# Startup and Scaleup Strategy Canonical URL: https://digital-acquis.eu/initiative/startup-and-scaleup-strategy Entry type: policy initiative Source edition current through: 31 August 2026 (2026-08-31). This is not a page modification date. Status: not recorded. A delivered policy initiative is not necessarily legislation in force. Document type: Communication Release date: 2025-05-28 ## Summary The strategy aims to make it easier for innovative companies to start, grow and operate across Europe. It combines simpler company rules and digital administration with better access to finance, markets, talent and research infrastructure. Proposed measures include the 28th regime, the European Business Wallet, regulatory sandboxes and support for deep-tech investment. Work on research commercialisation, intellectual property and procurement is intended to help ideas reach customers. Talent initiatives address education, mobility and recruitment, while common definitions, a scoreboard and an annual founder survey would track changes in the startup and scaleup environment. ## Sources - [Official source]() ## Action items (41; complete published list) ### 1. Action item 330001 The Commission will propose a European 28th regime which will provide a single set of rules for companies. It would include an EU corporate legal framework, based on digital-by-default solutions, and will help companies overcome barriers in setting up, scaling up and operating companies across the Single Market. To do so, it will simplify applicable rules and reduce the cost of failure, by addressing specific aspects within relevant areas of law, including insolvency, labour and tax law. It will explore the possibility of enabling companies to establish in Europe more rapidly, ideally within 48 hours (Q1 2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 1. Digital dimension: yes. ### 2. Action item 330002 The Commission will propose the European Business Wallet as the cornerstone of doing business simply and digitally in the EU, establishing a digital identity for all economic operators and providing a framework for sharing verified data and credentials to enable seamless digital interactions between economic operators and public administrations across the Union (Q4 2025). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 2. Digital dimension: yes. ### 3. Action item 330003 The Commission will propose a European Innovation Act which will also promote regulatory sandboxes, to allow innovators to develop and test new ideas. It will contain a common legal definition and basic principles regarding the establishment of regulatory sandboxes, including cross-border or place-based regulatory sandboxes, while ensuring sector specific needs (Q1 2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 3. Digital dimension: yes. ### 4. Action item 330004 The Commission will propose a voluntary ‘Innovation Stress Test’ by Member States, consisting of recommendations for Member States to systematically assess the potential impact on innovation when preparing new or revised national legislation (Q12026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 4. Digital dimension: yes. ### 5. Action item 330005 The Commission will put forward proposals to reduce regulatory burdens in strategic sectors through forthcoming sectoral legislative and non-legislative proposals, such as the EU Biotech Act, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the EU Life Science Strategy, the Advanced Materials Act the Medical Devices Regulation and the Omnibus Defence Simplification Package (as of 2025). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 5. Digital dimension: yes. ### 6. Action item 330006 The Commission will revise the Standardisation Regulation to make standard- setting processes faster and more accessible, particularly for SMEs and startups (Q2 2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 6. Digital dimension: yes. ### 7. Action item 330007 The Commission will launch a study to assess the extent to which corporate restructuring is organised and regulated at EU and Member State levels creates obstacles for startups, scaleups and innovative companies for business adaptation and innovation in different sectors of the economy, based on firm-level data (2026). This study will support the implementation of the Quality Jobs Roadmap and the Fair Labour Mobility package. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 7. Digital dimension: yes. ### 8. Action item 330008 The Commission will expand the European Innovation Council and simplify ist rules. The EIC will increase its focus on challenge-driven, staged funding for high-risk innovations by introducing more ARPA-like processes. It will also expand its Trusted Investor Network and better engage with EU centaurs and unicorns for policy feedback (2025). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 8. Digital dimension: yes. ### 9. Action item 330009 The Commission will work with private investors to deploy, as part of the EIC Fund, a market-based, privately managed and privately co-financed Scaleup Europe Fund, with a focused investment strategy aimed at bridging the financing gap of deep tech scaleup companies. The Scaleup Europe Fund will mobilise significant private funds and make direct equity investments in strategic sectors, to contribute to Europe’s technological sovereignty and economic security. The deployment of the Scaleup Europe Fund is without prejudice to the next Multiannual Financial Framework. The Scaleup Europe Fund will work in close cooperation with InvestEU and in complementarity with the European Tech Champions Initiative and other instruments of the EIB Group (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 9. Digital dimension: yes. ### 10. Action item 330010 The Commission, in coordination with the EIB Group, will work with large institutional investors to develop a voluntary European Innovation Investment Pact for those who commit to invest part of their assets under management into EU funds- of-funds, venture capital funds and unlisted scaleups (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 10. Digital dimension: yes. ### 11. Action item 330011 The Commission will leverage and reinforce existing instruments and develop new instruments to invest in European security and defence startups and scaleups, in line with the White Paper on Defence29 and based on the upcoming Omnibus Defence Simplification Package. These instruments could include more flexible and adaptive funding approaches for emerging defence innovators, including also from Ukraine, such as targeted support to single entities; as well as reinforcing and broadening the scope of available EU funding options, including equity and debt instruments (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 11. Digital dimension: yes. ### 12. Action item 330012 The Commission will develop a framework for IP valuation for IP-backed financing in cooperation with the European Union Intellectual Property Office. It will also expand the evidence base to develop concrete IP finance instruments. (Q2 2027). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 12. Digital dimension: yes. ### 13. Action item 330013 The Commission will support European business angels and their networks in order to create more possibilities for young startups to grow (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 13. Digital dimension: yes. ### 14. Action item 330014 The Commission will, in the context of the upcoming review of the Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines, review the definition of ‘undertaking in difficulty’ taking into account the possible obstacles for certain startups and scaleups, which are not at risk of going out of business, to benefit from other types of State aid (as of Q2 2025). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 14. Digital dimension: yes. ### 15. Action item 330015 The Commission will review the Horizontal and Non-Horizontal merger Guidelines bearing in mind dynamic criteria such as innovation competition (2027). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 15. Digital dimension: yes. ### 16. Action item 330016 The Commission will create a European Corporate Network to better integrate large companies, corporate venture investors and corporate procurers into the EU’s innovation ecosystem and benefit from innovative solutions developed by startups. The Network members would advise on related policy, engage in matchmaking with startups and make a voluntary commitment to privilege European startups when they engage, invest and procure innovative solutions, especially when they use public funding or when they operate critical research or technology infrastructures (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 16. Digital dimension: yes. ### 17. Action item 330017 The Commission will launch a Lab to Unicorn Initiative to accelerate the commercialisation of research results. Under this initiative, the Commission will: Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 17. Digital dimension: yes. ### 18. Action item 330018 support leading European Startup & Scaleup Hubs, rooted in strong university ecosystems, to network and collaborate across borders to provide access to startups and scaleups to each other’s respective services, infrastructures and corporates. Synergies with existing networks will be harnessed where relevant (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 18. Digital dimension: yes. ### 19. Action item 330019 develop a blueprint for licensing, royalty- and revenue-sharing and equity participation for academic institutions and their inventors when commercialising IP and creating spinoffs, following best commercial practice. The Commission will support capacity-building of Technology Transfer Offices and the creation of ‘venture builders’ roles in research performing organisations, including Research and Technology Organisations, research infrastructures and universities (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 19. Digital dimension: yes. ### 20. Action item 330020 provide legal and implementation guidance on the applicable State aid rules to support startups by clarifying the conditions under which universities and public research organisations can grant IP rights in compliance with State aid rules (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 20. Digital dimension: yes. ### 21. Action item 330021 The Commission will propose a set of measures for pro-innovation procurement. In particular: Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 21. Digital dimension: yes. ### 22. Action item 330022 In the context of the revision of the EU public procurement directives, the Commission will seek ways to improve and simplify the access to public procurement, taking into account the needs of startups and scaleups. The public consultation would also look into issues particularly relevant for startups and scaleups, such as limiting overspecification and excessive financial requirements in tender documents and introducing more innovation-friendly IPR provisions and value engineering. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 22. Digital dimension: yes. ### 23. Action item 330023 In the context of the revision of the EU public procurement directive in the field of defence and security, the Commission will seek ways foster the inclusion of startups and scaleups in procurements and take into account a possible EU preference in procurements to reinforce EU competitiveness and technological sovereignty. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 23. Digital dimension: yes. ### 24. Action item 330024 In the context of the European Innovation Act, complementing the above, the Commission will seek ways to increase total investments in public and private innovation procurement across Europe i) provide a fast-track procedure for public procurement of R&D services that fall outside of the EU public procurement directives, including pre-commercial procurements; ii) incentivise innovation-minded sourcing strategies for private procurers. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 24. Digital dimension: yes. ### 25. Action item 330025 The Commission will launch a Blue Carpet initiative to support the attraction and retention of highly skilled and diverse talent from within the EU and from non-EU countries. As part of this initiative, the Commission will (2025-2026): Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 25. Digital dimension: yes. ### 26. Action item 330026 Actively promote and further strengthen entrepreneurial education and upskilling, including through the EIT, promoting gender balanced and diverse participation. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 26. Digital dimension: yes. ### 27. Action item 330027 develop a blueprint for an academic career development framework that rewards research commercialisation activities, including transitioning from university to industry and back, such as in the academic staff evaluation and promotion criteria, as part of the Competence framework of academic staff announced in the Union of Skills. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 27. Digital dimension: yes. ### 28. Action item 330028 explore best practices concerning the treatment of employee stock options for startups, including considering legislative measures to harmonise certain aspects of their treatment. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 28. Digital dimension: yes. ### 29. Action item 330029 propose a recommendation to eliminate tax obstacles for remote cross-border employees for startups and scaleups. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 29. Digital dimension: yes. ### 30. Action item 330030 present a Fair Labour Mobility Package, including clarification of social security coordination rules in case of cross-border remote work and a Skills Portability Initiative to further facilitate and simplify the recognition of qualifications, including for third country nationals (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 30. Digital dimension: yes. ### 31. Action item 330031 adopt an EU Visa Strategy which will include measures to better attract highly skilled students, researchers, entrepreneurs and trained workers from third countries to come to the EU, for example by making the most of the Students and Researchers Directive and the Blue Card Directive in particular for startup founders (Q4 2025). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 31. Digital dimension: yes. ### 32. Action item 330032 pilot the Multipurpose Legal Gateway Offices initiative with a specific focus on ICT skills (Q4 2025). The pilot will serve as a one-stop-shop for information and assistance to highly skilled professionals, students and researchers in the ICT sector, who are interested to work in the EU. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 32. Digital dimension: yes. ### 33. Action item 330033 roll-out targeted information activities to promote the EU Blue Card Directive, among highly skilled non-EU workers and employers about the benefits of the EU Blue Card, including the possibility for the EU Blue Card holder and its family members to get easier access to the EU long-term residence status. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 33. Digital dimension: yes. ### 34. Action item 330034 encourage Member States to put in place fast-track schemes allowing eligible startup founders to obtain a residence and work permit under simplified and expedited procedures. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 34. Digital dimension: yes. ### 35. Action item 330035 simplify and reinforce existing EURAXESS services for innovators, including by offering bespoke support to non-EU talent, with essential information on the respective procedures across the different EU Member States. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 35. Digital dimension: yes. ### 36. Action item 330036 The Commission will develop a Charter of Access for industrial users to research and technology infrastructures, including for startups and scaleups, and, where necessary, simplify and harmonise diverging access and contractual conditions. The Commission will financially support access to AI computing facilities for startups (2025). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 36. Digital dimension: yes. ### 37. Action item 330037 Building on the Charter, the European Innovation Act will further promote the access of innovative companies to European research and technology infrastructures through legislative measures (Q1 2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 37. Digital dimension: yes. ### 38. Action item 330038 The Commission will provide legal and implementation guidance on the applicable State Aid rules to clarify the conditions under which universities and public research organisations can grant access to infrastructure in compliance with State Aid rules (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 38. Digital dimension: yes. ### 39. Action item 330039 The Commission will propose a definition of startups, scaleups and innovative companies, taking into account existing definitions of SMEs and small mid-caps (Q1 2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 39. Digital dimension: yes. ### 40. Action item 330040 The Commission will set up a European Startup and Scaleup Scoreboard that will measure, based on a set of indicators the performance of the European and national startup and scaleup ecosystems. Indicators will include, among others, the number of startups, scaleups, centaurs and unicorns. It will also be used to measure the impact of the Strategy by using three Key Performance Indicators: 1) the increase in the number of startups in the EU, 2) the increase in the number of centaurs in the EU and 3) the increase in the number of unicorns in the EU (as of 2026), and how these compare with global competitors. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 40. Digital dimension: yes. ### 41. Action item 330041 The Commission will carry out an annual startup and scaleup survey to assess the perception of innovative company founders of the improvement in the EU’s regulatory environment over time (as of 2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 41. Digital dimension: yes. ## Referenced entries - [Quality Jobs Roadmap]() — status: not recorded. Source document doc-035, action item 330007: > The Commission will launch a study to assess the extent to which corporate restructuring is organised and regulated at EU and Member State levels creates obstacles for startups, scaleups and innovative companies for business adaptation and innovation in different sectors of the economy, based on firm-level data (2026). This study will support the implementation of the Quality Jobs Roadmap and the Fair Labour Mobility package. - [Advanced Materials Act]() — status: forthcoming. Europe’s competitiveness in the green and digital transitions will depend on its ability to develop, produce and deploy next-generation materials at scale. To achieve this, the Commission will propose an Advanced Materials Act establishing clear framework conditions for the entire value chain; from fundamental research and prototyping to manufacturing and market uptake. The Act will focus on accelerating industrialisation, de-risking private investment and securing resilient supply chains for materials critical to clean technologies, energy, defence and space. By providing a coherent strategic framework, it aims to reduce dependencies, boost technological sovereignty and position Europe as a global leader in advanced materials innovation. Source document doc-035, action item 330005: > The Commission will put forward proposals to reduce regulatory burdens in strategic sectors through forthcoming sectoral legislative and non-legislative proposals, such as the EU Biotech Act, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the EU Life Science Strategy, the Advanced Materials Act the Medical Devices Regulation and the Omnibus Defence Simplification Package (as of 2025). - [Charter of Access for Industrial Users to Research and Technology Infrastructures]() — status: forthcoming. This initiative will standardise and simplify industrial access to Europe’s research and technology infrastructures so innovators can prototype, test and scale faster. It will set common, transparent access and contractual terms (e.g. IP use, pricing, liability, data handling) across borders and introduce a streamlined entry point for companies, including startups and scaleups. Linked to the AI Factories ecosystem, the Charter will be backed by dedicated EU support to make AI computing facilities affordable for SMEs. Complementary guidance will clarify how universities and public research organisations can grant access under State aid rules. Together, these measures cut fragmentation, lower transaction costs and speed time-to-market. Source document doc-035, action item 330036: > The Commission will develop a Charter of Access for industrial users to research and technology infrastructures, including for startups and scaleups, and, where necessary, simplify and harmonise diverging access and contractual conditions. The Commission will financially support access to AI computing facilities for startups (2025). - [EU Bioeconomy Strategy]() — status: delivered. The EU Bioeconomy Strategy combines regulatory, investment and market actions to support sustainable and circular bio-based activity. The Commission plans work on biotechnology, construction-product standards, biomass monitoring, bio-based plastics, public procurement, biogas and biomethane, and industrial symbiosis. It will also establish forums and investment arrangements, support blue-bioeconomy innovation, provide practical guidance for land managers, and pursue international cooperation, stakeholder dialogue and EU-wide monitoring. Source document doc-035, action item 330005: > The Commission will put forward proposals to reduce regulatory burdens in strategic sectors through forthcoming sectoral legislative and non-legislative proposals, such as the EU Biotech Act, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the EU Life Science Strategy, the Advanced Materials Act the Medical Devices Regulation and the Omnibus Defence Simplification Package (as of 2025). - [European Innovation Act]() — status: forthcoming. It will create horizontal, Single-Market-wide conditions to accelerate deployment and diffusion of innovation. The law will (i) simplify and make rules more innovation-friendly (incl. regulatory sandboxes), (ii) unlock IP-backed finance and improve access to EU/national funding, (iii) open research & technology infrastructures to companies, (iv) make public/private procurement more supportive of novel solutions, (v) improve commercialisation of publicly funded R&I (i.e. IP, standardisation, certification), (vi) enable talent attraction/retention (e.g. employee ownership schemes), and (vii) establish EU–Member State coordination of innovation policy, helping to close the EU’s innovation gap. Source document doc-035, action item 330003: > The Commission will propose a European Innovation Act which will also promote regulatory sandboxes, to allow innovators to develop and test new ideas. It will contain a common legal definition and basic principles regarding the establishment of regulatory sandboxes, including cross-border or place-based regulatory sandboxes, while ensuring sector specific needs (Q1 2026). Source document doc-035, action item 330024: > In the context of the European Innovation Act, complementing the above, the Commission will seek ways to increase total investments in public and private innovation procurement across Europe i) provide a fast-track procedure for public procurement of R&D services that fall outside of the EU public procurement directives, including pre-commercial procurements; ii) incentivise innovation-minded sourcing strategies for private procurers. Source document doc-035, action item 330037: > Building on the Charter, the European Innovation Act will further promote the access of innovative companies to European research and technology infrastructures through legislative measures (Q1 2026). - [Life Sciences Strategy]() — status: delivered. The Life Sciences Strategy addresses fragmented funding and innovation systems, regulatory complexity and slow market uptake. Its actions include the Biotech Act, coordinated work on new biomedical research methods, a research and innovation agenda for food systems, and a data assembly for cross-regulatory cooperation. The Commission presents these measures as support for innovation, economic growth and job creation in European life sciences. Source document doc-035, action item 330005: > The Commission will put forward proposals to reduce regulatory burdens in strategic sectors through forthcoming sectoral legislative and non-legislative proposals, such as the EU Biotech Act, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the EU Life Science Strategy, the Advanced Materials Act the Medical Devices Regulation and the Omnibus Defence Simplification Package (as of 2025). - [European Innovation Investment Pact]() — status: forthcoming. The Pact will mobilise long-term institutional capital for Europe’s most innovative companies and funds. In coordination with the EIB Group, the Commission will convene pension funds, insurers and other asset owners to make voluntary allocations to EU funds-of-funds, venture capital vehicles and direct investments in unlisted scaleups. Commitments will be benchmarked, transparent and aligned with strategic technologies, complementing InvestEU, the EIC and the Scale-Up Europe Fund. The Pact will drive pan-European deployment, crowd-in private capital through de-risking structures, and deepen capital markets by expanding late-stage equity supply and patient growth finance. Source document doc-035, action item 330010: > The Commission, in coordination with the EIB Group, will work with large institutional investors to develop a voluntary European Innovation Investment Pact for those who commit to invest part of their assets under management into EU funds- of-funds, venture capital funds and unlisted scaleups (2026). - [Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines]() — status: not recorded. The Commission will recalibrate state-aid rules so viable startups and scaleups can access temporary support without being misclassified as “undertakings in difficulty.” The review will update static financial tests that penalise high-growth, R&D-intensive firms, clarify eligibility, and enable bridge financing, liquidity support or restructuring aid where appropriate. Safeguards against propping up non-viable firms will remain, with stronger proportionality, time-limits and burden-sharing. Clearer guidance for universities and research organisations complements the effort, reducing uncertainty when IP or infrastructure is involved. The reform removes unintended barriers to growth while preserving a level playing field. Source document doc-035, action item 330014: > The Commission will, in the context of the upcoming review of the Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines, review the definition of ‘undertaking in difficulty’ taking into account the possible obstacles for certain startups and scaleups, which are not at risk of going out of business, to benefit from other types of State aid (as of Q2 2025). - [Scaleup Europe Fund]() — status: not recorded. A market-based, privately managed vehicle deployed via the EIC Fund to bridge Europe’s late-stage equity gap for deep-tech scaleups. It will mobilise substantial private capital and make direct equity investments in strategic sectors (i.e. AI, quantum, advanced semiconductors, biotech, clean tech, defence and space) reinforcing technological sovereignty and economic security. Operating without prejudice to the next MFF, the Fund will coordinate closely with InvestEU and complement the European Tech Champions Initiative (including ETCI 2.0), alongside EIB Group instruments. By tackling fragmented capital markets and financing needs with ticket sizes above €100 million, it will help Europe retain and scale its most promising companies. Source document doc-035, action item 330009: > The Commission will work with private investors to deploy, as part of the EIC Fund, a market-based, privately managed and privately co-financed Scaleup Europe Fund, with a focused investment strategy aimed at bridging the financing gap of deep tech scaleup companies. The Scaleup Europe Fund will mobilise significant private funds and make direct equity investments in strategic sectors, to contribute to Europe’s technological sovereignty and economic security. The deployment of the Scaleup Europe Fund is without prejudice to the next Multiannual Financial Framework. The Scaleup Europe Fund will work in close cooperation with InvestEU and in complementarity with the European Tech Champions Initiative and other instruments of the EIB Group (2026). - [Fair Labour Mobility Package]() — status: forthcoming. The Package will remove frictions to cross-border work while safeguarding rights, making Europe’s labour market more efficient. It will propose a European Social Security Pass for digital verification of entitlements, streamline posting procedures, and clarify social-security coordination for cross-border remote work. The package will strengthen the European Labour Authority’s mandate and data capabilities to improve enforcement and joint inspections. A Skills Portability Initiative will simplify recognition of qualifications and interoperable digital credentials, including for third-country nationals. Together, these measures cut administrative burden for employers and workers, enable service provision, and support talent circulation across the Single Market. Source document doc-035, action item 330007: > The Commission will launch a study to assess the extent to which corporate restructuring is organised and regulated at EU and Member State levels creates obstacles for startups, scaleups and innovative companies for business adaptation and innovation in different sectors of the economy, based on firm-level data (2026). This study will support the implementation of the Quality Jobs Roadmap and the Fair Labour Mobility package. Source document doc-035, action item 330030: > present a Fair Labour Mobility Package, including clarification of social security coordination rules in case of cross-border remote work and a Skills Portability Initiative to further facilitate and simplify the recognition of qualifications, including for third country nationals (2026). - [Skills Portability Initiative (SPI)]() — status: forthcoming. The initiative will remove barriers to cross-border work by making skills and qualifications usable across the Single Market. It will consider a legislative proposal to ease mobility and promote common EU formats for interoperable digital credentials, building on EQF, Europass and ESCO. Recognition in regulated professions will be expanded and modernised using digital tools, while simpler common rules will be explored to recognise third-country nationals’ skills. In parallel, the EU will develop a framework for automatic recognition of qualifications and learning periods in school, VET and higher education, and examine accession to the Lisbon Recognition Convention. Source document doc-035, action item 330030: > present a Fair Labour Mobility Package, including clarification of social security coordination rules in case of cross-border remote work and a Skills Portability Initiative to further facilitate and simplify the recognition of qualifications, including for third country nationals (2026). - [Union of Skills]() — status: delivered. Union of Skills measures span basic education, digital learning, science and technology education, vocational training, higher education and labour-market mobility. The programme lists action on basic skills, a Skills Guarantee, skills academies, university-business partnerships, portability and recognition of qualifications, a European degree or label, and talent attraction. Its timetable includes pilots, strategies, frameworks and legal arrangements. Source document doc-035, action item 330027: > develop a blueprint for an academic career development framework that rewards research commercialisation activities, including transitioning from university to industry and back, such as in the academic staff evaluation and promotion criteria, as part of the Competence framework of academic staff announced in the Union of Skills. - [EU Inc. – 28th Regime]() — status: in progress. It will create an optional, EU-wide corporate framework—digital by default—to let innovative firms set up, operate, and raise capital seamlessly across borders. The proposal may rely on TFEU Article 352 or a harmonised national form via Articles 50/114, with a progressive, modular design. It targets 48-hour incorporation and “once-only” data sharing via BRIS, EUID, and an EU Company Certificate, leveraging the European Business Wallet. Investment-friendly options under consideration include simpler capital increases, flexible share classes, and standard private-equity terms. Complementing the European Innovation Act, it cuts failure costs, fragmentation, and compliance burdens. Source document doc-035, action item 330001: > The Commission will propose a European 28th regime which will provide a single set of rules for companies. It would include an EU corporate legal framework, based on digital-by-default solutions, and will help companies overcome barriers in setting up, scaling up and operating companies across the Single Market. To do so, it will simplify applicable rules and reduce the cost of failure, by addressing specific aspects within relevant areas of law, including insolvency, labour and tax law. It will explore the possibility of enabling companies to establish in Europe more rapidly, ideally within 48 hours (Q1 2026). - [European Business Wallet]() — status: in progress. It will provide a legally recognised digital identity for economic operators, enabling companies to share verified data and credentials across borders and receive notifications in a secure channel. Built on BRIS and the European Unique Identifier, and aligned with the EU Digital Identity Wallet rollout and the Once-Only Technical System, it replaces document-heavy compliance with interoperable, data-based exchanges. The Wallet is a cornerstone of the Single Market simplification agenda and the EU Startup & Scaleup Strategy, lowering costs for SMEs, easing licensing and reporting, and making cross-border operations seamless, turning digital-by-default rules into practice across the EU business lifecycle. Source document doc-035, action item 330002: > The Commission will propose the European Business Wallet as the cornerstone of doing business simply and digitally in the EU, establishing a digital identity for all economic operators and providing a framework for sharing verified data and credentials to enable seamless digital interactions between economic operators and public administrations across the Union (Q4 2025). ## Associated policy priorities - [Research, Technology & Industrial Capacity]() - [Competitiveness, Innovation & Strategic Investment]() - [Human Capital, Skills & Talent Mobility]() - [Single Market Deepening & Harmonisation]() - [External Strategy, Security & Democratic Resilience]() - [Implementation, Simplification & Better Regulation]() --- [Reading guide and interpretation notes]() · [Methodology]()