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Publications

H 1 EMN Inform - Attracting and retaining foreign startup . founders

2018

9 p.

Background

During the EMN Annual Conference in Estonia on 'The EU
in the Global Race for Talents: Challenges and Solutions in
Strengthening the EU's Competitiveness' (21/22 September
2017), one workshop focused on ‘Attracting and retaining
foreign startup founders’. This workshop reviewed
numerous startup schemes currently in place in Europe and
explored the possibilities to improve the attractiveness of
the region in future.

The EMN Inform summarizes the main conclusions from
this workshop (which includes the findings from the EMN
ad-hoc query on start-up policies for third-country
nationals).

Some findings of the Inform

While there currently is no EU-wide startup visa policy in
place, recent years have seen a proliferation of startup
schemes across Member States. 12 Member States have
schemes for startup founders.
The common aim of startup schemes is to develop
entrepreneurial ecosystems, fuel economic growth and
innovation, and make the country more competitive in the
globalised knowledge economy.
Although the admission conditions vary across Member
States, having an innovative idea is a common condition to
all startup schemes. Yet Member States define ‘innovation’
in different ways.
Member States with no special regulation for startups can
also be successful in attracting foreign entrepreneurs,
especially if they have a reputation for being a tech hub.
Measures for attracting and retaining startup founders
should be part of broader efforts in fostering innovation and
entrepreneurial ecosystems in the EU.

Summary

migrants, entrepreneurship

European Union

English

https://emnbelgium.be/publication/attracting-and-retaining-foreign-startup-founders-eu-emn-inform

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