“Issues and Policy Framework for the Development of Self-Sustainable VC Markets in Europe”

This study explores the need to recognize that the goal for policy makers is that of the creation of fully self-sustainable Venture Capital Markets across Europe. Secondly, it will provide a method of assessment of the current status of each country relative to each other and against the context of the ultimate goal. This then leads to a discussion of closely related issues before proposing a way forward for developing healthy and sustainable Venture Capital markets across Europe. As the role of the state is increasingly under review in this area, this study is intended to stimulate discussions within and between European countries and with European Commission officials. The need for concerted and concentrated action in this field is paramount as Europe struggles with itself in meeting its own targets as set out in the Lisbon Agenda in 2000 and reinforced at the recent European Council meeting in Brussels in March 2005.

Through this research, the author aims to propose to policy makers a preliminary framework to enable discussion upon the key elements involved in the configuration of an optimal state policy and multilateral sets of public policies for the creation and stimulus of sustainable risk capital markets across the European Union.

Dissertation written by Master of Science in Banking and Finance student, Graham Cope, whose research EIF facilitated in 2004/2005.

Read the dissertation