Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs SMP-COSME-2026-EYE is a 24-month EU call to fund consortia of Intermediary Organisations to recruit, match, prepare and support exchanges between new entrepreneurs and experienced host entrepreneurs across SMP participating countries, with an optional WP for non-SMP hosts. The call has an indicative budget of €20,000,000, funds around 10–15 projects (small grants up to €750,000 and large grants up to €1,500,000), requires consortia of 5–10 beneficiaries from at least four eligible countries and mandates that at least 55% of the grant be reserved for financial support to third parties. Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal by 21 April 2026 17:00 CET for projects starting 1 January 2027 and will be evaluated on relevance, quality of design and team, and impact with an overall threshold of 70 points.

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs — Call SMP-COSME-2026-EYE

What it funds

Purpose

Mobility programme selecting Intermediary Organisations (IOs) to recruit, match and support exchanges where new or early-stage entrepreneurs spend time collaborating with experienced host entrepreneurs in other participating countries to build skills, networks and internationalisation capacity.

Typical activities funded:Programme management, promotion and recruitment of entrepreneurs, matching and relationships management, financial support to new entrepreneurs (FSTP), induction and after-care services, networking and participation in EU-level meetings ¹.

Who can apply

Consortia of legal entities (public or private) established in eligible SMP participating countries (EU Member States, SMP associated countries and listed non-SMP partners). Proposals must be submitted by a consortium leader on behalf of minimum 5 and maximum 10 applicants, from at least 4 different eligible countries; max two applicants from the same country. Associated partners, subcontractors and affiliated entities rules apply as set in the call.

Lead organisation requirements:Coordinator must meet the experience threshold specified in the call (different minima for large and small project types) and the consortium must respect non-concurrent participation rules and eligibility checks.

Budget and grant size

Total available budget circa €20,000,000 (may be increased up to 20%). Expected to fund around 10–15 projects. At least 55% of awarded amounts must be reserved for financial support to third parties (new entrepreneurs).

1. 1Large project: max grant €1,500,000 — minimum 350 successful relationships
2. 2Small project: max grant €750,000 — minimum 175 successful relationships
3. 3Standard funding rate and cost rules as per SMP Model Grant Agreement; financial support to third parties reimbursed at 100% while other eligible costs at 75% where applicable (see call)

Key dates and targets

How to apply

Submit a single-stage proposal electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page for SMP-COSME-2026-EYE. Applications use the SMP-GFS and SMP-AG model grant agreements and must include Application Form Part A and Part B, Annex 5 and the detailed budget template; page limits and templates apply.

Call topic page and full call documentation (call document, Quality Manual and templates) are available on the Portal: Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs — call page.

Footnotes

1. 1Call document (corrigendum v2.0) and Quality Manual provide full scope, eligibility, budget rules and operational requirements: Call document and annexes.

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs — Call for Proposals (SMP-COSME-2026-EYE)

Programme: Single Market Programme (SMP) — COSME strand. Type of action: SMP-GFS SMP Grants for Financial Support under SMP Action Grant Budget-Based (SMP-AG). Managing agency: European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Official topic page and submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Opening: 5 February 2026. Deadline: 21 April 2026 at 17:00:00 Brussels time. Fixed project start date: 1 January 2027. Duration: 24 months (expected end: 31 December 2028). Call update (6 March 2026) clarifies eligibility/consortium composition and non-concurrent participation rules.

Purpose of the call: to select and fund Intermediary Organisations (IOs) that will implement the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) mobility scheme by recruiting, matching, preparing and following up exchanges between new or aspiring entrepreneurs and experienced host entrepreneurs in other participating countries, including optional matches with hosts in non-SMP destinations (Canada, Singapore, UK, USA).

Official resources:Topic page and submission: EU Funding & Tenders Portal — SMP-COSME-2026-EYE. Call fiche PDF and corrigendum: Call fiche (Version 2.0, 6 March 2026). SMP General MGA (legal framework): SMP Model Grant Agreement.

Scope, Objectives and Expected Results

Scope: EYE is a cross-border mobility scheme enabling potential or newly established entrepreneurs to spend time with experienced host entrepreneurs in another participating country. IOs act as local contact points to recruit and match entrepreneurs, facilitate exchanges, promote EYE, and collect feedback. An optional Work Package allows matches of SMP-country new entrepreneurs with host entrepreneurs located in non-SMP destinations (Canada, Singapore, UK, USA).

• General objective: enhance entrepreneurship, support start-up creation, internationalisation, innovation and competitiveness of European SMEs.
• Specific objectives: on-the-job training for new entrepreneurs; sharing experience on start-up challenges; enhancing market access and partner identification; networking across participating countries; contributing to EU competitiveness through innovation, decarbonisation and security.
• Programme-level expected results by December 2028: approximately 4,000 entrepreneurs matched; around 5,000 entrepreneurs registered; circa 100 IOs involved; about 30 countries covered; success rate above 90% based on participant feedback.
• Project-level key outcome: achieve the minimum number of successful relationships (matches) required by the selected project type (small or large), provide financial support to new entrepreneurs, deliver aftercare, and participate in mandatory networking and review meetings.

Budget and Funding Modalities

Total indicative call budget: €20,000,000 (with a possible increase up to 20%). Planned number of grants: 10 to 15 (indicative). Budget phasing shown on the portal: indicative contributions by budget year €2025 12,000,000; €2026 13,000,000; €2027 5,000,000.

Grant form: budget-based mixed actual cost grant with unit cost and flat-rate elements. Funding rates: 100% for Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP; i.e., monthly lump sums to New Entrepreneurs as per the Quality Manual country tables); 75% for all other eligible cost categories. Indirect costs: 7% flat-rate of eligible direct costs (A–D, with standard exceptions). No-profit rule applies. At least 55% of the estimated maximum EU grant must be reserved for New Entrepreneur financial support (FSTP).

Eligibility and Consortium Composition

Eligible applicants: legal entities (public or private) established in eligible countries under SMP (EU Member States, including OCTs; listed EEA and SMP associated countries; and countries with ongoing association negotiations if association enters into force before grant signature). International organisations may apply; natural persons are not eligible (except self-employed where the business has no separate legal personality). Entities subject to EU restrictive or conditionality measures are not eligible.

Examples of eligible applicant profiles include public entities responsible for enterprise or economic affairs, chambers of commerce and industry or crafts, business support organisations, start-up centres, incubators, technology parks, business associations and networks, public and private enterprise support providers, and institutes of higher or vocational education.

Consortium rules: proposals must be submitted by a consortium of minimum 5 and maximum 10 applicants (beneficiaries, not counting affiliated entities), from at least 4 different eligible countries, with a maximum of 2 applicants per country. Non-concurrent submission and participation applies: a legal entity cannot participate in more than one proposal in this call; if it does, it will be excluded from all proposals where it appears and consortia must still remain eligible.

Simultaneous EYE project participation cap: on 1 February 2027, an organisation may be implementing not more than two EYE grants in total (including the grant awarded under this call). Associated partners are allowed but are not eligible for funding; their roles must be clearly described.

Activities, Work Packages, Targets and Rules

Core action: recruitment, eligibility screening, matching, preparation, grant management for New Entrepreneurs, monitoring and follow-up, aftercare, and programme promotion. All implementation must follow the EYE Quality Manual (including use of the EYE IT tool and the official unit support amounts per destination country).

1. 1WP1 Management, networking and reporting: project management, quality control, evaluation, active networking with the EYE network (including approx. three Network Meetings over the project), reporting on progress and impact, risk management, cooperation and mentoring across consortia.
2. 2WP2 Promotion and recruitment: design and deliver a communication and dissemination plan by month 4; outreach to priority target groups; promotion via media, partnerships, events; enrolment of entrepreneurs (subcontracting allowed only for promotion, not recruitment).
3. 3WP3 Relationship building: assess and accept eligible New and Host Entrepreneurs, ensure identity verification and eligibility per Quality Manual, maintain portfolios and keep profiles up-to-date, facilitate high-quality matches in the EYE IT tool.
4. 4WP4 Relationship management: manage commitments and agreements, disburse FSTP to New Entrepreneurs in line with programme rules, prepare exchanges (including induction), support exchanges and deliver aftercare services, track long-term feedback.
5. 5WP5 Optional for non-SMP destinations (Canada, Singapore, UK, USA): plan and deliver recruitment and matching of SMP-country New Entrepreneurs with Host Entrepreneurs in those destinations. Local promotion and follow-up activities may be outsourced/subcontracted (project management, quality control and any activity needing direct IT tool access cannot be subcontracted).

Targets and target groups: the proposal must state the consortium’s total target number of successful matches and break this down by partner and by target group in Annex 5. Compulsory target groups include entrepreneurs with sustainable or clean and digital business models and ensuring gender balance across recruited entrepreneurs. Optional target groups may include entrepreneurs from underrepresented countries and entrepreneurs from rural areas. If targeting host entrepreneurs in non-SMP destinations, applicants must quantify their indicative target and outline the approach in Annex 5 and the work plan.

Effort guidance: experience-based averages suggest for matches within Europe around 8–9 person-days per match for experienced IOs and 12 person-days for inexperienced IOs. For matching to non-SMP destinations, plan up to 15 person-days per match considering the combined efforts of the IO and local entities.

Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) to New Entrepreneurs

FSTP is a mandatory component. IOs must reserve at least 55% of the estimated maximum EU grant for FSTP to New Entrepreneurs. Monthly unit amounts per host country are defined in the Quality Manual’s Annex 1. FSTP covers contributions to travel, accommodation, subsistence, and other eligible stay-related costs. It may not necessarily fully cover the costs of participation; complementary funding from the New Entrepreneur may be necessary (not from the host entrepreneur). Payment arrangements and liability transfer must follow the Quality Manual. Exchanges to non-SMP destinations have specific unit rates and durations different from Europe.

Eligible Costs and Cost Categories

• Personnel costs: employees, natural persons under direct contract, seconded personnel, SME owners and natural person beneficiaries (unit cost for SME owners or natural persons without salary).
• Subcontracting: allowed only in WP2 (promotion of the programme) and in WP5 (non-SMP destinations activities as specified). Subcontracting of core project management or any activity requiring direct access to the EYE IT tool is not allowed. Subcontracting must ensure best value for money and avoid conflicts of interest.
• Purchase costs: travel and subsistence (unit or actual costs), equipment (normally depreciation), and other goods, works and services.
• Other cost categories: D.1 Financial support to third parties (unit costs per country of destination as per Quality Manual).
• Indirect costs: 7% flat-rate of eligible direct costs (categories A–D, with standard exceptions).
• VAT: non-deductible/non-refundable VAT is eligible (with public bodies acting as public authority exception).

Funding rates: 100% for FSTP; 75% co-financing rate applies to all other eligible categories. No-profit rule applies. Budget flexibility is allowed with the usual exceptions (e.g. lump sums, higher funding rate categories, or adding new subcontracts outside Annex 1 require amendment or simplified approval). Certificates on the Financial Statements (CFS) may be required depending on thresholds set in the Grant Agreement.

Milestones, Deliverables and Meetings

• Mandatory participation in three Network Meetings during the grant period (indicative windows: Feb/Mar 2027, Sep/Oct 2027, Feb/Mar 2028).
• Initial training for new Intermediary Organisations in Jan/Feb 2027, if applicable.
• Deliverables include linking IO website to the EYE programme website, meeting “minutes” capturing outcomes and lessons learned, two Technical Progress Reports (month 9 and month 17), success stories (at least 10 over the project; cumulative delivery with a minimum of 2 by month 12), and a cooperation plan with other business support providers (by month 3), notably Enterprise Europe Network and Clusters.
• A Communication and Dissemination Plan must be developed by month 4, detailing strategy, channels, partnerships, and EU visibility.

Evaluation and Award

Single-stage submission and one-step evaluation. Proposals are checked for admissibility and eligibility, then evaluated on Relevance (30 points), Quality — Project design and implementation (30 points), Quality — Project team and cooperation (30 points), and Impact (10 points). Individual thresholds: 16/30 for each of the three 30-point criteria and 6/10 for Impact. Overall threshold: 70/100. Ties are resolved by higher Impact, then Relevance, then Quality; portfolio considerations may also apply. Indicative timeline: evaluation May–June 2026; results July 2026; GA signature October 2026.

FAQ-based Clarifications and Practical Points

• A consortium may consist of organisations without prior EYE experience, provided the leader and any specific minimum experience conditions are fulfilled.
• At least 55% of the estimated grant must be reserved for FSTP to New Entrepreneurs; this is mandatory.
• Co-financing: all eligible activities except FSTP are co-financed at 75%, implying a 25% co-funding requirement from beneficiaries for those cost categories. FSTP is funded at 100%.
• Consortium size: 5–10 beneficiaries; at least 4 different countries; max 2 applicants per country.
• Non-concurrent participation: an entity may be part of only one proposal under this call and must not implement more than two EYE projects as of 1 February 2027.
• Optional WP5 is mandatory only if the consortium intends to recruit and match host entrepreneurs in non-SMP destinations.
• Minimum KPIs per project: 175 matches for small projects or 350 for large projects; proposals below these thresholds are non-compliant.
• Partner roles and budget split are decided by the consortium, respecting call rules on minimum and maximum grant amounts, match targets, and FSTP share.
• Ukrainian applicants are eligible like other SMP participating countries, including as coordinators, if all section 6 criteria are met.
• If no IO exists in a participant’s country, matching responsibilities follow residence rules in the Quality Manual; otherwise, entrepreneurs are matched by an IO in the country of residence.

Submission and Admissibility

Submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal only. Single deadline: 21 April 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time. Admissibility: use the provided Part A (online) and Part B (template) forms and upload all mandatory annexes. Part B page limit: 50 pages (Annex 5 does not count). The Detail Budget table (COSME GFS 75%) and Annex 5 (Additional information to Part B) are mandatory. Applicants must register in the Participant Register and be validated by the Central Validation Service. Proposals must be complete and consistent (summarised budget must match detailed budget calculator; if discrepancies occur, the online summarized budget prevails).

Mandatory templates and annexes:Application Form Part A (online). Application Form Part B (download, complete and upload PDF). Detailed budget table/calculator (COSME GFS 75%). Annex 5 — Additional information to Part B (download from EISMEA web page and upload under Other Annexes). Annual activity reports for the last year and a list of previous projects for the last 2 years (uploaded under Other Annexes). The model grant agreement applies. Reference documents and online manual are available on the Portal.

Who Should Apply and What They Deliver

This call funds Intermediary Organisations, not individual entrepreneurs. IOs deliver a pipeline of motivated New and Host Entrepreneurs, build high-quality cross-border matches, manage FSTP to New Entrepreneurs, and ensure induction, mentoring, and aftercare, including alumni engagement and links to complementary services (Enterprise Europe Network, Clusters, SOLVIT, Your Europe, Access2Markets, IP support, etc.). IOs must engage in network-level cooperation and knowledge sharing, including contributions to working groups on alumni, impact, IT tool priorities, and communication.

Answering the Categorisation Questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Public entities and agencies active in enterprise and SME support; chambers of commerce and industry; chambers of crafts; business support organisations; start-up centres, incubators, accelerators; technology and science parks; SME and business associations and networks; public or private providers of business support services; universities and institutes of vocational or higher education with enterprise support activities; international organisations. Not eligible: natural persons (except self-employed without separate legal personality); EU institutions or bodies as beneficiaries. Entrepreneurs do not apply to this call; they apply to IOs selected under EYE.

Funding Type:Grant. SMP Action Grant Budget-Based (SMP-AG) with Grants for Financial Support (SMP-GFS). The grant includes Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) paid by IOs to New Entrepreneurs under predefined monthly unit rates per destination.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium. Minimum 5 and maximum 10 beneficiaries from at least 4 different eligible countries, with a maximum of 2 applicants per country. Experience conditions for the coordinator and, for large projects, for a majority of partners apply. An entity can appear in only one proposal in this call.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):SMP participating countries: EU Member States (including OCTs) plus EEA/SMP associated countries and countries finalising association before grant signature. Entrepreneurs can be matched across participating countries, and optionally between SMP-country New Entrepreneurs and non-SMP hosts in Canada, Singapore, UK and USA. The list of participating countries is maintained in the EYE Quality Manual.

Target Sector:Cross-sector entrepreneurship and SME development across all industries. Compulsory focus on entrepreneurs with sustainable or clean and digital business models. Optional emphasis on entrepreneurs from rural areas and from designated underrepresented participating countries. The action targets startup and SME internationalisation, business collaboration, and innovation diffusion, rather than a single industry vertical.

Mentioned Countries:Canada; Singapore; United Kingdom; United States. Underrepresented participating countries referenced for optional targeting: Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; France; Germany; Kosovo; Moldova; Norway; Poland; Sweden; Türkiye; Ukraine. EU outermost regions referred to in Article 349 TFEU and their neighbouring third countries are specifically encouraged.

Project Stage:Implementation and operational delivery of mobility and business support services. For participating entrepreneurs, targeted maturity spans potential or aspiring founders and newly established start-ups seeking development, validation, and early internationalisation through on-the-job learning with experienced hosts.

Funding Amount:Per project: Small projects up to €750,000; Large projects €750,000 to €1,500,000. At least 55% of the estimated EU grant must be allocated to FSTP for New Entrepreneurs. Call budget: €20,000,000 (indicative), with 10–15 projects expected to be funded. FSTP is reimbursed at 100%; other eligible categories at 75%.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Use the call-specific Application Form Part B template and Annex 5, plus the detailed budget calculator.

Nature of Support:Money: EU grants to consortia, including pass-through Financial Support to Third Parties paid to New Entrepreneurs as monthly unit amounts. Non-monetary services: mentoring, networking, induction training, alumni engagement, and aftercare delivered by IOs.

Application Stages:1 stage. One-step evaluation following submission. No second stage foreseen.

Success Rates:Not specified in the call documentation. The call indicates an indicative plan to fund 10–15 projects subject to evaluation and budget availability.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. For eligible cost categories other than FSTP, the EU co-financing rate is 75%, requiring 25% co-funding by beneficiaries for those categories. Financial Support to Third Parties to New Entrepreneurs is funded at 100%.

Templates: Application Structure and Content Guidance:Part A (online): administrative data, participant info, summarised budget, declarations. Part B (PDF upload): project summary; Relevance (background, objectives, needs analysis, complementarity and EU added value); Quality (concept and methodology; consortium set-up; project teams and staff; management and decision-making; quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation; cost effectiveness and financial management; risk management with at least 2 critical risks per WP and mitigation measures). Impact (ambition, indicators and targets; communication, dissemination and EU visibility; sustainability and continuation). Work Plan with WPs 1–4 and optional WP5: objectives; tasks; roles; milestones; deliverables; timetable; subcontracting table if any. Annex 5 (mandatory): additional, call-specific targets and quantitative breakdowns, including the total relationships target, per partner target, compulsory and optional target group volumes, indicative number of recruited entrepreneurs (NEs and HEs), periodic objectives, staff allocation (FTE) and skills matrix, performance indicators per WP, planned efforts and cost-effectiveness ratio, and risk items aligned with section 2.7 of Annex 5 guidance. Detailed budget calculator: cost categories, distribution per beneficiary, and FSTP allocation (minimum 55% of estimated EU grant). Additional annexes: last year’s activity report(s), list of previous projects for last 2 years, and any other required supporting documents.

Operational and Legal Set-up

• Grant Agreement signature expected October 2026; project start 1 January 2027.
• Payments: prefinancing typically around 70% subject to GA conditions; no interim cost payment; final payment upon acceptance of final technical and financial report (60 days after project end).
• Reporting: two Technical Progress Reports (months 9 and 17) and a final technical and financial report (within 60 days after month 24). Continuous reporting of deliverables via the Portal.
• Record-keeping: maintain substantiating evidence in line with the Grant Agreement; standard retention periods apply and may be extended in case of audits or investigations.
• Visibility: use the EU emblem and funding statement in all communication and dissemination, including web presence; no project-specific websites eligible for separate cost claims; link the IO site to the EYE programme’s central site.
• Compliance: ethics, values, data protection, conflict of interest, and security rules apply.

Contacts and Support

• Call mailbox: EISMEA-SMP-COSME-ENQUIRIES@ec.europa.eu
• IT issues: Funding & Tenders Portal IT Helpdesk
• Guidance: Online Manual on the Portal; EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
• Partner search: available on the topic page for logged-in users
• Enterprise Europe Network and IP Helpdesk contact points are available for complementary SME support and IP advice

Comprehensive Answers Summary

What This Opportunity Is About — Long Summary

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs SMP-COSME-2026-EYE funds networks of capable Intermediary Organisations to run a pan-European (and optionally transatlantic/transpacific) entrepreneur mobility scheme. IOs recruit and assess aspiring or newly established entrepreneurs and experienced hosts, make high-quality cross-border matches through the official EYE IT tool, prepare participants, and disburse monthly unit financial support to New Entrepreneurs during their exchange. Projects are expected to meet stringent output targets of 175 or 350 successful matches, depending on size, and to allocate at least 55% of their EU grant to Financial Support to Third Parties. The programme demands a robust operational model: a data-driven communication and dissemination strategy, strong pipelines of sustainable/clean and digital entrepreneurs with gender balance, rigorous eligibility checks, effective financial assistance management, timely induction and aftercare, and demonstrable cooperation with the wider EYE community and complementary business support ecosystems like the Enterprise Europe Network. Funding is designed to cover 100% of the direct financial support to New Entrepreneurs and 75% of management and operational categories, with a 25% co-financing share required from beneficiaries for those categories. Consortia must be composed of 5–10 organisations from at least four countries and led by experienced EYE actors, with additional experience thresholds for large projects. Evaluation emphasises strategic relevance, solid methodology and delivery capacity, cost-effectiveness, partnership quality, and clear, credible impact. Successful consortia will contribute to Europe’s SME competitiveness by enabling on-the-job entrepreneurial learning, building enduring cross-border business relationships, opening new markets including non-SMP destinations, and amplifying innovation and internationalisation outcomes at scale. Apply via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and use the call fiche, Quality Manual and SMP Model Grant Agreement to structure a compliant, high-quality proposal.

Footnotes

1. 1All call conditions, templates and legal-financial rules are detailed in the official call fiche and the SMP Model Grant Agreement. See the call fiche (Version 2.0, 6 March 2026) at Call fiche and the SMP MGA at SMP Model Grant Agreement.

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs - Call for Proposals SMP-COSME-2026-EYE

Funding Opportunity Overview

The Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme is a cross-border exchange scheme that funds Intermediary Organisations (IOs) to implement entrepreneur mobility activities. The programme facilitates practical learning exchanges between new and aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced business owners across participating countries. This is the 2026 call for proposals under the Single Market Programme (SMP), managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).

Call Timeline and Submission

Call Opening:5 February 2026

Application Deadline:21 April 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time). Submission is mandatory through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Paper submissions are not accepted.

Evaluation Timeline:May-June 2026. Evaluation results expected July 2026. Grant agreements targeted for signature October 2026.

Project Start Date:1 January 2027

Available Funding

Total Call Budget:€20,000,000 (may be increased by maximum 20%)

Number of Projects:Indicatively 10-15 projects will be funded

Funding Rates:75% for general costs and 100% for financial support to third parties (FSTP), which must represent at least 55% of the estimated maximum grant amount

Project Types and Grant Amounts

The term relationship refers to successful exchanges between new and host entrepreneurs. Proposals must clearly indicate their choice of project type (large or small) in the mandatory Annex 5. Projects requesting fewer relationships than the minimum threshold will be considered non-compliant.

Who Can Apply

Eligible Applicants

Legal entities (public or private) established in Single Market Programme (SMP) participating countries. Target audience comprises organisations whose core activity is supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs and delivering business support services to start-ups or young entrepreneurs.

• Public entities responsible for economic affairs, enterprise or business support
• Chambers of commerce and industry or chambers of crafts
• Business support organisations, start-up centres, incubators, technology parks
• Business associations and business support networks
• Public and private entities offering business support services
• Institutes of higher education such as universities or vocational training institutes

Eligible Countries

All EU Member States (including Overseas Countries and Territories), EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), and countries associated to the Single Market Programme: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine. Canada, Singapore, UK and USA are eligible for specific activities (non-SMP host entrepreneurs). Organizations from other countries may exceptionally participate if considered essential by the granting authority.

Consortium Composition Requirements

1. 1Minimum 5 beneficiaries and maximum 10 beneficiaries (not counting affiliated entities)
2. 2Partners must come from minimum 4 different eligible countries
3. 3Maximum 2 applicants from the same country
4. 4All applicants must be legal entities established in eligible countries
5. 5One designated consortium leader (coordinator)

Experience Requirements

Experience requirements differ between large and small project tracks. For large projects, the consortium leader must have minimum 4 years experience implementing EYE programmes AND minimum 3 years experience as consortium leader in EYE. More than half of the remaining consortium members must also have minimum 4 years EYE experience. For small projects, the consortium leader requires minimum 2 years EYE experience (not necessarily as consortium leader), with no specific experience requirement for other consortium members. Experience is calculated from the starting date of the cycle (1 January 2027). Organisations without any EYE experience may participate as consortium members in small projects.

Other Eligibility Rules

• Applicants may implement a maximum of 2 EYE grants under different cycles at the same time (situation assessed as of 1 February 2027)
• Natural persons are not eligible (except self-employed persons where the company has no separate legal personality)
• EU bodies (except Joint Research Centre) cannot be part of consortia
• Entities subject to EU restrictive measures or EU conditionality measures are not eligible
• Entities with significant compliance deficiencies in previous EU grants are not eligible
• Organisations must not have been involved in the call preparation

Programme Objectives and Expected Impact

General Objectives

• Enhance entrepreneurship and support creation of start-ups
• Help new entrepreneurs acquire managerial skills and develop business plans through learning from experienced entrepreneurs
• Provide on-the-job training through practical work on concrete business projects
• Support host entrepreneurs in researching and testing new business concepts by exposing them to fresh ideas
• Raise awareness of benefits from internationalisation and European market opportunities
• Intensify networking and business relationships between entrepreneurs across participating countries
• Promote participation from EU outermost regions and neighbouring third countries

Expected Results at Programme Level

All targets below must be achieved by December 2028, i.e. by end of projects financed under this call:

• Around 4,000 entrepreneurs matched across all projects
• Around 5,000 entrepreneurs registered in the programme
• Around 100 Intermediary Organisations involved in implementation
• About 30 countries covered
• Rate of successful exchanges above 90% based on entrepreneurs feedback

Key Requirements and Scope of Work

Primary Activities

All Intermediary Organisations must implement mandatory Work Packages covering recruitment, matching, support and follow-up of entrepreneurs. An optional Work Package 5 is available for organisations intending to match new entrepreneurs with host entrepreneurs from non-SMP countries (Canada, Singapore, UK, USA).

1. 1Work Package 1: Management, networking, quality control and reporting including cooperation with other Intermediary Organisations
2. 2Work Package 2: Promotion of programme and recruitment of entrepreneurs
3. 3Work Package 3: Assessment and relationship building between new and host entrepreneurs
4. 4Work Package 4: Management of grants with new entrepreneurs, preparation and follow-up of exchanges including after-care services
5. 5Work Package 5: Optional, only for matching to non-SMP country host entrepreneurs

Target Groups and Compulsory Targets

Proposals must include entrepreneurs proposing sustainable/clean and digital business models. Gender balance of recruited entrepreneurs (both new and hosts) is required. Optional target groups include entrepreneurs from underrepresented countries, rural areas, and matching to non-SMP country entrepreneurs.

Exchange Requirements

• Exchange duration: 1 to 6 months maximum, with possibility of dividing into weekly slots (total not exceeding 12 months)
• Exchanges must involve collaboration, not simple internships or work placements
• Exchanges must comply with Quality Manual procedures for eligibility of participants

Financial Support to New Entrepreneurs

New entrepreneurs receive EU financial assistance to cover travel and stay costs. The monthly amounts are set by the European Commission in Annex €1Bof the Quality Manual and vary by host country. Financial support is paid by the Intermediary Organisation hosting the new entrepreneur. Support is partial contribution only and may not cover total costs. New entrepreneurs may need to contribute complementary funding. The IO must sign financial agreements with each new entrepreneur specifying support amounts and payment schedules. At least 55% of the total estimated grant must be reserved for financial support to third parties.

Application Process and Documents

Required Documents

• Application Form Part A: Administrative information about participants and summarised budget (filled in online)
• Application Form Part B: Technical description of project (template to download, complete and re-upload as PDF)
• Annex 5 (mandatory): Additional information on targets and specific EYE requirements
• Detailed budget table/calculator in Excel format
• Activity reports of last year
• List of previous projects (key projects from last 2 years)
• All documents submitted via EU Funding and Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System

Page Limits

Proposals are limited to maximum 50 pages for Part B only (not including Annex 5). Minimum font size Arial 9 points. Page size A4. Margins minimum 15 mm. Excess pages will be disregarded by evaluators.

Evaluation and Award Criteria

Evaluation Process

Proposals undergo standard one-stage submission and one-step evaluation. An evaluation committee assisted by independent experts first checks formal requirements (admissibility and eligibility). Proposals found admissible and eligible are then evaluated against operational capacity and award criteria, then ranked by score. Successful proposals are invited for grant preparation. The granting authority reserves right not to award all available funds or to redistribute them based on proposals received and evaluation results.

Award Criteria and Scoring

Overall threshold is 70 points. Proposals must pass individual thresholds for each criterion AND the overall threshold to be considered for funding. For proposals with same score, priority is determined by Impact criterion score, then Relevance, then Quality. If still equal, geographical and thematic portfolio coverage and synergies are considered.

Grant Agreement and Implementation

Grant Parameters

Grant Form:Budget-based mixed actual cost grant (reimburses only eligible costs actually incurred, with unit cost and flat-rate elements)

Funding Rates:100% for financial support to third parties (new entrepreneurs); 75% for all other cost categories

No-Profit Rule:Grants may not produce profit. For-profit organisations must declare revenues; any profit will be deducted from final grant amount.

Budget Categories

• A. Personnel costs: Employees, natural persons under direct contract, seconded persons, SME owners/natural person beneficiaries as unit costs
• B. Subcontracting: Allowed in Work Package 2 (promotion only, not recruitment) and Work Package 5 only. Core task subcontracting not allowed.
• C. Purchase costs: Travel and subsistence (unit or actual costs), Equipment (depreciation only), Other goods/works/services (actual costs)
• D. Other cost categories: Financial support to third parties (unit cost for new entrepreneurs, varies by host country)
• E. Indirect costs: 7% flat-rate of eligible direct costs (A-D, except volunteers and exempted categories)

Payment Arrangements

Prefinancing:Normally 70% of maximum grant amount, paid 30 days from entry into force or 10 days before starting date or when financial guarantee provided (whichever is latest)

Interim Payments:Not provided. Reporting is continuous via Portal Continuous Reporting tool.

Final Payment:Calculated 90 days after receiving final technical and financial report. Based on actual eligible costs incurred. All payments made to coordinator who must distribute to other beneficiaries without unjustified delay.

Reporting Requirements

Continuous reporting through Portal tool. Two technical progress reports due at month 9 and month 17. Final technical and financial report due 60 days after project end. Three Network Meetings participation mandatory (indicatively February-March 2027, September-October 2027, February-March 2028). Communication and dissemination plan must be developed by month 4. Minimum 10 success stories must be collected across 24 months.

Project Duration and Key Milestones

Project Duration:24 months (1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028)

Initial Training:January-February 2027 for new Intermediary Organisations (mandatory if applicable)

Network Meetings:3 meetings mandatory during project. Participation of 1 person per consortium partner per cycle expected. Travel and accommodation costs covered by each participant.

After-Care Services:Basic services include alumni network promotion, awareness on EU business subjects (Internal Market, European law, Enterprise Europe Network, clusters, SOLVIT), national/regional/local support scheme signposting, and signposting to Enterprise Europe Network local contact points

Key Conditions and Restrictions

• One proposal per applicant maximum. Multiple submissions will result in exclusion from all submitted proposals.
• Consortium members may not participate in other EYE proposals simultaneously. Non-compliance results in member exclusion from all proposals.
• Organisations currently implementing EYE projects may only apply if overlap with existing projects would be at maximum 1 after grant start date.
• Beneficiaries must retain eligibility throughout project duration. Ineligibility affects costs declared from that point forward.
• Subcontracting limitations: Core task subcontracting not allowed. Subcontracting permitted only in Work Package 2 (promotion) and Work Package 5.
• No double funding: Costs cannot be declared under multiple EU grants simultaneously.
• Assessment of applications without full support will be rejected.
• Quality Manual v9.15 is binding guidance valid for all beneficiaries throughout project duration.

Support and Guidance

Applicants should consult the EU Funding and Tenders Portal Online Manual for step-by-step guidance. The Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Quality Manual (v9.15, February 2026) provides essential practical reference on programme implementation. Topic-specific questions should be submitted to EISMEA-SMP-COSME-ENQUIRIES@ec.europa.eu no later than 5 working days before deadline. IT-related questions should be directed to the IT Helpdesk. Topic Q&A responses are published on the Portal for open calls. General FAQ available on Portal. Enterprise Europe Network provides advice to business with focus on SMEs. Intellectual Property Helpdesk available for IP-related guidance.

Important Considerations for Applicants

• Applicants must complete and submit applications sufficiently in advance of deadline to avoid technical issues. Late submission problems are at applicant risk.
• All participants must be registered in EU Participant Register before proposal submission.
• Legal entity validation, financial capacity checks and exclusion verification occur during grant preparation, not before proposal submission decision.
• Consortium agreement is recommended for multi-beneficiary grants to manage internal arrangements, dispute settlement, financial responsibility distribution.
• Balanced budget with sufficient own resources is required. Ineligible or excessive costs may be requested to be lowered.
• Partners should demonstrate financial and operational capacity to implement projects.
• Communication and visibility of EU funding is mandatory in all project activities.
• Beneficiaries must keep records and supporting documents for minimum 5 years after final payment (or 3 years for grants under €60,000).
• Proposals may be changed and resubmitted until deadline.
• Conflict of interest situations must be immediately notified to granting authority.

Footnotes

1. 1The Quality Manual and all other call documents are available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal and on the EISMEA website. Applicants must consult these documents carefully as they contain binding implementation procedures and additional eligibility criteria for new and host entrepreneurs.