European start-up ecosystem builders join forces with Rise Europe
In the new initiative “Rise Europe”, leading universities and startup hubs from 14 European countries collaborate to strengthen the conditions for the next generation of startups. Climate crisis and lack of resources require joint European efforts to contribute to stronger support systems for startups – and help them develop into global market leaders. Startup incubator Sting and KTH Innovation are the Swedish representatives.
Last week (May 2023), 14 of Europe’s leading universities and top startup hubs, met in the Bavarian Alps to participate in the world’s first Rise Europe Summit. The purpose was to discuss how the conditions for Europe’s startups could be improved. The meeting has resulted in a powerful alliance of international actors who share a common vision of how innovations “made in Europe” should succeed on the global market. The initiator of the meeting was Germany’s leading center for innovation and entrepreneurship, UnternehmerTUM.
Crises require European collaboration
– Crisis like the climate crisis require more European cooperation. The current geopolitical and economic uncertainty also reinforces the need for an alliance that backs tomorrow’s European innovation companies. These companies are the one solving major societal challenges, secures jobs and ensures continued prosperity, says Pär Hedberg, CEO of Sting.
This collaboration represents a significant milestone in Europe’s startup ecosystem, as it will combine the individual local ecosystems into one – in order to contribute to faster and better solutions to major societal challenges. The group is now joining forces to firstly improve the environment for entrepreneurs in Europe Together with industry, family offices, policy makers and investors Rise Europe will fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial culture and nurturing the next generation of innovative companies.
Network for a more sustainable entrepreneurship
Rise Europe agreed on publishing an annual list of Europe’s most meaningful startups and on accelerating those promising European teams with all their individual networks and support mechanisms for quicker scaling. Additionally, Rise Europe plans to arrange matchmaking events between start-ups, corporates and investors on a European level and a format specifically to increase female entrepreneurship by matching female co-founders across countries.
– With Rise Europe we got a new force that can contribute to solving global challenges and shape a European understanding of the importance of sustainable entrepreneurship. I am very happy and proud that Sting is part of this very strong European alliance, says Pär Hedberg, CEO of Sting.
About Rise Europe
- Rise Europe was founded in May 2023 and is an alliance of leading universities and startup hubs in Europe.
- The alliance consists of: Aalto University, Agoranov, Beta-i, Campus Founders, DLD, DTU Skylab, École Polytechnique, ETH AI CENTER, ETH Zurich, HighTechXL, IE University, Imperial College London, INiTS, KTH Innovation, EnSpire Oxford at Oxford University, Sting, TalTech, Tangent at Trinity College Dublin, UnternehmerTUM and Vento.
- Members are from: Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Great Britain.
- Next Rise Europe Summit: April 2024 in Madrid.