The European ScaleUp Monitor 2021 is a report, in collaboration with international partners, that studies the scaleup landscape in Europe. It offers a platform that centralises European knowledge around opportunities, challenges, best-practices and other salient elements of the process of scaling-up and the emergence of scaleups in various countries as well as regional ecosystems.
Tap on the icons below to find out the Key Takeaways from the European ScaleUp Monitor 2021!
European scaleups got knocked down, but are up again.
With respect to 2019, the total value of investment in European scaleups dropped by 20% in 2020. This is in contradiction to the long-run trend that has been going upward over the last 14 years. Although the year is not over yet, investment in European scaleups recovered in 2021, and 2021 investment level has already doubled the 2020-numbers.
God save the Queen.
The United Kingdom is the leader in terms of both the number of scaleups and the total value of investment, followed by France and Germany at a distance.
These top three countries attract more than 2/3 of all investment in scaleups.
Key Takeaways
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Digitalisation and Tech dominate the landscape. Most of the scaleups can be found in the Computer Software-industry (57.1%), followed by Banking, Insurance & Financial Services (12%), and Biotechnology and Lifesciences (7.5%). However, in terms of funding, Computer Software received 43% of the total funding, followed by Communications (18%), and Biotechnology, and Life Sciences (16%). Within the Computer Sofware-industry, Web Hosting & Internet is very dominant, followed by Application Software.
Energising the future and home delivery rule the roost.
The European top scaleup companies are: Northvolt (Sweden), IVC Evidensia (United Kingdom) and Delivery Hero (Germany).
Amsterdam awakes in 2021. London is the European capital in terms of total investment in scaleups and the number of deals. However, in 2020, Berlin took over and collected the most funding for its scaleups, with London as the number two. So far, over 2021, Amsterdam is the top city in terms of funding (in euros invested) for its scaleups, followed by London, Paris, and Cambridge.
“Data and insights about scaleups are crucial. Scaleups provide tomorrow’s income, create new jobs and, most importantly, contribute by introducing innovative products and services to solving global challenges.” – Prof.dr. Justin Jansen
Research insights
European ScaleUp Monitor 2021
European scaleups, also known has fast-growing companies, play a vital role in the economic landscape of Europe, contributing to economic growth, job creation and innovation. On top of that, scaleups increase the resilience of a regional economy and appear to be particularly suited to address effectively pressing societal issues. Fostering their success can thus not but be addressed within a European context. However, while single European countries have articulated policies to sustain their scaleup ecosystems, the European landscape lacks coordination. As a consequence, we are missing out on several opportunities.
With the idea of strengthening the European scaleup ecosystems and increasing its internal coordination, at Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship we launched the European ScaleUp Monitor. In cooperation with academic experts and ecosystem coordinators from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus School of Economics, The Entrepreneurship Centre at Cambridge Judge Business School, Vlerick Entrepreneurship Academy, Bocconi for innovation, Startupbusiness.it and Carbon Equity we want to bring this issue high on the agenda and create a platform to share and multiply the latest knowledge about European scaleups. The latest edition of the monitor can be downloaded below. The 2020 edition can be downloaded here.
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More scaleup research
At the research team of Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship we focus on entrepreneurship and innovation, paying particular attention to startups and scaleups. We do this in our open publication and in cooperation with national and international authorities in the Netherlands and abroad to uncover the secrets of fast-growing companies and help other innovative firms replicate their experience. Starting with this publication, in the coming months, we intend to make even more resources available to foster scaleup growth at the European level. In this way, we want to maximise the impact of the knowledge European universities have around this topic.
Read below for an overview of our research projects.
Fast-growing companies in the Netherlands
ScaleUp Dashboard
Get in touch
Research team
Curious to learn more about the European ScaleUp Monitor and our research in the area of fast-growing organisations?
Get in touch with our Research Team!
E: research@ece.nl
T: +31 10 302 1331
Prof. Dr. Justin Jansen
Professor Corporate Entrepreneurship
Prof. Dr. Tom Mom
Professor Strategic Growth & Implementation
Leonardo Fuligni
Deputy Director
Katty Hsu
Senior Researcher & Startup Facilitator
Michel van Dalfzen
Researcher
Boris de Veer
Research and Design
