ESNA welcomes new members and top experts for forward-thinking discussions on startup-friendly policies and innovation.
Ukraine, Italy and Romania officially joined the Europe Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA) at its annual flagship event, the ESNA Forum 2024 in Brussels, kicking off the two-day event with a game-changing moment for Europe’s startup ecosystem.
The Forum gathers government representatives, industry leaders, and startups to exchange ideas, share best practices, and draw a roadmap that will empower the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.
With ESNA’s new inclusion, the total number of countries now stands at 22 EU member states, along with the non-EU countries Iceland and Ukraine.
Ukraine as a Resilient Force for Innovation
Despite ongoing challenges, Ukraine has become a centre of innovation and one of the leading startup ecosystems in Europe, where unicorns are born. In June, such well-known companies as Grammarly and GitLab were joined by the sixth powerful unicorn, Creatio. Additionally, Ukraine ranks second in the CEE region in terms of the number of AI companies, with more than 240 active players, further strengthening its role in global innovation. I am convinced that Ukraine’s contribution adds immense value to ESNA’s promotion of innovation in Europe.
Italy as a Rising Innovation Leader in Southern Europe
Italy has made impressive strides in developing its startup ecosystem, ranking in the top 30 of StartupBlink’s 2024 Global Ecosystem Ranking. With over 13,000 startups and four unicorns— Bending Spoons, Satispay, and Scalapay—the country attracted $1.5 billion in funding last year. Italy’s burgeoning tech scene, particularly in deep tech and life sciences, positions it as a key contributor to ESNA’s goal of helping Europe’s startup landscape to grow. Furthermore, once approved and passed, the Startup Act 2.0 will be a significant step towards creating a favourable environment for the consolidation of the Italian innovative ecosystem.
Romania as an Emerging Startup Hub in Europe
Romania is rapidly establishing itself as a standout in Europe’s startup ecosystem. In 2023, the country raised $98 million in funding thanks to over 2,500 active startups across sectors such as fintech, healthcare, and education. Romania boasts 13 incubators and hosts key conferences like How to Web and Techsylvania, which continue to fuel the startup scene. Its strong pool of tech talent consisting of 180,000 skilled IT professionals also provides a solid foundation for growth. With unicorns like
UiPath and Elrond, Romania is a rising force in Europe’s startup landscape, aligning with ESNA’s mission to foster innovation across the continent.
Arthur Jordão, Executive Director of ESNA, remarked: “The addition of Ukraine, Italy and Romania as member nations during the ESNA Forum 2024 is a great milestone of our shared mission. ESNA is devoted to supporting Europe’s ambition to become a global leader in startups and technology. I believe we have taken a bold step this week to deliver a vision that champions innovations and ensures the growth of startups across Europe.”
Roberto Viola, Director General of DG CONNECT at the European Commission, who attended the Forum, added: “With the accession of Ukraine, Italy, and Romania, the Europe Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA) has gained significant momentum in its mission to support policymakers across its 22 member countries. This milestone highlights ESNA’s dedication to evolving into a European Digital Infrastructure Consortium—a transformative legal framework that will drive its efforts and bolster Europe’s quest for technological sovereignty in the AI era.”
A special ministerial segment featured interventions from new member countries who shared their priorities and how they aim to contribute to ESNA’s overarching mission.
Alex Bornyakov, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, highlighted: “Innovation forms the cornerstone of Ukraine’s defense capabilities today and lays the foundation for our economic resilience and success in the future. Joining the Europe Startup Nations Alliance marks a pivotal moment for our startup ecosystem, providing us with the opportunity to deepen our integration into the European innovation landscape.”
Adolfo Urso, Minister for Enterprises and Made in Italy, referred: “It is with great pride that we celebrate Italy’s entry into the ESNA alliance today, a fundamental step to strengthen our commitment to a more innovative and interconnected Europe. This membership represents a unique opportunity to collaborate with other member countries, sharing experiences, expertise, and solutions to address global challenges with a unified approach.”
Adina Simionescu, Executive Director of ROStartups, emphasized: “We are honored to have the ROStartup Ecosystem Association join the European Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA). This recognition validates our collective efforts over the past four years. Together with major players in the ecosystem, we aim to foster innovation, support entrepreneurial growth, and position Romania as a prominent hub in Europe’s startup landscape. Becoming an ESNA member strengthens our commitment to creating opportunities for Romanian startups and contributing to a unified, innovation-driven European ecosystem.”
The ESNA Compendium and Future Growth
The Forum’s second day will feature the release of the ESNA Compendium: “EU Startup Ecosystem: Driving Change – How and Why We Should Act Together.” This document offers market analysis and policy recommendations to simplify regulations and
harmonize policies, creating a unified EU-wide ecosystem to fuel innovation. Keynote speakers, including Lucilla Sioli from the European Commission and Carme Artigas from the UN Advisory Board on AI, will discuss the future of technology in Europe.
About ESNA
Created in 2021, Europe Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA) is supported by 26 EU Member States and Iceland and Ukraine. ESNA focuses on implementing the “EU Startup Nations Standards of Excellence”, which outlines eight best practices in startup-friendly policies. The Alliance aspires to position Europe as a global frontrunner in innovation and entrepreneurship by continuously updating policy frameworks and sharing best practices through a digital platform, fostering a more robust startup ecosystem across its member countries. www.esnalliance.eu
source: ESNA
