NovaUCD, the hub of innovation and startup activities at University College Dublin (UCD) since 2003, has been named as one of Europe’s leading startup hubs by the Financial Times and Statista, the international data and research company, for the second year in a row.
The report, 'Europe’s Leading Start-Up Hubs 2025', a ranking of the top centres across Europe offering incubator and/or accelerator programmes to founders who want to build or grow a company, was published online recently by the Financial Times.
The 2025 ranking showcases the top 150 startup hubs located across Europe.
NovaUCD is one of only five startup hubs in Ireland to be included in the list and is the only university-based hub in Ireland to be included in the ranking.
Professor Kate Robson Brown, UCD vice-president for research, innovation and impact said: “I am delighted that NovaUCD has been recognised by the Financial Times and Statista as one of the leading startup hubs in Europe, for the second year in a row, and is once again the only university-based startup hub in Ireland to feature in the report.
Ireland’s innovation and knowledge exchange ecosystem
"UCD is at the heart of Ireland’s vibrant economy and as such is committed to its key role in Ireland’s innovation and knowledge exchange ecosystem. One way we demonstrate this commitment is through NovaUCD’s activities and its strategic focus on establishing new ventures, supporting and scaling job creating high-tech start-ups, and more established companies, with international potential and reach.
"We welcome today’s recognition and look forward to continuing to support the next generation of entrepreneurs and startups with global ambitions.”
About 3,000 startup hubs from 38 countries across Europe were identified as potential candidates and invited to submit online applications. To be eligible for consideration hubs had to have at least one physical base within Europe, have been in operation since at least 2020 and offer at least one incubation or accelerator programme.
The criteria used to determine the rankings of eligible hubs were based on the assessment of survey responses (4,300+ in total) of alumni who had participated on at least one programme run by of the respective hub from 2018 to 2023, recommendations from external experts (such as investors, entrepreneurs and academics), and track record of a hub based on the evaluations of the top startups which emerged from incubator programmes or participated in accelerators.
Since 2003, UCD has supported more than 600 companies and early-stage ventures, through the services and supports provided across the university by NovaUCD, and through business support programmes, including dedicated accelerator programmes, run and managed by NovaUCD.
NovaUCD delivers several annual accelerator programmes including; AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme; AI Ecosystem Accelerator; NovaUCD Student Enterprise Competition, and UCD VentureLaunch Accelerator. NovaUCD is also partnering with IADT Media Cube to deliver an Enterprise Ireland funded New Frontiers Programme and is a member of the ESA BIC Ireland consortium.
In addition to NovaUCD (ranked 117th), Catalyst (ranked 94th, Belfast), Dogpatch Labs (ranked 20th), Furthr (ranked 88th) and Republic of Work (ranked 49th) are the only other startup hubs in Ireland included in the 2025 ranking of Europe’s leading startup hubs by the Financial Times and Statista.
UnternehmerTUM in Munich, Germany, is ranked in first place.
A total of 29 of the ranked hubs are based in the UK, 19 in Germany and 17 in Spain.
Click here to read more about the report.