The European Innovation Council (EIC) Forum has adopted its Position Paper and Wishlist for the European Innovation Act, marking an important step in shaping Europe’s innovation landscape. This contribution supports the European Commission’s preparations for the European Innovation Act, a flagship initiative under the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, expected to be proposed in 2026.
The future Act aims to create better framework conditions for bringing innovative ideas to market. It will address key challenges such as the commercialisation of research results, strengthening collaboration between industry and academia, and improving access for innovative companies to procurement opportunities and infrastructures.
Prepared by the EIC Forum—which brings together representatives of national authorities responsible for innovation policy from EU Member States and Associated Countries—the position paper consolidates discussions and “wishlists” into ten priority measures and a set of cross-cutting recommendations. These proposals are designed to make the EU Single Market more innovation-friendly, coherent, and inclusive, while respecting the diversity of national innovation systems.
Among the key recommendations are:
- A stronger focus on innovation-friendly law-making and simplification
- An optional EU-wide company regime for startups and scaleups (the “28th Regime”)
- A more integrated approach to capital markets and investment tools
- A horizontal EU framework for regulatory sandboxes
- An enhanced role for the EIC Forum as a coordination and mutual-learning hub for implementing the Act
The European Innovation Act is expected to become a cornerstone of Europe’s efforts to accelerate innovation, foster competitiveness, and create a more dynamic environment for startups and scaleups.