Conversations Shaping the Future of Innovation Across Europe

 

Europe is at a pivotal moment for innovation, and we’ve been on the ground across the continent to make sure small-tech voices are included in the decisions being made in Brussels. Every conversation, from policy hackathons to founder workshops, pointed to the same reality: Europe’s digital future depends on regulation that strengthens competition and provides practical pathways for startups to participate and grow. Below is a roundup of our recent events in the EU and how you can plug into what’s ahead.

Brussels: EU Digital Policy at a Turning Point

ACT brought together founders and policymakers for a dialogue centred on a fundamental issue: what would it take for Europe’s regulatory frameworks to keep pace with the realities of small and medium-sized innovators? From ongoing DMA implementation to discussions around a potential 28th regime, European startups are navigating an increasingly complex rulebook.

Our panel brought practical realities of those debates to the forefront, examining what it truly takes for young companies to scale in the EU. Mitchel Volkering of member company vaic.at and Clément Sauvage described the time-intensive burden of rising compliance demands and the challenge of interpreting policies not designed with small tech businesses in mind. Innovators Network fellows Jim Beveridge and Rebekah Porath added perspective on why FRAND-ly (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) standard-essential patent licensing terms are essential for SMEs competing in standards-driven markets.

The conversation reframed small and medium enterprises not as external stakeholders, but as essential partners whose insights determine whether Europe’s regulations work in practice.

 

Lisbon: Startup Guide, Embassy Event, and Web Summit

Through collaborations in Lisbon, ACT brought together founders, policymakers, and ecosystem leaders from around the world. At Startup Guide’s European book launch, ACT, Danish Entrepreneurs, Allied for Startups, and S9+ hosted a lively program featuring a

Then, at the U.S. Embassy in Portugal, a phone-free conversation created space for founders and partners to examine the realities of building a small tech business in Europe, with networking that sparked some of the week’s strongest startup community connections. At Web Summit, the energy was high as members shared their work and dug into the practical realities of how the AI Act, DMA, and GDPR directly shape their ability to grow.