New Scoreboard Shows Success of European Startup Policies

Europe's startup and scaleup ecosystem has been growing steadily, according to the first European Startup and Scaleup Scoreboard (ESSS) published by the European Commission. The scoreboard reveals a clear trend: pro-startup policies drive real results.

Since 2020, the baseline year for the Scoreboard, 20 out of 27 EU Member States have improved their performance, proving that targeted support for founders fuels innovation, job creation, and economic growth. The Scoreboard highlights a direct link between innovation-friendly regulations, access to talent, and venture capital – and the success of startups and scaleups.

Front-runner countries – Estonia, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark – perform well above the EU average (from 40 to 60 percentage points) in 36 measuring indicators, showing how bold policies translate into thriving ecosystems. Estonia leads in digital infrastructure and early-stage funding, with 615 venture capital-backed companies per million inhabitants – the highest in the EU. Sweden excels in talent and later-stage financing, producing 409 unicorns per million inhabitants – more than any other EU nation. Finland combines strong R&D investment with high patenting activity, proving that innovation and commercialisation go hand-in-hand.

While the ESSS 2026 celebrates progress, it also reveals untapped potential in rising countries (Greece, Latvia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania), which score 30 percentage points below the EU average in the same 36 measuring indicators. Three key challenges stand out: weak venture capital access, scaling bottlenecks, and brain drain. The Scoreboard's results and analysis will help shape a series of strategic actions aimed at further strengthening Europe's startup and scaleup ecosystems - particularly the upcoming European Innovation Act.

”Europe is now home to 387,000 innovative companies – proof that our ecosystem is thriving. But we’re not just celebrating progress; we’re doubling down. The gap with global leaders is closing, and with EU Inc., the European Innovation Act, and the Scaleup Europe Fund, we’re building the tools to make Europe the best place in the world to start and scale,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation.