NovaUCD Named One of Europe’s Leading Start-Up Hubs by Financial Times
NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs and the hub of innovation and start-up activities at University College Dublin since 2003, has today been named as one of Europe’s Leading Start-Up Hubs 2024 by the Financial Times (FT) and Statista in collaboration with Sifted, a sister publication of the FT.
The inaugural edition of the Europe’s Leading Start-Up Hubs special report, which aims to identify the best incubator and accelerator programmes in Europe, was published in today’s edition of the Financial Times.
The inaugural Special Report showcases the top 125 start-up hubs located in 21 countries across Europe. NovaUCD (ranked in 81st place) is one of only two start-up hubs in Ireland to be included in the list.
Statista identified approximately 2,000 start-up hubs from across Europe who were invited to submit online applications. Among the criteria for hubs to be included in the inaugural Report were being physically based in Europe, in operation since at least 2019 and offer at least one incubation or acceleration programme. The rankings of eligible hubs were based on survey responses of alumni of the hubs (2,600 in total), track record analysis and recommendation analysis from start-up investors and seasoned entrepreneurs.
Tom Flanagan, Director of Enterprise and Commercialisation, UCD said, “I am delighted to see that NovaUCD has been recognised by the Financial Times and Statista as one of the leading start-up hubs in Europe, and it is a great honour to be included in the inaugural report. Since it was established in 2003 NovaUCD has supported over 550 start-ups and new ventures, including companies such as, Aer Therapeutics, Corlytics, Equal1, Manna Drone Delivery, Output Sports, SuperNode and tech unicorn Wayflyer, to attract over €1.3 billion in funding and create thousands of jobs. We really appreciate this recognition and look forward to launching new innovative programmes and activities to support the next generation of start-ups with global ambitions.”
Pictured at NovaUCD is Tom Flanagan, Director of Enterprise and Commercialisation
Since 2003, UCD has supported 550+ companies and early-stage ventures through the services and supports provided across the University by NovaUCD, and through business support programmes, including dedicated accelerator programmes, run and managed by NovaUCD. In addition, the NovaUCD entrepreneurial community has raised €1.3+ billion in equity funding over the last 20 years.
Current and alumni start-ups of the NovaUCD ecosystem also include; BiancaMed (acquired by ResMed Inc); Biosimulytics; CropBiome; Conjura; DOCOsoft; EpiCapture; Equinome (acquired by Plusvital); Go Eve; Life Scientific; Logentries (acquired by Rapid7); MagrowTec; Meili; OncoAssure; Oxymem (acquired by Du Pont); Plasma Bound; Proveye; SiriusXT; TestReach; xWave Technologies and Zipp Mobility (acquired by ZEUS Scooters).
In addition to NovaUCD, Furthr (ranked at 74th place) is the only other start-up hub from Ireland included in the inaugural ranking of Europe’s Leading Start-Up Hubs by the Financial Times and Statista.
UnternehmerTUM, the start-up lab of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany is ranked in first place. Twenty-four of the ranked hubs are based in the UK, 16 in Germany and 15 in Spain.
Click here for the complete Europe’s Leading Start-Up Hubs 2024 ranking.
Click here to read the read the FT special publication, Europe’s Leading Start-Up Hubs.
14 March 2024
For further information contact Micéal Whelan, Communications and Media Relations Manager, UCD Research and Innovation, e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie.
NovaUCD has been nurturing and supporting high-tech start-ups with global potential since 2003. During the last two decades NovaUCD has developed an excellent and expanded infrastructure and a suite of comprehensive business support programmes, dedicated accelerators, and an ecosystem of mentors, investors and industry partners that help to nurture an enthusiastic and dynamic community of start-ups and established companies, to grow and scale on the global stage.
NovaUCD’s reach and influence has also expanded since 2003 as the NovaUCD team now also manages NexusUCD, the University’s Industry Partnership Centre, ConsultUCD, the University’s managed consultancy service, and the AgTechUCD Innovation Centre, which is located at UCD Lyons Farm in Co. Kildare. NovaUCD was originally funded through a unique public-private partnership that included AIB; AMD; Arthur Cox; Deloitte; Enterprise Ireland; Ericsson; Goodbody and UCD. www.novaucd.ie