ND MEP Dimitris Tsiodras is asking for measures to strengthen the start -ups, with a question to the European Commission.

Specifically, in view of the publication of the strategy for start -ups, it asks the Commission that it will enhance their access to funding and the registration and strategic use of their intellectual property rights, such as the patents.

The New Democracy MEP and Press spokesman makes special reference to start -ups active in cancer technologies, underlining the need for actions so that Europe can remain at the forefront of world -class cancer research.

He notes that despite the fact that the number of European Startupsoperating in this area It is not significantly different from the number of American (1,027 EU startups in the US versus 1,325 in the US), US companies are developing faster from the corresponding Europeanresulting in 40% of them at a more advanced stage (against 24% in the EU) and holding significantly larger patent portfolios in technologies such as cellular immunotherapy, gene therapy and image analysis.

Concludes with a reference to a recent survey by the European Patent Bureau of Patent, according to which “Businesses in the US hold 82% more international patents than their respective EU, while starters and early stages exceed EU portfolios in the EU by 58% and 56%, respectively.”