Almost 30% of unicorns created in Europe between 2008 and 2021 moved their headquarters abroad, mainly to the United States.

Omissions

• The figure applies only to 'unicorns' (start-ups valued at over USD 1 billion), a small and highly selected group: the absolute base is 147 companies, of which 40 relocated, so the percentage rests on a small numerator.
• The same debate is accompanied by evidence that only about 3-4% of all European VC-backed start-ups relocate abroad, meaning the ~30% figure is specific to the unicorn cohort and should not be read as the share of European start-ups generally.
• The underlying list of European unicorns has been criticised on methodological grounds (e.g. inclusion of companies founded before 2008), which affects the precise percentage even if the order of magnitude stands.
• The claim says 'Europe', not 'EU-27'; the Draghi report's figure is framed around Europe, so the geographic scope of the claim matches the source.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission — The future of European competitiveness (Draghi report), Part BOf the 147 unicorns founded in Europe between 2008 and 2021, '40 of these have relocated their headquarters abroad, with the vast majority' moving to the United States.
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Address by Mario Draghi at the presentation of the report on the future of European competitiveness'Between 2008 and 2021, close to 30% of the "unicorns" founded in Europe – that is to say, start-ups that went on the be valued at over USD 1 billion – relocated their headquarters abroad', mainly to the United States.
• SecondaryScience|Business — Only 3-4% of European VC-backed start-ups relocate abroad, study shows'Between 2008 and 2021, nearly 30% of European unicorns, which are start-ups valued at over $1 billion, relocated their headquarters'; the article contrasts this with the finding that only 3-4% of all European VC-backed start-ups relocate abroad.