European Startup Nations Standard

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European SMEs and startups face several challenges ‘on the ground’ as they pursue ambitions of securing market opportunities and growing their revenues. Many European countries are already pursuing best practices to help startups address challenges such as making it easier to start-up and expand across borders, streamline visa and residency applications for third country talent, make granting of employee stock options more attractive, promote venture-building and tech transfer from universities, and increase access to finance for scaling-up. The Startup Nation Standard was announced as a key action in the European Commission’s SME Strategy. Subsequently the European Commission together with the MS established an initial set of Startup Nation Standards. The action was launched politically at the March 2021 Digital Day event under the PT EUCO presidency through a declaration calling for commitments from Member States and EEA countries to implement such practices at national levels. In order to regularly monitor progress of countries in achieving the Startup Nations Standards, support is needed for its implementation.

The action does not fall under the scope of a call for proposals as ESNA is the implementation vehicle for an EC-launched policy initiative, that has been signed up to by 27 countries (EU Startup Nations Standard, launched by Commissioner Breton at Digital Day event in March 2021) and the support to be provided from WP23-24 will help transition ESNA's legal status and its operations from a non-profit under PT law to a European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC, another EC-initiated instrument) that would give ESNA European legal framework for its activities and operations.

Expected Impact: It is expected to be a catalyst for reform in member states and to drive their delivery of framework conditions adapted to the needs of high growth startups and contribute to making Europe the most attractive Startup and Scaleup continent. The funding will allow the EUROPE STARTUP NATIONS ALLIANCE to scale up its operations as a European Digital Infrastructure Consortium.

Expected Outcome: The supporting service provider will develop the method, benchmark, ensure broad outreach and communication with startup stakeholders across Europe, oversee tracking and report on progress of Signatory Countries in achieving the Startup Nations standard of excellence.

Scope: The initiative will focus on the set of standards agreed by the country signatories to the Startup Nations Standard political declaration.

This grant will be awarded without a call for proposals according to Article 195 (e) of the Financial Regulation and the relevant provisions of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme and Rules for Participation to the legal entity identified below as it has been agreed by the signatory EU and EEA countries that it will implement the action on their behalf in cooperation with the European Commission.

Funding Rate: 100%