The European Commission has started a “Call for Evidence” and a public consultation regarding the upcoming European Innovation Act. This initiative is a core part of the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, aiming to speed up the process of bringing innovative ideas to market success across Europe. European Innovation Act “We want to hear from innovators, businesses, investors, policymakers, researchers, universities, and everyone passionate about building a thriving innovation ecosystem in Europe. Have your say and contribute to shaping Europe’s innovation future!” — Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU Commissioner Startups, Research, and Innovation said on LinkedIn. “We want to hear from innovators, businesses, investors, policymakers, researchers, universities, and everyone passionate about building a thriving innovation ecosystem in Europe. Have your say and contribute to shaping Europe’s innovation future!” — Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU Commissioner Startups, Research, and Innovation said on LinkedIn. said on LinkedIn This presents a unique opportunity for European deep tech innovators and other ecosystem participants to directly influence the legislative framework that will shape their future. By providing feedback, stakeholders can help ensure the European Innovation Act addresses real-world challenges and fosters an environment conducive to deep tech growth and commercialization. Key details for the call The Call for Evidence and the Public Consultation are open for feedback. What the EC wants to hear from you: The Commission wants to hear views from stakeholders to help define the scope of the European Innovation Act and how it can facilitate the establishment and growth of innovative companies in the European Union, enhancing the spread of innovation across the EU Single Market. They are interested in feedback on their understanding of the problem and possible solutions, including potential impacts of different options. How to submit your feedback: To contribute, you’ll need to register or log in using an existing social media account. Start here. Feedback period: Both consultations opened on July 8, 2025, and will close on September 30, 2025, at midnight Brussels time. Next steps: The Commission plans to adopt the proposal in the first quarter of 2026. What the EC wants to hear from you: The Commission wants to hear views from stakeholders to help define the scope of the European Innovation Act and how it can facilitate the establishment and growth of innovative companies in the European Union, enhancing the spread of innovation across the EU Single Market. They are interested in feedback on their understanding of the problem and possible solutions, including potential impacts of different options. What the EC wants to hear from you: How to submit your feedback: To contribute, you’ll need to register or log in using an existing social media account. Start here. How to submit your feedback: Start here. Feedback period: Both consultations opened on July 8, 2025, and will close on September 30, 2025, at midnight Brussels time. Feedback period: July 8, 2025, September 30, 2025, Next steps: The Commission plans to adopt the proposal in the first quarter of 2026. Next steps: first quarter of 2026 What is a Call for Evidence? A “Call for Evidence” is a method used by the European Commission to gather input, data, and opinions from various groups regarding a new law or policy, or an evaluation of an existing one. It informs the public about the Commission’s future legislative work so they can provide feedback on the Commission’s understanding of the problem and potential solutions. It also allows stakeholders to provide any relevant information they may have, including potential impacts of different options. This process helps define the scope of new or evaluated laws and policies. Broader context and aims of the call The European Innovation Act aims to address key challenges faced by innovative companies of all sizes in the EU, including startups and scaleups. These challenges include regulatory fragmentation, a lack of innovation-friendly regulatory frameworks, limited opportunities to test new solutions, and difficulties accessing finance. Other issues include insufficient commercial exploitation of publicly funded research, limited access to research and technology infrastructures, underutilized innovation procurement, and difficulties in attracting and retaining talent. There is also a recognized lack of coordination in innovation policies among Member States and within the EU. The initiative aims to promote and accelerate the adoption of innovation and create a supportive environment for innovative companies, including SMEs, startups, and scaleups, to grow within the EU Single Market. This aligns with President von der Leyen’s 2024-2029 Commission Political Guidelines, which prioritize research and innovation, simplifying regulations, reducing red tape, and ensuring European startups can access capital to scale up in Europe rather than relocating. The European Innovation Act is expected to improve conditions for innovative companies, leading to faster economic growth and job creation, while also strengthening Europe’s technological and industrial base and contributing to the EU’s strategic autonomy.
