Barrabés.biz
Among the standout spaces was the StepUp Startups Stage—a platform dedicated to exploring how startup support can be scaled, strengthened, and made more strategic across innovation ecosystems.
Jointly curated by EU funded StepUp Startups Project and Innovation Radar Bridge, the stage delivered two full days of high-impact content tailored to the realities of building and growing ventures in today’s fast-changing landscape.
Shaping smarter support for innovation
The programme addressed core challenges facing startups and the ecosystems around them. The message across sessions was consistent: innovation does not happen in isolation - it requires coordination between founders, policymakers, researchers, and industry partners. The stage’s content reflected this by focusing on pragmatic approaches, shared challenges, and collaborative opportunities.
Discussions ranged from research commercialisation and spinout support to scale-up readiness and strategic partnerships (read StepUp Startups analysis on Spin-offs: Driving Innovation across EU-27). Participants shared tools, models, and real-life experiences to help translate policy into practice and ambition into outcomes.
Core themes and shared priorities
One recurring theme was the need to bridge research and entrepreneurship more effectively. One of the sessions presented the results of the Innovation Radar Bridge report, which highlights how EU-funded startups are driving technological sovereignty in Europe, while also revealing persistent barriers to scaling and market access (read the full report). Many regions excel in academic output, but there is a growing recognition that stronger support mechanisms are needed to help ideas move from labs to markets. This includes improving access to commercialisation pathways, venture-building expertise, and long-term guidance.
There was also a clear shift in how acceleration and startup support programmes are being designed. Founders are increasingly seeking sector-specific knowledge, international exposure, and mentorship that goes beyond generic startup advice. Later-stage support - tailored to scaling challenges - is becoming essential.
Another highlight was the emphasis on evidence-based ecosystem building. Several sessions referenced mapping studies and diagnostic reports (including reports developed by ESNA) that help identify structural gaps, set policy priorities, and align resources more strategically. Data-informed decision-making is no longer a luxury - it’s a necessity for effective ecosystem development.
Other key themes included startup visibility and market access, especially for ventures supported by public frameworks; corporate–startup partnerships as sustainable growth drivers; sales execution and investor readiness as critical scale-up levers. The role of balanced regulation in emerging sectors such AI and the opportunities that can create for startups was also debated on the StepUp StartUps stage.
More than content: a space for engagement
What truly set the StepUp Startups Stage apart was its environment. Sessions didn’t just inform - they activated. Attendees engaged in rich discussions, challenged ideas, and built connections between panels. It was a space designed for dialogue, not one-way delivery.
Alignement around common goals
By bringing together public and private actors, researchers and practitioners, early-stage innovators and seasoned scale-ups, the Stage demonstrated the value of coordinated action.
The debate and dicussion reinforced an important point: the challenges of innovation today require shared responses. Fragmented approaches limit impact. By contrast, ecosystems that align around common goals - whether through partnership, shared knowledge, or integrated support - can create lasting momentum.