The EU-Startups Summit 2025 has come to a close—and what an unforgettable edition it was! Over two energising days in Malta, thousands of Founders, investors, and innovators gathered to connect, collaborate, and chart the future of European tech. While the main stage captured the spotlight with keynotes and pitches, one of the most impactful spaces of the entire event was the StepUp Startups Stage.
Curated with care and purpose, the StepUp Startups Stage delivered two full days of high-impact content, shining a light on what it truly takes to build, scale, and sustain innovation in Europe. Brought to life through the joint efforts of the StepUp Startups Project and the Innovation Radar Bridge, this stage became a vibrant platform where Founders, ecosystem builders, investors, policymakers, and corporate players came together to exchange ideas and tackle shared challenges.
In a year marked by uncertainty and transformation across global markets, the StepUp Startups Stage responded with clarity, relevance, and momentum, offering sessions that weren’t just informative but catalytic. Every panel, pitch, and keynote focused on the realities of building startups in the European context and the practical frameworks that can help elevate local innovation onto the global stage.
A collective push for a stronger startup landscape
The sessions reflected the rich diversity of Europe’s innovation fabric. From DeepTech pioneers to ecosystem enablers, and from university spinouts to corporate venture strategists. Yet beyond the variety of formats and topics, what stood out was the shared focus on cooperation and alignment between public programmes, private capital, and academic institutions.
Across both days, the sessions consistently highlighted key themes shaping the future of European innovation. Among the most pressing:
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Bridging the gap between academia and entrepreneurship: From university spinouts to research commercialisation, the conversations made clear that Europe possesses deep intellectual capital, but it must be matched with stronger support systems to help ideas evolve into viable ventures.
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A shift in acceleration models: Startups are looking beyond basic seed support, seeking programmes that provide sector-specific expertise, global access, and strategic mentorship tailored to later-stage challenges.
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Evidence-based ecosystem building emerged as a recurring theme, with several sessions referencing ecosystem reports that identify structural gaps and inform decision-making at both local and EU levels.
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Startup visibility and market access, particularly for EU-backed companies, was another focal point. Showcases of innovative ventures funded by the EU underscored the need for continued investment and international exposure to help these startups scale beyond national borders.
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Sales execution, investor readiness, and scaling strategy were tackled not from a theoretical perspective, but through candid, tactical conversations. These sessions offered Founders grounded advice they could take back and apply immediately.
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Corporate–startup partnerships were highlighted as essential levers for growth. Rather than one-off pilots, the dialogue emphasised the importance of structured, long-term collaboration models that benefit both startups and large enterprises, particularly through programmes like the EIC’s Corporate Partnership Programme.
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Resilience and adaptability took centre stage in discussions around pivoting, Founder wellbeing, and long-term sustainability. Startups were encouraged not only to be bold but also to remain strategically flexible in the face of changing markets.
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The future of AI regulation in Europe emerged as a crucial topic. As the continent accelerates in AI innovation, conversations around regulatory frameworks, ethical standards, and cross-border compliance highlight the delicate balance between enabling growth and ensuring trust. Representatives of the academic, vc, policy, and AI sectors engaged in dialogue over regulations and initiatives such as the AI Act, the AI Pact, and the AI Continent Action Plan.
A stage that fostered depth and dialogue
What made the StepUp Startups Stage stand out wasn’t just its content; it was its atmosphere. Every session sparked audience engagement, with Founders and ecosystem leaders asking pointed questions, sharing ideas, and actively networking between panels. This wasn’t passive learning, it was a space for connection and action.
The collaboration between the StepUp Startups Project and Innovation Radar Bridge was instrumental in creating this environment. Together, these initiatives curated a stage that reflected the real needs of Europe’s innovation community, placing startups, data, and collaboration at the centre.
By weaving together public funding programmes, private know-how, and academic insight, the StepUp Startups Stage demonstrated the power of coordinated action. It showed that when European stakeholders work together across silos, they don’t just generate ideas, they build momentum.
A blueprint for the future of startup support in Europe
If one message rang loud and clear, it is this: the future of Europe’s startup landscape will be built on collaboration. The challenges ahead, whether technological, economic or geopolitical, require more than isolated success stories. They call for platforms that foster alignment, knowledge exchange and scalable impact.
The StepUp Startups Stage at the EU-Startups Summit 2025 delivered just that. It offered a powerful blueprint for how innovation support can evolve — more collaborative, better connected and firmly focused on helping startups grow not only locally but across borders.
With the energy, insight and shared purpose on display throughout the event, the stage did not just contribute to the conversation, it helped drive it forward.
Take the insights with you: Must-read reports from the Stage
The conversations at the StepUp Startups Stage didn’t just inspire—they’re backed by powerful research and real data. Whether you’re an ecosystem builder, policymaker, or Founder, these reports capture the core of what was discussed and offer tangible next steps for driving innovation forward.
Beyond Fragmentation: Connecting Europe’s Startup Ecosystems for Growth and Innovation
A roadmap to stronger, more unified startup ecosystems across Europe.
Download the report
Spin-Offs Driving Innovation Across the EU-27
Discover how academic spin-offs are helping to shape Europe’s next wave of tech innovation.
Download the report
Startups Backed by the EU’s Framework Programmes
An in-depth look at how EU-funded startups are advancing technological sovereignty and reshaping Europe’s innovation frontier.
Download the report
These aren’t just reports—they’re the extended conversation. Dive in, share them, and use them to keep the momentum going beyond the summit.