who will outline the goals and context behind the Strategy.
This will be followed by a panel discussion structured around two 8-minute thematic blocks, each addressing a core challenge for the EU’s innovation agenda: policy implementation and deep tech growth. A 10-minute live Q&A will close the session, combining questions from the in-room audience and online participants.
From vision to implementation: how can the EU strategy work in practice?
The first thematic block, Bridging Vision and Reality - Making the Strategy Work for Europe’s Startups explores how the EU can move from strategy to execution – and what it will take to align stakeholders, monitor progress, and deliver results for startups on the ground.
The EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, adopted in May 2025, is designed to strengthen every stage of a tech company’s lifecycle, from early-stage support and access to venture capital, to regulatory clarity and talent mobility.
Panellists will discuss how to ensure that Brussels’ ambitions translate into practical changes across Europe’s fragmented innovation landscape. Expect conversation on administrative burden, regulatory mismatches, and how Member States can coordinate with the EU more effectively.
Deep tech: powering Europe’s innovation leadership
The second thematic block turns to deep tech – startups built on scientific discovery and advanced engineering that hold the key to Europe’s technological competitiveness.
Whether in clean tech, biotech, advanced materials or AI, these ventures face unique hurdles: extended R&D timelines, higher capital needs, complex regulatory landscapes and difficulty scaling across borders.
This segment will explore how the EU can support deep tech differently – with patient capital, responsive regulation, and coordinated infrastructure. The Commission argues that backing deep tech is not only an economic priority but a strategic imperative for Europe’s sovereignty and leadership in key global markets.
Meet the speakers
Ekaterina Zaharieva has made startups and innovation a central focus of her mandate as Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. In the exclusive interview, she will share insights on the political momentum driving the EU’s startup strategy, and how her team is working to engage entrepreneurs in shaping real policy outcomes.
Joining the panels are three startup leaders with on-the-ground experience navigating Europe’s innovation ecosystem:
Michael Pinto, Managing Director of Italian company Circular Materials, works on sustainable industrial solutions in the circular economy. He can bring insight into how startups in clean tech can thrive, or struggle, within Europe’s regulatory and funding frameworks.
Letizia Goretti, CEO of Alia Therapeutics, leads the first Italian gene-editing company, working on developing novel therapeutic approaches using next-generation, high-precision CRISPR tools. Her perspective highlights both the promise of Europe’s research base and the challenges of commercialising scientific breakthroughs into scalable ventures
Stefan Drüssler, founding member of Rise Europe, leads an initiative that unites leading start-up ecosystem builders from 14 European countries to empower European start-ups. He is also the Managing Director and COO of UnternehmerTUM, one of the leading for innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe. He provides perspective on supporting startups through pan-European collaboration and strong local innovation hubs.
A crucial moment for Europe
Startups and scaleups are no longer just innovation buzzwords – they are at the heart of Europe’s efforts to boost economic growth and secure technological sovereignty. But closing the innovation gap with the US and China will take more than talk.
With the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy now on the table, this debate comes at a critical moment. The ambition is clear. What remains to be seen is whether Europe can truly deliver – and become the best place in the world to launch and grow a startup.