# Public and academic

The latest startup news and analysis from Europe’s public and academic institutions, including edtech, policy and regulation, government and universities.

Europe has the ambition. The Digital Omnibus must match it
Opinion
May 26, 2026
Europe has the ambition. The Digital Omnibus must match it
An open letter from European AI and technology founders
Johannes Schildt, Sabina Wizander, Markus Villig, Peter Sarlin, Joel Hellermark and Fredrik Hjelm
European sovereignty doesn't mean corporate welfare
Pro
Sifted View
May 25, 2026
European sovereignty doesn't mean corporate welfare
Some fear a protectionist mindset could lead to worse products for European businesses and consumers
John Thornhill
Exclusive: EQT wants to back UK startups with EU’s €5bn superfund
Pro
Exclusive
May 22, 2026
Exclusive: EQT wants to back UK startups with EU’s €5bn superfund
The fund currently does not have the mandate to invest in the UK
Maya Dharampal-Hornby, Freya Pratty and John Thornhill
Europe’s AI future depends on UK-France-Germany DARPA alliance, says Nobel winner
Pro
Interview
May 21, 2026
Europe’s AI future depends on UK-France-Germany DARPA alliance, says Nobel winner
Philippe Aghion won the Nobel prize last year for his creative destruction theory
Freya Pratty
Exclusive: The ‘lobby wars’ pitting Europe’s chip startups against semiconductor giants
Pro
Analysis
May 18, 2026
Exclusive: The ‘lobby wars’ pitting Europe’s chip startups against semiconductor giants
Supported by the European Commission, six chip startups have created a new lobby group to represent their interests
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
12 ETH Zurich spinouts ready to raise Series A
Pro
List
May 12, 2026
12 ETH Zurich spinouts ready to raise Series A
Zurich is capturing a lot of attention when it comes to Europe's deeptech ambitions
Oshin Narang
Britain is catching onto the dangers of tech chokepoints
Pro
Opinion
April 29, 2026
Britain is catching onto the dangers of tech chokepoints
When it comes to tech strategy, the UK must play to its strengths
Guy Ward-Jackson
Europe’s startups should stop chasing grants
Opinion
April 28, 2026
Europe’s startups should stop chasing grants
There's never been a more important time for European science. But when it comes to financing those ambitions, we keep reaching for the wrong tools
Ale Maiano
Nearly €80bn of public money is flooding into European VCs and startups. Is it what the market needs?
Pro
Analysis
April 17, 2026
Nearly €80bn of public money is flooding into European VCs and startups. Is it what the market needs?
Some investors are cautious about the influx of public money, arguing other systemic changes are needed instead
Anne Sraders
UK fintech bosses set for crunch talks with Treasury and regulators, reports say
News
April 16, 2026
UK fintech bosses set for crunch talks with Treasury and regulators, reports say
Monzo, Revolut and Starling leaders drafted to help UK more attractive for startups
Damisola Sulaiman
After Orbán? Hungary's tech leaders celebrate with 'cautious optimism'
Pro
Analysis
April 14, 2026
After Orbán? Hungary's tech leaders celebrate with 'cautious optimism'
Removal of authoritarian PM after 16 years signals optimism for homegrown entrepreneurs
Freya Pratty
Over 100 startups left waiting for cash after EU-funded body collapses
Pro
Exclusive
April 2, 2026
Over 100 startups left waiting for cash after EU-funded body collapses
EIT Manufacturing trades blows with former backer EIT after filing for liquidation
Freya Pratty
How many government AI initiatives is too many?
Opinion
April 2, 2026
How many government AI initiatives is too many?
British politician Ed Vaizey asks for a more joined-up AI investment strategy from the UK government
Ed Vaizey
‘Going into industry’ is still a dirty phrase for academia. We need to change this
Opinion
March 31, 2026
‘Going into industry’ is still a dirty phrase for academia. We need to change this
An interaction with a dying patient was the moment I realised I couldn’t stay in the lab — I needed to do something that would help science reach people faster
Irina Babina
Investors hunt for ‘the next DeepMind’ in Oxford amid deeptech boom
Pro
Analysis
March 27, 2026
Investors hunt for ‘the next DeepMind’ in Oxford amid deeptech boom
A cohort of deeptech spinouts has investors hunting for deals in the historic UK city
Tom Nugent
Politicians are flirting with founders but need to commit
Pro
Sifted View
March 23, 2026
Politicians are flirting with founders but need to commit
Lawmakers across Europe still have a lot of convincing to do
John Thornhill
One in five UK founders to leave the country in the next year, survey says
News
March 19, 2026
One in five UK founders to leave the country in the next year, survey says
Survey finds startup morale hit by tricky fundraising environment and government frustration
Martin Coulter
Innovate UK: “We want to make it simpler and easier for companies to work with us”
Interview
March 19, 2026
Innovate UK: “We want to make it simpler and easier for companies to work with us”
Britain's innovation agency wants to enable breakthrough ideas to become industry giants
Amy Lewin
After months of wrangling, the EU unveils 28th regime plan: ‘This is just the beginning’
Pro
Analysis
March 18, 2026
After months of wrangling, the EU unveils 28th regime plan: ‘This is just the beginning’
Cross-border stock options, specialised courts and unified company register among proposals
Martin Coulter
Iran war puts Europe’s air defence startups in the spotlight: ‘The gap is impossible to ignore’
Pro
Analysis
March 18, 2026
Iran war puts Europe’s air defence startups in the spotlight: ‘The gap is impossible to ignore’
A number of European startups like Tytan Technologies, Cambridge Aerospace and Frankenburg Technologies are aiming to build cheaper air defence systems
Anne Sraders
Leaked plans for 28th regime not good enough, says EU Inc
News
March 13, 2026
Leaked plans for 28th regime not good enough, says EU Inc
European Commission expected to present full proposals next week
Martin Coulter
Denmark’s wealth tax plan would be a disaster for startups
Opinion
March 9, 2026
Denmark’s wealth tax plan would be a disaster for startups
If Denmark introduces additional structural friction for founders, we would find it difficult to recommend other founders start companies there.
Cecilie Jacobsen and Madeleine Bjørnestad Røed
EU faces scrutiny as €5bn Scaleup fund shortlist nears
Pro
Exclusive
March 4, 2026
EU faces scrutiny as €5bn Scaleup fund shortlist nears
Much of the speculation around who will steer the fund has centred around Swedish investment firm EQT
Anne Sraders and Freya Pratty
UK pledges £40m for frontier AI research lab
News
March 4, 2026
UK pledges £40m for frontier AI research lab
Applications open for ‘brilliant minds’ to win millions in state backing
Martin Coulter

# Public and academic

Europe has the ambition. The Digital Omnibus must match it

European sovereignty doesn't mean corporate welfare

Exclusive: EQT wants to back UK startups with EU’s €5bn superfund

Europe’s AI future depends on UK-France-Germany DARPA alliance, says Nobel winner

Exclusive: The ‘lobby wars’ pitting Europe’s chip startups against semiconductor giants

12 ETH Zurich spinouts ready to raise Series A

Britain is catching onto the dangers of tech chokepoints

Europe’s startups should stop chasing grants

Nearly €80bn of public money is flooding into European VCs and startups. Is it what the market needs?

UK fintech bosses set for crunch talks with Treasury and regulators, reports say

After Orbán? Hungary's tech leaders celebrate with 'cautious optimism'

Over 100 startups left waiting for cash after EU-funded body collapses

How many government AI initiatives is too many?

‘Going into industry’ is still a dirty phrase for academia. We need to change this

Investors hunt for ‘the next DeepMind’ in Oxford amid deeptech boom

Politicians are flirting with founders but need to commit

One in five UK founders to leave the country in the next year, survey says

Innovate UK: “We want to make it simpler and easier for companies to work with us”

After months of wrangling, the EU unveils 28th regime plan: ‘This is just the beginning’

Iran war puts Europe’s air defence startups in the spotlight: ‘The gap is impossible to ignore’

Leaked plans for 28th regime not good enough, says EU Inc

Denmark’s wealth tax plan would be a disaster for startups

EU faces scrutiny as €5bn Scaleup fund shortlist nears

UK pledges £40m for frontier AI research lab