What is the issue ?
The YEPA contributes to and builds on a range of other important work by the OECD and the European Commission on inclusive entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship, including the award-winning report series The Missing Entrepreneurs. It was also announced as a key action in the EU Action Plan for Social Economy.
About
The European Union-OECD Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Academy (YEPA) has been in action now for three years. This Summit aims to share and discuss the policy messages and learnings from its activities in this time and point the way forward for youth entrepreneurship policy.
The YEPA is an opportunity for policy makers to better understand the barriers faced by young people in entrepreneurship and how to adapt policy to the needs of youth through a series of regular exchanges with young entrepreneurs, youth entrepreneurship networks, experts, youth entrepreneur support organisations and social entrepreneurship networks.
Since the launch conference in November 2022, the YEPA has held quarterly workshops and related events in addition to producing a series of thematic notes on different youth entrepreneurship policy issues and best practices.
This Summit will bring together many of the participants in those activities to discuss the barriers faced by young people in entrepreneurship and “what works” in youth entrepreneurship policy and to consider what all policy actors can do in future to strengthen youth entrepreneurship in Europe.
Agenda
Monday, 6 October 2025
| 13:30 – 14:00 | Check-in and networking coffee | |
| Welcome to Brussels! This session is an opportunity to reconnect with fellow YEPA participants and ease into the Summit festivities. | ||
| 14:00 – 14:15 | Kickstart the Beat: Welcome to YEPA | |
| A youth-led dynamic opening to energise the room and set the tone of youth empowerment and entrepreneurial spirit for the Summit, featuring young DJs. | ||
| 14:15 – 14:45 | Welcome: Advancing youth entrepreneurship through policy | |
| We will kick off the Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Summit hearing from the European Commission and the OECD who will set the scene for the two-day event on youth entrepreneurship policy. This high-level welcome will reflect on the substantial work of YEPA over the last three years and outline the importance of renewed investment in youth entrepreneurship policy. | ||
| 14:45 – 15:15 | Interview: In their words – Young entrepreneurs on the realities of starting up | |
| This session spotlights the heart of YEPA by providing a platform for young entrepreneurs to share their personal entrepreneurial journeys – the highs, the hurdles and the lessons learned along the way. Through the conversation, we will hear how youth entrepreneurship policies and programmes impact them on the ground, what kind of support truly makes a difference, and what they want decision-makers to know. This session is a chance to listen, learn and better understand the realities of
youth entrepreneurs. |
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| 15:15 – 16:00 | Panel discussion: Reflections from the YEPA – what YEPA participants are taking forward? | |
| In this panel discussion, YEPA participants will share key takeaways of the Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Academy, highlighting the cross-country learning and collaboration sparked through the online workshop series and YEPA side-events. Panellists will reflect on how the YEPA experience has influenced their approach to supporting youth entrepreneurship policy. | ||
| 16:00 – 16:30 | Fuelling connections: Networking coffee | |
| Refuel and recharge while continuing the conversation. This informal break offers participants an opportunity to deepen connections and exchange ideas. | ||
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Presentation: Youth entrepreneurship policy today and future outlook | |
| The European Commission and the OECD will provide an overview of current trends, policy gaps and opportunities in youth entrepreneurship in EU and OECD countries. This session lays the groundwork for deeper discussions during the Summit by highlighting where we are and where youth entrepreneurship policies are going. | ||
| 17:00 – 17:45 | Thematic breakout sessions: Choose your youth entrepreneurship policy lens | |
| Dive deeper into youth entrepreneurship policy. These smaller group discussions are meant to spark policy dialogue and inspire new ideas for future youth entrepreneurship policy action. Participants will choose a thematic breakout session where they will explore various topics in youth entrepreneurship policy:
· Powering Change: Youth Entrepreneurship Policy for a Sustainable and Green Economy. · Start-up and Spin-out: Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Driving High-Tech Ventures and AI. · Unlocking Potential: Youth Entrepreneurship Policy to Support Vulnerable Youth (NEETs) in Building Sustainable Livelihoods. · Social Impact: Social Entrepreneurship Policy and the Circular Economy for Young People. |
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| 17:45 – 18:00 | Panel discussion: Report back from break-out groups to plenary | |
| Group rapporteurs will share key takeaways, questions and ideas from the breakout session with the plenary. | ||
| 18:00 | Day 1 Wrap-up, followed by an aperitif | |
| This session offers a summary of the day’s key insights followed by a moment to connect further with the YEPA community and speakers. | ||
Tuesday, 7 October 2025
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Coffee and connections | |
| Ease into the Day 2 with a coffee and light networking to continue conversations sparked on Day 1. | ||
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Morning kick-off | |
| Energise the morning with a DJ session featuring young talent that sets the mood for another exciting day of policy discussions and collaboration. | ||
| 09:15 – 09:30 | Summary: What we heard Day 1 | |
| This session will offer a concise recap of the previous day’s highlights and build momentum for the day ahead. | ||
| 09:30 – 10:00 | Presentation: The YEPA Agenda | |
| This session presents the YEPA Agenda, a collectively produced short document setting down the shared goals, policy lessons and policy good practices identified by the YEPA participants. It aims to set down a future agenda for youth entrepreneurship support and engage participants in its delivery. | ||
| 10:00 – 10:45 | Panel discussion: The YEPA Legacy | |
| This panel brings together members of the YEPA Steering Committee to reflect on the YEPA experience, discuss the priorities set out in the YEPA Agenda and explore how its policy pointers can guide the future of youth entrepreneurship policy. | ||
| 10:45 – 11:15 | Fuelling connections: Networking coffee | |
| A chance to pause, recharge and keep the dialogue going. | ||
| 11:15 – 12:00 | Breakout session: What’s next? Re-imaging youth entrepreneurship policy together | |
| Following the presentation of the YEPA Agenda and insights from the Steering Committee, this interactive session invites all participants to reflect on the ideas, experiences and priorities that have emerged throughout the programme. Together, small discussion groups will explore how they can apply the YEPA Agenda in their own contexts and contribute to a shared vision for inclusive, future-oriented youth entrepreneurship policy. | ||
| 12:00 – 12:15 | Panel discussion: Report back from break-out groups to plenary | |
| Group rapporteurs will share key takeaways, questions and ideas from the breakout session with the plenary. | ||
| 12:15 – 12:30 | Closing remarks and next steps | |
| This session will mark the final reflection of the YEPA and the event’s outcomes, with a look ahead of how participants can stay involved and carry the YEPA vision forward. | ||
