"Of these, 80% came from European countries, mainly northern Europe, Germany and France, but also central and southern Europe. The region has gotten a fair bit of flak over the last few years, both from investors and Big Tech companies that have taken issue with the EU's harsher regulatory landscape, especially the commission's AI Act, which has been blamed for stifling innovation and setting Europe back in the global AI race."
"The "cost of talent" is also much lower, according to Gravis Robotics CEO Ryan Luke Johns. "I think that some of the initiatives in the U.S. that have made it hard for foreign students to be confident moving in and getting a visa, and knowing that they're going to be able to stay, have driven a lot of those students into Switzerland and into Europe, and that's bringing up the talent density very, very quickly," he told Fortune."
More than 13,000 attendees, including 3,500 investors and 6,000 startups and scaleups, gathered in Helsinki, with 80% coming from European countries across the continent. Europe has faced criticism for a stricter regulatory environment, notably the European Commission’s AI Act, which some say has hindered innovation and slowed AI progress. Confidence among founders and investors remains strong due to a deep talent pool and lower talent costs. Shifts in U.S. immigration policy have redirected many foreign students to Europe, raising regional talent density. AI enthusiasm continues, with startups framing Europe’s quieter ecosystem as an advantage for responsible development and scaling.
Read at Fortune
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