The frontiers of the 21^st Century exist at the forefront of technological innovation, creative innovation, social innovation, environmental innovation, financial innovation, open innovation, business model innovation, and internationalisation.

Entrepreneurs and innovators – the 21^st Century frontierspeople – are at these borders, pushing the boundaries of what is possible, creating opportunities, businesses, jobs and growth.

EBN’s 24^th Congress – New Frontiers for Innovative Entrepreneurs – explores life at the borders, presenting the latest ideas from thought-leaders, showcasing the entrepreneurs who are opening up the new frontiers, and allowing participants to see the future.

But frontiers are typically full of uncertainty. Helping the frontierspeople to reach their goals are the EU|BICs, the intermediary organisations who provide daily support to the start-ups and SMEs who are creating our future. And the EU|BICs themselves are challenged by new models, new support tools, new ways of funding, all of which are explored within this year’s EBN Congress.

Economic Context

Today’s economic challenges are allowing, some would say, forcing, entrepreneurs to exploit their creative skills at the new frontiers. For Europe, and indeed many parts of the world, the economic crisis of the past few years has been devastating. But, as with all situations, these downturns also throw up opportunities. It is also clear that the large global corporate companies have not been able to absorb the masses of unemployed people created by the crisis. And policy makers have now realised that entrepreneurs and innovators are the best people likely to create the jobs and growth the economy needs.

EBN’s Role

EBN is a 30+ year success story of European Union intervention. Created and funded by DG-REGIO in the mid-1980s, EBN’s task was to coordinate the activities of the EU|BICs, ensuring the best quality of service was delivered to the start-ups and SMEs within their territories. With sustainability in mind, EBN became a private, not-for-profit association of EU|BICs and is now funded from membership fees and projects won under open, competitive procedures. EBN is a classic example of how EU-funded activities can and should evolve. In its 30+ year history, EBN members have created thousands of new businesses and tens of thousands of new skilled and sustainable jobs. And we are more successful today than at any time in our history.

EBN’s role supporting today’s frontierspeople has never been more important. And that is why this year’s EBN Congress is focusing on where the frontiers are, who is working at crossing those frontiers, how EU|BICs are helping with this activity, and celebrating the successes of some of the most innovate frontier businesses.

The International Dimension

Geographical frontiers of the past were physical. Today they are economic. And geographical frontiers today challenge businesses to be international from the start. No country or region can survive alone in a globalised economy. Which is why we need companies who are prepared to work across borders to buy and sell from other countries and establish operations where markets exist for their products and services.

Beyond Europe, there are huge opportunities for entrepreneurs to access markets such as China, Taiwan, India, Brazil, Russia and the Middle East. All areas where EBN members operate and can act as soft-landing centres for European businesses wishing to enter those territories. Similarly, European EBN members are ready and waiting to support companies from outside the EU who wish to establish themselves with a European base. The time has never been better, nor the need more urgent for strong international business relationships to develop. EBN Congress is truly an international Congress and the occasion to meet new partners from new lands.