Europe’s most inspiring entrepreneurial promotion initiatives are one step closer to the spotlight. The finalists of the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) 2025 have been announced, following a rigorous selection process by expert jurors at their meeting in Brussels. These outstanding projects, drawn from six categories, will now travel to Copenhagen to compete for the European title at the SME Assembly later this year.

Organised annually by the European Commission as part of European SME Week, the EEPA celebrates initiatives that strengthen entrepreneurship, resilience and competitiveness. With categories spanning impact, inclusiveness and sustainability, the awards spotlight innovative approaches shaping the future of Europe’s business landscape.

Together, these initiatives showcase the many ways organisations across Europe are strengthening entrepreneurship. The shortlisted projects in each category are presented below in alphabetical order.

This category recognises initiatives that cultivate a strong entrepreneurial mindset, particularly among young people and women and improve the overall business environment through education, mentoring and ecosystem-building.

The Netherlands - Startup in Residence Intergov

A national programme where ministries, provinces and cities collaborate with startups to co-create solutions, strengthening public procurement access and skills in innovation-friendly contracting.

Portugal – Unicorn Factory Lisboa, AIEL - Associação para a Inovação e Empreendedorismo de Lisboa in partnership with Municipality of Lisbon

An innovation platform that supports startups and scaleups to grow and internationalise, building strong sector hubs and entrepreneurial communities across Lisbon.

Spain - EKINN+: San Sebastian Innovative Businesses Acceleration Program, Formento San Sebastian  

A municipal programme in San Sebastián that helps entrepreneurs and spin-offs develop through funding, mentoring and expert co-management to drive local innovation and company growth.

This category honours initiatives that improve entrepreneurial, managerial and employee skills, recognising the essential role of lifelong learning in boosting innovation and competitiveness across sectors and regions.

France - Young and bold, Région Hauts-de-France 

A flagship regional programme that inspires entrepreneurship among young people through events, workshops and competitions, reaching over 380,000 students since 2016.

Ireland - ACORNS, Accelerating the Creation Of Rural Nascent Start-ups, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and Fitzsimons Consulting 

A peer-support initiative that helps women in rural areas launch and grow businesses through round tables, mentoring and a strong nationwide entrepreneurial community.

Poland - Entrepreneurial Youth – Unleash Your Potential!, Startup Academy 

An education-based programme that develops entrepreneurial skills among secondary school students through training, mentoring, simulations and teacher development.

Digital transformation is key to Europe’s competitiveness and innovation. This category recognises initiatives that support SMEs in adopting and integrating digital technologies, from smart services to platforms that simplify access and connectivity. 

Ireland - Advancing Innovation in Manufacturing (AIM) Centre, Sligo Leitrim ITS Regional Development Project DAC (Trading as AIM Centre)

A national hub based in Sligo that helps SMEs adopt digital transformation through demonstration spaces, collaboration and skills training, engaging 200 companies since 2023.

Serbia - Single window for public services - creating better business environment, Public Policy Secretariat 

A nationwide digital gateway that simplifies and modernises access to over 5,000 procedures, reducing red tape and saving €32 million annually.

Türkiye - Smart SME, Türkiye Odalar ve Borsalar Birligi (TOBB)

A platform developed by TOBB that boosts SMEs’ digital readiness through training, mentoring and an online marketplace, reaching more than 260,000 SMEs.

Scaling across borders is a major step for many SMEs. This category rewards innovative approaches that help businesses grow internationally and leverage the full potential of the EU Single Market. 

Malta – inMALTA, Tech.mt Foundation 

A national initiative led by Tech.mt that positions Malta as a global tech hub, supporting 137 businesses at major events and boosting international participation by over 400 percent.

Slovenia - POPRI –Entrepreneurs of the future, Primorski tehnološki park d.o.o.

A cross-border youth entrepreneurship programme that develops scalable business models through training and competitions, engaging thousands of young people across 10 Adriatic-Ionian countries.

Ukraine - Collaborate for Impact, Silab Ukraine

A social entrepreneurship ecosystem builder that provides finance, mentoring and acceleration, supporting over 250 enterprises across Ukraine and the Eastern Partnership region.

From circular economy initiatives to clean energy, this category spotlights projects that are helping enterprises reduce their environmental impact and contribute to Europe’s green transformation. 

Belgium - Ecosystem for Sustainable Chemistry, City of Antwerp

A multi-stage partnership in Antwerp that unites industry, academia and government to transform Europe’s largest chemical cluster into a hub for sustainable innovation.

Italy – SUSTAINability, Unioncamaere

A nationwide service from Unioncamere that helps SMEs measure and improve ESG performance through practical self-assessment tools and personalised guidance.

Türkiye - ALKU Campus Solar Power Plant and Integrated Sustainability Actions, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University (ALKU) 

A university-led project that achieves energy autonomy through solar power while reinvesting savings into zero-waste, composting and inclusive green services.

The sixth category, titled 'Responsible and Inclusive Entrepreneurship' celebrates efforts to make entrepreneurship more inclusive and accessible, from supporting women, migrants and people with disabilities to promoting social innovation and fair work. 

Belgium - #SheMeansBusiness, #SheDidIt

A personalised business coaching programme supporting women with a migration background enabling over 860 participants to pursue entrepreneurship.

France - “Make it legit” : supporting the formalisation of informal entrepreneurship, Adie - the association for the right to economic initiative

An initiative by Adie that helps people in disadvantaged areas formalise informal businesses through coaching, training and microcredit, with 40 percent already successfully registered.

Germany - The Migrant Accelerator, Hochschule der Medien 

A 12-week accelerator operating across Germany which equips first- and second-generation migrants to found and advance their startups. It focuses on knowledge- and technology-based startups, offering targeted support through a wide range of programmes. 

Demonstrating exceptional creativity, innovation, and a strong commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, several entries in this year’s competition received a Special Mention from the jury. These outstanding initiatives will be showcased during the final ceremony at the SME Assembly in Copenhagen, where they will be honoured with official certificates and materials recognising their achievement. 

(Category 4) Estonia - Innovation Hub KOBAR, Pärnumaa Arenduskeskus

A collaborative hub in Pärnumaa that connects enterprises, academia and the public sector to strengthen local skills, clusters and startup growth.

(Category 5) Spain - IMFOREST: Natural Apiculture, COSE 

A rural development initiative that links biodynamic beekeeping with forest regeneration and entrepreneurship, restoring Natura 2000 land and training new beekeepers.

(Category 6) Greece - WEHub - Female Empowerment Hub, SEGE - Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs

An incubator for socially vulnerable women providing free training, mentoring and psychosocial support, empowering over 2,500 participants to engage in entrepreneurship.