FU-TOURISM programme announces successful application results
- 380 tourism SMEs from six European countries applied to FU-TOURISM.
- The results have now been published; the 60 selected SMEs will soon be announced to receive funding and expert support.
The FU-TOURISM acceleration programme has officially concluded its call for applications, receiving an impressive 380 application results from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across six European countries. Spain submitted the highest number of proposals, with 133 applications, followed by Greece with 92, Croatia with 51, Belgium with 43, Austria with 32, and Poland with 29. This enthusiastic response highlights the growing interest in digital and sustainable innovation within the tourism sector across Europe.
Funded by the European Commission under the Single Market Programme (SMP-COSME), FU-TOURISM is backed by a €4 million budget and is designed to support innovative tourism SMEs. The programme’s main objective is to empower businesses with tools, funding, and knowledge to become leaders in sustainability and digital transformation. With the publication of the official results this week, the programme is now moving toward the next milestone: the announcement of the 60 selected SMEs—ten from each participating country—that will join the FU-TOURISM acceleration journey and will be released next week.
Each of the selected companies will receive a €20,000 lump sum grant to implement their proposed innovation projects. In addition to financial support, they will benefit from a comprehensive eight-month capacity building programme that combines tailored training, mentoring, and networking to strengthen their business models and boost their long-term resilience in the evolving tourism landscape.
All applicants have been notified of the results. If they have any questions or wish to submit a Redress, they are required to do so exclusively by contacting the email address office@fu-tourism.eu. Please note that any inquiries or requests for review should be directed only to this email for proper handling.
The Transnational Kick-off Event will take place on April 24
It marks the beginning of an 8-month programme including training, mentoring, and international networking to foster innovation and sustainability in tourism. The Transnational Kick-off Event will be held digitally on April 24, 2025, and will bring together the selected SMEs to kick off the next phase of the programme. Over the coming months, participants will engage in a structured training experience designed to address key areas of tourism innovation. These include topics such as project design and market research, entrepreneurship models, financial management, digital tools, international growth strategies, and impact measurement. The training has been designed to be both flexible and personalized, allowing participants to select sessions that best align with their current business challenges and development goals.
In parallel, each SME will take part in ten hours of one-on-one virtual mentoring with experienced professionals in the tourism and innovation sectors. These mentoring sessions will complement the training content and help companies apply new insights directly to their business strategies. To enhance collaboration and visibility, the programme will also include a series of five international online networking events, such as a transnational kick-off, a fireside chat with industry leaders, a virtual roundtable, an investor meet-and-greet, and a final demo day. These events are designed to foster connections between participants, potential partners, and stakeholders from across Europe’s tourism ecosystem.
FU-TOURISM is coordinated by Eupolis Grupa (Croatia), with CEDRA as an affiliated entity, and is implemented by a consortium of partners from seven countries: the City of Valencia and Valencia Innovation Capital (Spain), the City of Poreč-Parenzo (Croatia), the Finnova Foundation (Belgium), Envolve (Greece), SYNYO (Austria), Vestbee (Poland), and Open Impact (Italy). Together, they are committed to building a more innovative, inclusive, and sustainable future for tourism in Europe.
For further information on how to apply, visit the official FU-TOURISM website.
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