Strengths and Persistent Weaknesses

Honest ecosystem assessment reveals both achievements and ongoing challenges:

Core Strengths

1. Technical Excellence: Engineering education remains world-class 2. Government Support: Unmatched in comprehensiveness and scale 3. Quality of Life: Attracts international talent seeking balance 4. Market Position: Gateway to 450 million EU consumers 5. Sector Depth: Excellence in enterprise software, deep tech, sustainability

Persistent Challenges

1. Late-Stage Funding: While improved, growth capital remains scarce compared to US/China 2. Exit Options: Limited IPO market, tendency toward trade sales 3. Language Barriers: English adoption improving but still limiting 4. Risk Culture: Improving but still more conservative than Silicon Valley 5. Scale Ambition: Tendency to think European rather than global