Design study on a scheme to attract non-EU resident highly skilled entrepreneurial innovators

Objective

The objective of the study is to design an EU-wide scheme to attract high-skilled non-EU resident entrepreneurial innovators and to facilitate the creation and development of high-potential companies in Europe. The study aligns with the EC’s objective to boost innovation, growth and investment by unleashing the EU’s full capacities and competitiveness, while addressing the consequences of demographic ageing and offsetting skills shortages across the continent.

Summary

The study will recommend a scheme to attract 20,000 migrant entrepreneurs per year to the EU through the creation of an electronic platform of services to potential migrant entrepreneurs, possible financial support and a promotion campaign. The direct objectives of the schemes are to facilitate access to the EU for non-EU nationals (visa scheme), create incentives (including linking to financial support), facilitate access to EU ecosystems, incubator schemes and private funding (via the platform) as well as to inform aspiring entrepreneurs.

The study will include, amongst others, an assessment of existing (public and semi-public) initiatives in the following EU Member States: Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, and Spain. Moreover, it will benchmark these against schemes in a number of non-EU countries with successful entrepreneurial support initiatives.