Introduction
As a leading European open innovation and entrepreneurial education organization, 28DIGITAL is fully aligned with the European Commission's ‘Choose Europe’ initiative, which aims to attract global researchers and entrepreneurs to Europe's vibrant digital innovation ecosystem.
Launched on 5 May 2025 at Sorbonne University in Paris, "Choose Europe" represents a €500 million investment by the European Union, supplemented by an additional €100 million from France. The program seeks to position Europe as a global hub for scientific research and innovation, offering substantial incentives such as "super grants," extended contracts, and relocation bonuses to international researchers, particularly those from the United States.
Launching a startup in Europe
For researchers looking to establish a European startup, several countries offer attractive environments. Countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Portugal and Spain are known for their robust startup ecosystems and high market needs.
Additional options include Finland, Lithuania, Belgium and Czechia each offering unique advantages.
European Union countries provide diverse business-friendly jurisdictions, each suited to different priorities—whether tax efficiency, ease of incorporation, or global reach.
At the same time, the same game-changing, top-level standards, are now widespread across the Continent:
- 12 Countries allow for the creation of a business for less than €100
- 19 Countries have national digitalization strategies in place
- 28 Regulatory sandboxes in place across EU countries.
Our offer to U.S. entrepreneurs and researchers
To facilitate the integration of U.S. researchers and entrepreneurs into Europe's digital landscape, 28DIGITAL has reserved a few dedicated slots in the organization’s signature programs.
These include:
- SPIN: Rise: A three-month hybrid pre-incubation program providing practical tools to strengthen public funding applications and develop compelling pitches for potential investors.
- SPIN: Explore: A nine-hour online course offering foundational business skills and insights into transitioning innovations from the lab to the market.
Additionally, 28DIGITAL's renowned Growth Services program has allocated a limited number of positions for U.S. startups. This initiative assists tech companies in accessing necessary funding to expand their operations in Europe through a structured approach encompassing preparation, investor connections, and fundraising support.
Early stage entrepreneurs can have access to 28DIGITAL’s Venture Incubation Program, a two-stage initiative, combining entrepreneurial education and venture-building support.
Participation in 28DIGITAL's SPIN and Growth Services programs offers U.S. researchers and entrepreneurs the opportunity to join a European network of over 350 partners, including universities, research centers, and leading tech companies. This network provides fertile ground for developing new ideas and forging collaborations that can lead to innovative solutions addressing the world's most pressing challenges.
"The 'Choose Europe” initiative presents an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen transatlantic scientific collaboration and a chance for global entrepreneurs to benefit from the European Way of Life,” said 28DIGITAL’s CEO, Federico Menna.
"Our dedicated programs build on top of this offering U.S.-based talents a privileged pathway into Europe's digital innovation ecosystem, enabling them to contribute to solving global challenges through technology, essentially a place to land in Europe with 28DIGITAL.”
Supported By
The Choose Europe initiative by 28DIGITAL is supported by ADRA.
