Massimo Colombo, Anita Quas, and Bogdan Tofan receive the ACERE 2026 Best Policy Implication Award for research on intra-country relocation of startups and its implications for innovation policy.

The Australasian Consortium for Entrepreneurship Research Excellence (ACERE) Conference, held in Sydney from February 10 to 13, has once again established itself as one of the most prestigious international academic events in the field of entrepreneurship and is considered the leading entrepreneurship conference in the Pacific region.

In this context of scientific excellence, an important recognition was awarded to Professor Massimo Colombo from the POLIMI School of Management at Politecnico di Milano, PhD student Bogdan Tofan, and Professor Anita Quas from the University of Milan. The team received the ACERE 2026 Best Policy Implication Award for their paper “Startup Migration: What Drives the Intra-Country Relocation of European Startups?”.

The award recognizes scientific contributions with significant policy implications, highlighting research that can meaningfully inform public debate and shape innovation and entrepreneurship policies.

The study, based on the analysis of over 23,000 high-potential startups founded in seven European countries, reveals a phenomenon that has been little explored: one in four startups relocates at least once within their first ten years of activity. The decision to relocate occurs when expected benefits — access to qualified human capital, innovative ecosystems, venture capital, and public support — outweigh the costs of moving.

The research also highlights significant differences between venture capital-backed (VC-backed) and non-VC-backed startups. VC-backed startups relocate more frequently and are more attracted to ecosystems rich in resources, investors, and networking opportunities, while non-VC-backed startups move less often and tend to leave highly competitive and costly hubs if external funding is not available.

This work makes an important contribution to the debate on innovation policy, emphasizing the strategic role of human capital, private finance, and public support in making regions attractive for entrepreneurship.

The recognition received at ACERE further strengthens the international profile of research conducted by the POLIMI School of Management in the field of innovation economics and entrepreneurship.