Report
Exploring the Role of Digital Innovation in Small Business Competitiveness and Resilience
Authors Mastercard Strive, Caribou
With the support of
Across the European Union, micro- and small businesses, especially those with fewer than 10 employees, are critical powerhouses. Yet these small businesses need support, particularly as unprecedented geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges in recent years have accelerated a shift toward a digital future. Central to the EU’s strategy for small businesses and its plans for broader economic recovery, digitalization is essential for Europe’s competitiveness, prosperity, and technological sovereignty.
Recognizing the important role of digital innovation to foster the EU entrepreneurial ecosystem, in 2024, the Mastercard Strive EU program launched an Innovation Fund, selecting 10 partners—EU-based startups developing innovative solutions for small businesses—that drive inclusive growth while contributing to broader goals of competitiveness and resilience within the EU and beyond.1 Leveraging insights from these partners, this brief examines how emerging digital innovations—focusing on AI and cybersecurity—enhance small business competitiveness and resilience in the evolving EU economy, while also reflecting an approach to innovation that aligns with European values.
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