The European Commission has proposed a European Innovation Act, a major initiative under the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy and the Competitiveness Compass, aimed at helping innovative European companies turn research and ideas into successful businesses and scale globally.
A central element of the proposal addresses one of the persistent barriers facing European start-ups and scale-ups: access to finance. Although many innovative companies hold valuable patents and other intellectual assets, difficulties in assessing their value can limit their ability to attract investment or use IP to secure financing.
To tackle this challenge, the proposed Act would promote a common EU framework for intellectual property valuation and establish a digital marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of IP. Companies would also gain access to expert support to facilitate the commercialisation of innovative ideas. According to the Commission, these measures could help unlock €10.2 billion in additional annual financing through IP-backed venture capital and debt.
The proposal also seeks to accelerate market uptake through a common approach to R&D procurement, making it easier for public authorities to purchase and test innovative technologies and collaborate across Member States.
Alongside the Act, the Commission is proposing a common European approach to regulatory sandboxes, enabling innovators to test new technologies, products and services in controlled environments under regulatory supervision.
Together, the measures aim to create a more connected and innovation-friendly European ecosystem in which intellectual assets, investment and market uptake work more effectively together—helping more European innovations grow and scale within Europe.
Sources
- Publication date
- 14 September 2026
- Author
- European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency