From Start-up to Star
Accelerating Growth for European Entrepreneurs
Tomorrow’s global leaders should be coming from Europe.

Policymakers and entrepreneurs take the stage for a series of lively debates on the lifecycle of European high-growth businesses from education, incubation, funding and global success.

PANEL participants:
- Mr. Ján Figel' - Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth
- Mr. Peter Jungen, SME UNION Co-President, Angel Investor and
  Former President of Business Angels Network EBAN
- Mr. Hugh Morgan-Williams - Vice-Chair of BUSINESSEUROPE’s SME Committee
- Mr. Jean-Philippe Courtois - President, Microsoft International

Moderated by Jacki Davis, Communications Director, EPC

Is a European Silicon Valley an impossible dream? Be part of a highly interactive Q&A on how Europe needs to be more aggressive in the creation of high-growth entrepreneurs, in particular, the proliferation of innovation clusters and incubation zones attracting VC investment and pushing the region into a leadership role in the development of new breakthrough technology. Such breakthrough technology is on the top of the European Commission agenda to not only compete globally but try and solve tomorrow’s most difficult issues such as health, transport and the environment.

Additional sessions discussing questions asked in breakout session:

- Education reform: what does it look like and how can we inspire a risk-taking culture?
- Social Entrepreneurship: Is there a future in Europe?
- Women Entrepreneurship: What role do they play?
- Will the European Commission’s Small Business Act and other measures be crippled by red tape?
- How do we ensure the protection and commercialisation of Intellectual Property?