Innovative firms in Europe face significant problems in accessing the funding they need to start, grow and compete on global markets. European firms (especially SMEs) turn mostly to banks to obtain external finance and only in limited cases to alternative sources of financing - such as venture...

In a highly competitive global economy, improved access to financing by innovative small and medium-sized enterprises has become essential for enhancing competitiveness and meeting the objectives of the Lisbon Partnership for Growth and Jobs. Although venture capital is a small part of the...