Can Europe Lead in Startup Benchmarking?
On November 27, ESNA brought together European policy experts and data scientists at the ESNA Forum 2025 in Brussels, where they discussed how data-driven benchmarking could bolster Europe's startup ecosystem and inform more effective policy frameworks.
The discussion focused on the critical role of startup benchmarking in shaping effective policy, the ongoing efforts by member states to measure and compare their entrepreneurial ecosystems, and the need for greater harmonisation and digital infrastructure to enable cross-border insights and evidence-based decision-making.
The panel, moderated by Carlos Seguí, explored critical themes shaping Europe's startup future. These included the recognition that startup benchmarking is essential and already being pursued by individual countries, the potential for harmonisation and digital tools to significantly improve current approaches, and the urgent need for an open platform that makes this data accessible and actionable for policymakers across Europe.