#European Innovation #Slovenia #Bled #Future 500 #Global Champions

Future 500 Forum: Unleashing Europe's Next Generation of Leaders

On September 1, 2025, a groundbreaking initiative known as the Future 500 Forum will make its debut at the IEDC – Bled School of Management in Slovenia. This forum aims to bring together prominent European policymakers, influential investors, and innovative entrepreneurs with a shared goal: to scale Europe's high-potential companies into global leaders.

A Collaborative Vision

The forum is co-led by the Atlantic Council and the IEDC, in partnership with organizations such as the Bled Strategic Forum, Podim, and ISR - Institute for Strategic Solutions. The Future 500 initiative will focus on identifying and nurturing 500 promising scale-ups from Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, as well as from across the EU. The overarching aim is to bridge the gap between ambitious entrepreneurial talent and the necessary capital, partnerships, and regulatory support required for growth.

Addressing Challenges in Europe

Europe is currently facing significant challenges to maintain its competitive edge in an era of rapid technological change and evolving business models. The Future 500 Forum seeks to spotlight emerging champions within the region, integrating them into crucial policy discussions, raising their international profile, and providing access to strategic investment.

The launch event will feature insightful dialogues among visionary entrepreneurs, European Commissioners, prime ministers, finance ministers, and top-tier investors. The first cohort of emerging European businesses will be unveiled, laying the groundwork for a long-term initiative that aligns business objectives with necessary capital and supportive public policy.

Great Minds Collaborating

High-profile speakers at the event will include key figures such as Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, and Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania, among others. These discussions will emphasize the importance of supporting innovative entrepreneurs from diverse European cities such as Krakow, Sofia, Vodnjan, Belgrade, Ljubljana, and Cluj, positioning them to transition from hidden champions to recognized global competitors.

Stjepan Orešković, Chair of IEDC's Supervisory Board and founder of the Future 500 initiative, highlighted the urgency of this mission: “It's about unleashing the potential of brilliant founders and helping them secure the visibility and investment they need to thrive.”

The SEEUS initiative (Southeast Europe United for Success) will serve as a foundation for the Future 500 Forum, promoting the idea that Europe possesses the talent to lead on a global scale; what it lacks is the necessary infrastructure for growth. The initiative aims to connect change-makers with local and regional policymakers, ensuring their contributions are recognized as strategic opportunities for Europe as a whole.

Bridging Gaps for Growth

With a growing number of entrepreneurs and high-growth ventures in areas like technology, AI, sustainability, and manufacturing, the Future 500 Forum will act as a catalyst to connect these innovators directly to policymakers and investors. Jörn Fleck, Senior Director at the Atlantic Council's Europe Center, expressed the forum's broader goals: “We need to close the gaps in capital access and recognition, so these pioneering ventures can achieve their full potential and create lasting change.”

For those interested in learning more about the Future 500 Forum and its ambitious goals, further details can be found at www.future500forum.com. This innovative gathering is set to become a pivotal event, marking a new era of cooperation and growth for Europe’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.