Scaling Up in Europe at Steps2Scale

Steps2Scale is a new project where the Knowledge, Innovation and Strategies Management Club is a partner along with other organisations from Bulgaria, Austria, Spain, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. The project has been co-funded by the ERASMUS+ Programme of the European Union and aims at creating a harmonized qualification and competence framework for the profession Scaling up Adviser which currently does not exist in any EU country.
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Why a project for scaling up in Europe?

To those who haven't had a chance of exploring this topic, it is a fact that Europe is hosting around 4200 scaleups (SEP Monitor; Scaleup Europe, June 2017). 

INFO: * Scaleups are high tech companies with minimum 5 years of experience on the local market, already proven and well established market niche, have developed internationalization strategy and readiness to go and find new markets as well as add value by identifying and realizing win-win opportunities for collaboration with established companies. Scaleups are already past the search phase, thrive in the execution phase of the business model and exist on top of a solid startup ecosystem.

​The new Start-up and Scale-up Initiative of the European Commission (EC) focuses on providing opportunities for innovative entrepreneurs to become world leading companies, improving the conditions for startups and scaleups and enhancing competitiveness in Europe. Besides this initiative, there are joint efforts to boost the growth of startups and SMEs in Europe but it has been concluded that very few make it beyond the critical first few years. Therefore, the European Commission is determined to change that and help startups deliver their full potential by creating a culture that supports growth. We all know that it is considered that small businesses are the backbone of a country's economy, but exploring deeper it does appear that growing companies bring prosperity whereas such an ecosystem needs to be cultivated and stimulated.

"The goal is for Europe to become the first choice for ambitious entrepreneurs to set up and grow their breakthrough business ideas into successful companies in well-performing ecosystems. In return, they will create new jobs, foster social responsibility and some will become global leaders." (Start-up and Scale-up Initiative; EC, 2016).

What are the Steps2Scale's objectives?

The objectives in the Steps2Scale project are concentrated on the development of support system in the field of adult education and training; support to entrepreneurs in the key phase of the lifecycle of their business and support the entrepreneurial culture in Europe whilst establishing new innovative managers too.

Partners in Steps2Scale

• Bulgarian Industrial Association – Union Of The Bulgarian Business, Coordinator, Bulgaria
• Birmingham Chamber Of Commerce And Industry, United Kingdom
• University of Deusto, Spain
• ECQA GmbH, Austria
• Obrtno-Podjetniska Zbornica Slovenije, Slovenia
• Knowledge, Innovation and Strategies Management Club, Bulgaria

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The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.