Promoting Enterprise blog

At 23, Gonçalo Ribeiro is already navigating two worlds: the academic institutes of physics and the fast-moving arena of entrepreneurship.

“We are seduced by big numbers and fairytales, or maybe I should say, fairytale beasts”, remarked Professor Welter in reference to talk of remarkable “unicorn” companies that promise fast, radical change and rapid growth.

Being a citizen of the European Union (EU) means either having a good chance of owning a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) or being the only person in a room of ten people who does not own or work for one.

The winners of the 2025 European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) were unveiled today during the SME Assembly, Europe’s most significant event celebrating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Portuguese innovator Gonçalo Ribeiro has won the Youth Start-Up Competition (YSC) 2025 with his pioneering medical technology project FLASHGuard.

After three days of debate, innovation and collaboration, the 2025 SME Assembly concluded in Copenhagen with reflections on how thriving small and medium-sized enterprises can strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.

Copenhagen set the stage today for a powerful opening to the SME Assembly 2025, where policymakers, entrepreneurs and innovators came together under the theme “Successful SMEs, Competitive Europe.”

The excitement in Copenhagen was palpable as the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) 2025 kicked off during the SME Assembly, Europe’s biggest annual celebration of entrepreneurship.

Momentum built quickly at the European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2025, held during the SME Assembly in Copenhagen, as the spotlight turned to initiatives shaping Europe’s next generation of entrepreneurs.