Capital Markets Union: Why ‘Venture Capital’ Is Not the Answer to Europe’s Innovation Challenge
Lex Research Topics in Corporate Law & Economics Working Paper No. 2018-2
29 Pages Posted: 3 Mar 2018 Last revised: 8 Mar 2018
Date Written: March 3, 2018
Abstract
The Capital Markets Union (CMU) aims to strengthen capital markets and investments in the EU. In the context of innovative SMEs (start-ups and scale-ups), the CMU's goal is to make more "venture capital" available to these businesses. However, greater volumes of available venture capital can address only part of the problem.
We argue that although the CMU may be a necessary step, it has to be situated in a much broader discussion about how to create successful innovation ecosystems. Such an approach highlights the sector-specific needs of start-ups (and scale-ups) and the importance of mobilizing other players, particularly established corporations. This paper gives an empirical example from the artificial-intelligence sector.
Keywords: Capital Markets Union, Venture Capital, Start-Up Ecosystems, Financing of Innovation, EuVECA, EuSEF, SME Instrument, Governmental Venture Capital, Public Investment Schemes
JEL Classification: D24, G24, K22, L26, O16, O31, O32, Q55
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation