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The University of Cambridge is one of the founding members of the Startup Europe Partnership (SEP), the first pan-European open platform dedicated to helping start-ups to progress to maturity.
ideaSpace, which supports people in Cambridge starting high-impact new ventures, is the University’s representative for the project. It will play a guiding role as a member of the steering committee as well as supporting five start-ups through the initiative.
ideaSpace and the University became involved in the initiative as a result of a visit to Cambridge by the EC policy official who is leading it in Brussels, Isidro Laso Ballesteros, as one of CSaP's Policy Fellows.
The work programme will be promoted by the European Commission. Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice-President responsible for Digital Agenda, said: “Europe needs thriving start-ups and global internet companies to become a global growth centre again.
“Politicians don’t create jobs, entrepreneurs do. We’re going to support that mindset and push European start-ups beyond their comfort zone.”
The SEP programme will be based on three main elements:
- Matching: a series of same-format international events in start-up hubs across Europe will create a marketplace where selected start-ups and corporations meet to enhance investment from corporates and pave the way for potential acquisitions.
- Mapping: a ‘map’ of the hottest European start-ups and hubs will provide international visibility for emerging companies and celebrate the successes of start-ups and spin-outs that are able to scale up.
- Sharing: bringing together best practice on entrepreneurship and corporate venture/start-up support from leading European and international companies, such as those from Silicon Valley, will help reduce cultural divides and encourage ‘start-up cross-fertilization’.
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Banner image from Ryan Morse via CC4.0
Isidro Laso Ballesteros
European Commission