Open Call

Embrace Innovation in Tourism with the FU-TOURISM Acceleration Programme

The FU-TOURISM Acceleration Programme offers a unique opportunity for European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to accelerate innovative solutions in tourism  whether through new products, projects, services or business models.

This program will select 60 SMEs from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Greece, Poland and Spain that are committed to transforming the tourism sector. Each selected SME will receive €20,000 in direct funding along with a comprehensive  tailor-made training program to boost their projects and maximize market impact.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

Selected SMEs will receive:

1. Direct Funding:

  • Receive up to € 20.000 in funding

2. Customized Business Support Services including:

  • Interactive Training Workshops on key tourism innovation topics.

  • Customized Mentoring with industry experts.
  • Networking opportunities with the European tourism ecosystem.
WHO CAN APPLY

Individual small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that:

  • Are legally established in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Greece, Poland or Spain, with at least 6 months of operation.
  • Operate in the tourism sector or related sectors that have an impact on tourism and provide solutions to the program's priority challenges.
  • Seek scalable solutions that drive sustainability and digitization of tourism.
PROGRAMME TIMELINE
  • Start of Application: 31/10/2024
  • Closing date of application: 31/01/2025
  • Informative Open Days per country before Call deadline
  • Evaluation and Results: February/March 2025
  • Program Start: March/April 2025
  • Program Duration: 8 months
APPLICATION PROCESS
1.

Go to the online submission platform

2.

Create an account or log in if you already have one

3.

Fill out all sections of the online application Form

4.

Upload the required documents listed below

Go to Submission Platform

Note: Applicants must read the Call for Challenges Guidelines and the FAQs before filling in and submitting their proposal.

HIGHLIGHTS of the Challenges (Summary)

The FU-TOURISM acceleration program supports the EU’s ambitions to address common challenges in the tourism sector through innovative solutions that transform the tourism ecosystem. The selected SMEs will contribute to solving the priority challenges identified in the FU-TOURISM project mapping process, which serve as a reference to define the innovative solutions eligible under this call. These challenges include:

  • Sustainability: Need for responsible tourism practices that minimize ecological impact.
  • Digitalization: Adoption of technologies to improve customer experience and operational efficiency.
  • Inclusiveness: Promoting social and economic inclusion in tourism, ensuring access to opportunities.
  • Adaptation to New Trends: Responding to changes in the expectations and behaviors of post-pandemic consumers.
  • Cross-sectoral Collaboration: Strengthen cooperation between businesses, governments and local communities to create a more resilient tourism.
OPEN DAYS

6 Informative Open Days in 6 Countries

The FU-TOURISM Acceleration Programme Open Days are informative events that provide SMEs and other stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of the program, its application process and the key challenges in sustainability and digitalization. They also allow them to interact with the FU-TOURISM team and connect with other companies and industry experts.

An overview on all upcoming Open Days can be found on the FU-TOURISM events page here.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Download the Call Document
FAQs
FAQs
CONTACT

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at office@fu-tourism.eu

Don’t forget to check the Call Document and FAQs for detailed information.

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