European Enterprise Promotion Awards

The European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) recognise those who promote entrepreneurship and small businesses at the national, regional, and local levels. Initiatives from all EU countries, as well as associate countries of the SME pillar of the Single Market Programme, are eligible to participate in the competition. Since 2006, over 6,000 projects have entered the awards and together they have supported the creation of well over 11,000 new companies.

Learn about the European Enterprise Promotion Awards in your own language.

The objectives of the awards

• identify and recognise successful activities and initiatives undertaken to promote enterprise and entrepreneurship
• showcase and share examples of best entrepreneurship policies and practices
• create a greater awareness of the role entrepreneurs play in society
• encourage and inspire potential entrepreneurs.

The winners of the European Enterprise Promotion Awards are announced at an awards ceremony at the SME Assembly, which is part of European SME Week.

The 2025 award categories 

1. Improving the Business Environment and Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit - Recognises initiatives that promote an entrepreneurial mindset, especially among young people and women
2. Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills - Recognises initiatives that improve entrepreneurial, managerial and employee skills
3. Supporting the Digital Transition - supporting the digital transition of enterprises, enabling them to develop, market and use digital technologies, products and services of any kind.
4. Supporting the Internationalisation of Business - Recognises innovative policies and initiatives at national, regional or local level, which render Europe the most attractive place to start a business, operate it, make it grow and scale it up in the single market, simplify legislative and administrative procedures for businesses and implement the 'Think Small First' principle in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises
5. Supporting the Sustainable Transition - Recognises initiatives that support the sustainable transition and support environmental aspects such as the circular economy, climate neutrality, clean energy, resource efficiency or biodiversity
6. Responsible and Inclusive Entrepreneurship - Recognises initiatives that promote corporate social responsibility among small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurship among disadvantaged groups such as the unemployed, legal migrants, disabled people, or people from ethnic minorities.

The Grand Jury's Prize can be from any category and goes to the entry considered the most creative and inspiring entrepreneurship initiative in Europe.

Previous winners

See the EEPA winners from 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

Contact: ann.garrott@loweurope.eu