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European Commission unveils new EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy

On Wednesday, 28 May, the European Commission launched an EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy to “make Europe a great place for starting and growing global technology-driven companies.” Startups and scaleups drive competitiveness by sparking innovation and sustainable growth, creating high-quality jobs, attracting investment, and reducing strategic dependencies. 

The initiative focuses on the science component, promoted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to promote a unified European approach to attract and retain talent, thereby enhancing Europe’s competitiveness.

The key needs of startups and scaleups were identified and organised into a set of actions in five main areas:

  • Fostering an innovation-friendly environment: The initiative aims to have less fragmentation, fewer administrative burdens, as well as rules that are simpler and more supportive across the Single Market. A European 28th regime will be proposed to simplify rules and reduce the cost of failure by addressing critical aspects in areas like insolvency, labour, and tax law. 
  • Driving better financing: The Savings and Investments Union initiative will be key to unlocking more financing and investment opportunities in the EU. The strategy aims to expand and simplify the European Innovation Council, deploy a Scaleup Europe Fund to help bridge the financing gap of deep tech scale-up companies, and also develop a voluntary European Innovation Investment Pact. 
  • Supporting market uptake and expansion: The strategy will introduce a Lab to unicorn initiative which will help connect university ecosystems across the EU. 
  • Attracting and retaining top talent: The strategy will introduce the Blue Carpet Initiative, notably focusing on entrepreneurial education, tax-related aspects of employee stock options, and cross-border employment.
  • Facilitating access to infrastructure, networks, and service: The strategy proposes to simplify and harmonise diverging access and contractual conditions for startups and scaleups to technology and research infrastructure through a Charter of Access for industrial users. 

The EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy signals a push to make Europe globally competitive in innovation. By reducing fragmentation, increasing financing, and improving talent retention, this strategy tackles key barriers. Its success will rely on effective implementation and aligning national interests to strengthen Europe’s startups and scaleups

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Graduate Trainee (Ireland)
Preferred Start Date: January/February 2026
Dublin

Vulcan Consulting is looking to hire an upcoming or recent graduate with a passion for public affairs, policy and politics as part of our Graduate Trainee Programme. The ambitious trainee will participate in a 6–month full time programme – and will be based in our Dublin office for at least 3 days each week. 

Vulcan’s 6–month structured programme will provide the successful candidate with a hands-on experience in government relations, stakeholder engagement and policy analysis. They will become a key member of our client servicing team in Dublin and will primarily assist in supporting our wide range of multinational and domestic clients in the life sciences, technology and retail sectors. 

Vulcan hopes to instill insider knowledge of Ireland’s political landscape – as well as skills to collaborate with key decision makers in both the public and private sectors.

This position is remunerated – and there is potential, upon exemplary performance, for further progression. We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates who are strongly interested in developing a career in public affairs.
 
Skills & Experience:
  • A University degree (Master’s level ideally but not essential) in relevant subjects (e.g. EU Affairs, International Relations, Communications, Public Affairs etc.);
  • A demonstrable understanding of public policy in Ireland and the legislative process;
  • A strong interest in Irish public affairs; and
  • Excellent writing and research skills.

Personal qualities:

  • Be an enthusiastic team player and a quick learner;
  • Be able to take initiative and demonstrate proactiveness;
  • Demonstrate an attention to detail;
  • Have native-level English; and
  • Have excellent organisational and interpersonal skills.

Please send your CV along with a researched written exercise on a campaign of your choosing (no more than 1000 words) to ianfahey@vulcanconsulting.eu  

Please outline why you chose this campaign; why the campaign worked well; what stakeholder were involved in the campaign; what you would have done differently; and what was the result of the campaign in question.

The deadline for applications is 17:00 (Irish time) on Friday, 28 November 2025.

Interviews of short-listed candidates will take place on the week commencing 1 December 2025.