Startup organisations from the D9+ countries, collectively known as the S9+ coalition, have published the official S9+ Declaration ahead of the D9+ meeting in Amsterdam on March 27. The declaration outlines bold measures for D9+ (ministers from the digitally progressive EU Member States) to ensure technological advancement and open competition for European tech startups and scaleups, both in the short and long term.

Startups are the backbone of innovation, economic growth, and competitiveness in Europe, driving digital transformation and shaping the future economy. Yet, European startups and scaleups continue to face significant challenges, from limited access to growth capital and fragmented digital infrastructure to excessive regulation and restricted access to global markets. These hurdles not only stifle entrepreneurial potential but also risk leaving Europe behind in the global race for technological leadership.

The S9+ Declaration highlights five key areas that require immediate action to empower Europe’s startups and secure our digital future:

• AI Competitiveness: Europe must strengthen its AI infrastructure and ensure that startups have access to cutting-edge technologies, talent, and funding to lead in the global AI race.
• Balanced Data Regulation: Simplifying existing regulations and ensuring fair and open access to data will create a more predictable environment where startups can thrive.
• Unlocking Growth Capital: Bridging the funding gap by enabling institutional investors, such as pension funds, to invest in venture capital is crucial for scaling European startups.
• Preserving Innovation and Competitive Sales Methods: Startups depend on data-driven marketing to reach new markets and grow. Safeguarding their ability to use targeted advertising is essential to maintaining a level playing field.
• Enabling Digital Infrastructure: Affordable access to high-quality computing power, cloud services, and reliable connectivity is vital to ensuring Europe’s startups can compete on a global scale.

We urge the D9+ to consider these recommendations as critical steps towards strengthening Europe’s startup ecosystem and reclaiming our position as a global leader in innovation. 

On behalf of
Dutch Startup Association (Netherlands), Danish Entrepreneurs (Denmark), Adigital and EsTech (Spain), Estonian Founders Society (Estonia), Scale-ups.be (Belgium), Czech Startup Association (Czech Republic), Finnish Startup Community (Finland), Startup Portugal (Portugal), Startup Poland (Poland), Swedish Incubators & Science Parks (Sweden), and Allied For Startups (EU)