Europe does not lack ideas, entrepreneurs or world-class research. Its challenge is turning innovation into successful companies that can scale, create industrial jobs and compete globally. As highlighted in the Draghi report, Europe’s innovation gap is increasingly a competitiveness issue, while global competitors have developed powerful industrial and innovation ecosystems capable of moving rapidly from technological breakthroughs to commercial deployment.
This challenge is particularly visible in mobility. As Europe seeks to decarbonise transport while protecting its industrial base, competition from China and the US is intensifying across electric vehicles, batteries and clean technologies. The risk is not simply losing market share, but seeing investment, technology and industrial jobs increasingly created outside Europe.
So what can innovation ecosystems actually deliver?
The concept is frequently discussed in Brussels, but how does it translate into tangible results? By connecting startups with investors, industry, researchers, customers and public authorities, innovation ecosystems can help businesses secure funding, test solutions in real-world settings and turn promising ideas into market-ready innovations.
Join us for the Rapporteur Policy Debate “Ecosystems: Brussels buzzword or Europe’s best bet to scale?” to explore what makes these ecosystems successful and how they can help European startups scale. Drawing on EIT Urban Mobility’s experience connecting innovators with cities, investors and industry partners, the discussion will look at how collaboration can strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and help promising mobility solutions grow into successful European businesses.
Questions to be addressed:
- What exactly is an innovation ecosystem, how does it work in practice, and what evidence is there of its contribution to European competitiveness?
- The Draghi report highlighted Europe’s difficulties in translating innovation into commercial success. Can stronger ecosystems help bridge the gap between promising startups and companies operating at scale?
- As global competition intensifies, particularly from China, how can Europe ensure that innovation in mobility generates investment, industrial capacity and high-value jobs within Europe?
- What lessons can be drawn from the experience of EIT Urban Mobility, and how can policymakers, industry and investors work together to strengthen innovation ecosystems and help European startups scale?
Panellists
- Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General, POLIS
- Marc Rozendal, CEO, EIT Urban Mobility
More panellists to be announced soon.
Agenda
- 17.00 – 17.30 Registration
- 17.30 – 17.40 Keynote intervention
- 17.40 – 18.40 Discussion and Q&A
- 18.40 – 18.45 Closing statements