Future 500 Conference: Catalyzing Growth in Europe's Business Landscape

On March 27, 2026, the Future 500 – Champions of Growth conference took place in Brussels, uniting prominent policymakers, investors, scientists, and entrepreneurs. This high-profile event aimed to discuss pressing issues surrounding the scaling of companies and enhancing competitiveness throughout Europe. Collaboratively organized by the IEDC – Bled School of Management and the Atlantic Council, in partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the gathering saw the participation of over 300 delegates from various sectors, including capital markets, business, public policy, and innovation.

Key Insights and Challenges

A significant takeaway from the discussions was the shared understanding that Europe has the vital ingredients needed for growth: entrepreneurs, innovative scientists, access to capital, a skilled workforce, and creative ideas. However, the prevailing sentiment highlighted that Europe struggles with the essential aspects of focus, coordination, and effective execution.

Stjepan Orešković, the founder of Future 500 and Bosqar Invest, opened the conference with a cautionary message, expressing concerns that Europe risks falling behind in the global economy unless it fosters the creation of global champions. Despite the region's ample capital and savings, he emphasized a prevalent hesitation in decisively deploying these resources to their fullest potential. Orešković warned that misallocating hundreds of billions of euros from competitiveness funds to maintain outdated structures instead of innovating for the future could mark a historical strategic failure for Europe. He strongly asserted that the real drivers of growth lie within the entrepreneurial spirit, scientific advancements, and groundbreaking technologies.

Peter Grk, Secretary General of the Bled Strategic Forum, aptly characterized the current moment for Europe as precarious. Nevertheless, he noted a palpable shift towards concrete action, urging collaboration among all stakeholders to cultivate a fruitful environment for business scaling.

Supporting this point, Jörn Fleck from the Atlantic Council reiterated the necessity of transforming Europe's robust foundational strengths into actionable deliveries. He stated, "It is up to all of us to turn potential into execution," underscoring the pressing need for commitment and resources to reach tangible outcomes in the European business landscape.

Addressing the Scale Challenge

A pivotal moment in the conference came from Maria Luís Albuquerque, European Commissioner for Financial Services. She acknowledged that Europe’s fundamental issue does not lie in the abundance of capital, but rather in its scale. Albuquerque spotlighted the Savings and Investments Union as a critical initiative aimed at fostering deeper and more liquid capital markets across the European Union (EU). This move is essential for empowering companies to scale efficiently, reinforcing the idea that robust capital markets are essential for driving growth in the region.

The Future 500 initiative, born from the partnership between the IEDC – Bled School of Management and the Atlantic Council, is designed to support European companies poised for substantial global expansion. It seeks to identify and nurture businesses capable of becoming frontrunners in their industries.

Conclusion

The Future 500 conference successfully brought to light the urgent need for a collective effort among European entities to harness the region's existing resources and talent. By addressing the scale-up challenges head-on, Europe can create the conditions necessary for sustained economic growth and competitiveness in the global market. As the dialogue continues, the focus remains on driving concerted action that ultimately transforms potential into a thriving business reality for the continent.

To find out more about this initiative, you can explore the full announcement at the Future 500 Initiative website.