Future 500 Conference Highlights Europe's Scale-Up Challenges

The Future 500 conference in Brussels, held on March 27, 2026, gathered policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs to discuss scaling European companies. The event, organized by IEDC – Bled School of Management, Atlantic Council, and EESC, emphasized Europe's need for practical solutions to enhance competitiveness.

Stjepan Orešković, founder of Future 500, warned of Europe's risk in neglecting global champions despite its capital. He stressed that entrepreneurs and innovative technologies are crucial for growth, cautioning against funding outdated structures.

Peter Grk highlighted Europe's "precarious moment," while Jörn Fleck called for turning potential into action. Maria Luís Albuquerque pointed out that Europe lacks not capital, but scale, advocating for deeper capital markets through the Savings and Investments Union.