Startups and Innovation: Labor Market Opportunities and Prospects for Young People

Startups and entrepreneurship offer young people opportunities to secure their livelihoods and advance their careers, while also serving as crucial factors for the well-being of local communities and for local economic development.

Municipalities play a central role: They engage in networking with stakeholders, provide advice and support to founders, provide infrastructure and resources, and facilitate access to funding or contacts with investors. In short, they create a founder-friendly climate and ecosystem at the local level.

From 30 June to 2 July 2026, around 25 experts from 11 local authorities and seven countries gathered in Bremen to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and develop new approaches together. The focus was on the opportunities that start-ups and entrepreneurship offer for employment, economic development, and the social inclusion of young people. Despite their different circumstances, many municipalities worldwide face similar challenges, such as a lack of role models and networking opportunities, bureaucratic hurdles, and inadequate infrastructure. However, 13 examples of good practice also demonstrated how these challenges can be overcome. The event marked the launch of a new Connective Cities learning process. Take a look at our comprehensive documentation!