Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

Complying with entry and stay rules of specific destination countries is a responsibility of new entrepreneurs applying to the programme. Please see section 1.2.2.2.2 Third country nationals of EYE Quality Manual for details. Please also not that the Intermediary Organisations are requested to provide relevant information to the applicants in order to help them in the administrative process, see the CallPDF text, Section 2.

No related costs (visa, insurance etc) occurred by entrepreneurs are eligible under the project budget. There is no other financial support to new entrepreneurs but the monthly allowances per country. Please note as well that those might not suffice in all destinations, they are considered a contribution and new entrepreneurs are strongly advised to have some own funds available. The latter is particularly relevant when exchanging with a host entrepreneur in one of the non-SMP destinations: Canada, Singapore, United Kingdom, and United States.

Please consult Section 5. Admissibility and documents of the CallPDF to see what mandatory documents should be uploaded. No “letters of agreement” are required.

Section 6 of the CallPDF provides a non-exhaustive list of potential applicants. If a cluster organisation meets eligibility criteria listed in this section, it is invited to apply. Please also verify Section 2 Objectives to see what activities are expected from applicants and to determine, if your organisation would be able to implement them.

According to the CallPDF (consortium composition requirements in Section 6) there can be max. 2 applicants from one country in the same consortium. There are no limitations regarding their locations in a given country.

Please bear in mind that the methodology of each project should clearly show how partners would complement each other in terms of activities, access to entrepreneurs etc.

No, South Africa is not among the eligible countries listedPDF in Section 6 of the CallPDF.

Yes, no changes are introduced to the specific rules for Ukrainian citizens, as set in the EYE Quality Manual Section 1.2.2.2 Geographical criteria. For instance, displaced people of Ukrainian citizenship will be able to be matched in the country of “temporary residence”.

Yes, applicants from the EU candidate countries are eligible. For details please consult the listPDF available in Section 6 of the CallPDF.

No, as Armenia is not listedPDF among the SMP participating countries (See the list linked in section 6 of the CallPDF) applicants from Armenia cannot be considered eligible.

Please read carefully the FAQ related to the call corrigendum.

As explained in section 6 of the CallPDF, the applicants may not implement more than two (2) EYE grants, under different cycles, at the same time, on 1 February 2027. Therefore, and considering the end-dates of the respective cycle 13 and 15, an IO active in these two cycles is eligible to apply

All eligible activities and expenditure under the CallPDF will be co-financed by applicants by 25% (as the co-financing rate of programme management costs is 75%) except Financial Support to Third Parties (i.e. NE support) which will be funded by the EU grant up to 100%. No additional funding for new entrepreneurs is expected

from the applicants. But please be aware that the monthly allowances entrepreneurs receive from the IOs usually do not cover all the costs. Thus, entrepreneurs are well advised to have some own means when participating.

Yes, the organisations without any experience in EYE can also apply as members of the consortium, as long as they fulfil all criteria set in Section 6 of the CallPDF.

Yes, a priori such organisation can be partner/affiliated entity of a consortium or can take a role of coordinator. However, it has to meet the criteria of years of experience in EYE implementation set in the Call,PDF Section 6 Eligibility criteria/Consortium composition.

Each member of the consortium should be a separate legal entity (see Section 6 of the CallPDF) fulfilling specific legal requirements of a country where it is formally registered. There are no specific provisions in the Call on the ownership restrictions.

Please consult the FAQ 88059.

The entrepreneur recruited by consortium A can be matched with an entrepreneur recruited by an Intermediary Organisation of the same (intra-consortium match) or of another consortium.

Please consult the FAQ 86025 (Under the call SMP-COSME-2026-EYE, how can we identify organisations that could join our consortium?)

In short, new entrepreneurs can be matched to host entrepreneurs in any of the eligible countries. Experience shows that the effective matching during the implementation can deviate from the project plan. However, the proposal must detail sufficiently the intensions of the consortium. In the proposal the consortium should present its strategy towards recruiting and matching entrepreneurs.

In case of host entrepreneurs, they can only be matched in the countries where they are recruited by consortium partners operating in the same country. Thus, a priori, this would mean that these host entrepreneurs will be matched in the country of the project partner. The number of host entrepreneurs per each partner are to be specified in Annex 5, Section 1.2.

In case of new entrepreneurs you should indicate in the proposal the intended/favourite destination countries. This is useful for the consortium to build their project plan and this information is necessary to calculate the Financial Support to Third Parties which is based on the unit rate specific for each host country – see detailed budget template available ec.europa.eu (Topic conditions/documents), section D.1.

For more details, please consult the PP presentation (slides 92-94 especially) delivered during the info session on 26 February 2026.

In case you do not wish to fill the detailed budget template with several lines per destination country and per partner (of which all might differ from each other), you could use one average amount for each partner. In such case, it is particularly important to provide a sound narrative in the relevant cells in this template and the average amount per month must be based on a sound calculation.

The number of new and host entrepreneurs per each partner are to be specified in the specific Annex 5, Section 1.2. The final assessment of the project performance will not take into account the accuracy of destinations proposed in the application.

As explained in Section 6 of the CallPDF there can be max. 2 applicants from 1 country. Regarding two partners from 1 country please also consult FAQ 87607 while regarding the Ukrainian Coordinator please consult FAQ 86655.

As explained in Section 6 of the CallPDF self-employed persons, i.e. sole traders, where the company does not have legal personality separate from that of the natural person are eligible under this Call.

Yes, the Call is open also for organisations without an experience in EYE. Please consult the Call text and FAQ 86657 and FAQ 86654.

Section 6 of the CallPDF provides a non-exhaustive list of potential applicants. If a participant meets eligibility criteria listed in this section, it is invited to apply.

Please also verify Section 2 Objectives to see what activities are expected from applicants and to determine, if your organisation would be able to implement them.

Regarding the potential partners’ search please consult FAQ 86025.

Please consult FAQ 86025.

We cannot provide a recommendation or suggestion as to what an ideal consortium set – up would be. The max. number of partners is 10; it is the same for both large and small projects.

Please consult the CallPDF provisions, especially Section 2 Objectives and Section 6 Eligibility where examples of eligible applicants are provided. Moreover, please consult the award criteria in Section 9 which show what type of expertise/experience is expected from applicants.

Yes, Associated partners are eligible, but they will not be eligible for funding under the project and their role should be clearly presented in the proposal.

No, it us up to the consortium to decide which partners will focus on recruiting and matching host entrepreneurs from non-SMP countries. This however must be clearly explained in the methodology of WP 5. Please note that matching host entrepreneurs from non-SMP countries is optional under this Call. The WP5 should only be anticipated, if such matching is planned.

Yes, as stipulated in section 6 of the callPDF, the consortium leader must have a certain number of years of experience in EYE. It does not however have to be a currently active IO.

Yes, Ukrainian applicants, like other applicants from SMP countries, are eligible to play any role in the consortia, as long as they meet specific requirements set in Section 6 of the CallPDF. However, you should well inform about the practical implications, especially regarding the financial management in an international consortium. The current situation in Ukraine, as a result of the Marshal law, requires specific measures to be undertaken by a project coordinator from Ukraine.

On the call page of the Funding and Tenders Portal you can declare your interest in teaming up in the section Partner search announcements.

Furthermore, you can consult a list of all Intermediary Organisations (IOs = EYE implementing organisations) that ever participated in the EYE programme. This resource, available on the EISMEA call web page in the section 6. Documents, can help you find partners and count their years of experience in the programme, which is important in view of the call criterion on consortium composition.

As specified in section 6 of the CallPDF, the proposal must be submitted by a consortium leader on behalf of minimum 5 and maximum 10 applicants. Please consult the section “Consortium composition” for more details regarding requirements for consortium members.

Please consult instructions available under IT How to.

In case applicants face technical problems with the detailed budget template, they should contact IT helpdesk via the Funding and Tenders Portal.

In this specific case the Decision amended on 31/07/2024 and linked in footnote 46PDF of the CallPDF is the correct one.

The Commission Decision of 12/01/2021 regarding travel, accommodation and subsistence costs has been amended twice (on 26/07/2023 and 31/07/2024).

As specified in the Decision, what is prevailing for determining the unit costs to be used is the opening date of the call for proposals. For the Call SMP-COSME-2026-EYE it is 5/02/2026.

- As mentioned in the annex 2a, for the calls with opening date as from 31 July 2024, which is the case here, a new distinction has been introduced for land travels between EU countries (50 – 399 km for all countries/400 – 600 km where relevant). Please see the relevant table in the annex 2a.

- For travels of 400 km or more (air or rail or combined air/rail) the table to be used is the one for calls with opening date as from 26 July 2023 (see the relevant table in the annex 2a).

- Updated accommodation unit costs for calls with opening date as from 13 May 2025 can be used. Please see the relevant table in the annex 2a.

- Updated subsistence unit costs for calls with opening date as from 13 May 2025 can be used. Please see the relevant table in the annex 2a.

Please consult FAQ 86025 regarding the intermediary organisations that have been implementing EYE programme. Concerning requirement for consortium and budget available please consult the CallPDF text, especially Sections 2, 3 and 6.

As per instructions provided in the detailed budget template (Topic conditions/documents) for proposal you should download, fill in, merge, scan and upload it as a single xlsx for the project (Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System; only sheets 3, 4, and 5 needed; for sheets 3 and 4: one per beneficiary/affiliated entity merged into single xlsx).

Please consult instructions available under IT How to.

In case applicants face technical problems with the detailed budget template, they should contact IT helpdesk via Funding and Tenders Portal.

Currently, you are in the proposal development stage. As per instructions provided in the detailed budget template available ec.europa.eu (Topic conditions/documents), you should download, fill in, merge, scan and upload it as a single XLSX for the project (Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System; only sheets 3, 4, and 5 needed; for sheets 3 and 4: one per beneficiary/affiliated entity merged into a single xlsx).

If your proposal is selected, the grant preparation stage will follow where, based on the evaluation summary report and the assessment of your estimated budget/detailed budget proposal by financial and project officers, you might be required to make adjustments to the proposed budget.

Please consult Model Grant AgreementPDF, article C.2 option 1 (depreciation) which is applicable to the Single Market Programme. The costs for ordinary office equipment such as computers, software and printers are covered under Indirect cost category (7% flat-rate). Purchase costs for equipment may be eligible only if the equipment is necessary to implement specific/technical tasks and is duly justified.

The costs related to project implementation and occurred by the consortium members can be budgeted under different categories (except FSTP) incl. personnel costs, subcontracting, or purchase costs (travel, accommodation, equipment etc). Please consult information on “Budget categories and cost eligibility rules” in Section 10 of the CallPDF as well as slides dedicated to Financial provisions of the Call presented during the info day (please check the PP presentation).

As explained in Section 2 of the CallPDF for “Small” projects proposing at least 175 matches the max. EU grant is EUR 750 000.

As explained in Section 6 of the CallPDF the Financial support to third parties (New Entrepreneurs) covers the financial assistance paid to new entrepreneurs in support of the costs linked to their expenditure for travel, accommodation, subsistence and other miscellaneous expenses occurred during a stay with the host entrepreneur. There is no split of the unit costs into specific sub-categories.

It is up to consortium to decide how the budget is divided among project partners. It should, however, respect all Call’PDFs provisions regarding min. and max. grant amounts and share of FSTP to be budgeted; please consult sections 2 and 3 of the Call for more details.

Yes, as specified in section 3 of the CallPDF at least 55% of the estimated EU grant must be reserved for NE support (Financial Support to Third Parties).

Please follow the CallPDF guidance which in Section 5 states that activity reports of last year are to be uploaded under “Other Annexes” or the link to a report to be included at the end of the Application Form Part B

The legal validation of a participant is done once, when the entity has to sign its first Grant Agreement. Each applicant should however register its entity in the Participant Register in order to receive PIC number which is mandatory to submit the proposal. Please consult the PP presentation delivered during the info day for details.

The call documentPDF was updated in view of clarifying the wording in section 6. Eligibility/consortium composition concerning the eligibility of applicants implementing more than 1 EYE project at the same time. The highlighted text now clarifies that an organisation is only eligible to apply if on 1 February 2027 it would be implementing not more than two (2) EYE projects, including the project selected under this call.

No, there is no “approval” procedure for Intermediary Organisations. The objective of this CallPDF is to select Intermediary Organisations (IOs) following an open call procedure to implement the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme at local level. Such organisations should form consortia at the stage of application. As mentioned in section 6 of the Call, the proposals must be submitted by a consortium composed of minimum 5 and maximum 10 applicants.

At the time of call publication, no additional call for proposals Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is planned for this year. Please also consult FAQ 88188.

A priori, no. As a general rule, entrepreneurs have to be matched in the country of their residence. An IO operating in country A can usually not match entrepreneurs that reside in another country, unless there is no IO operating in the country of the entrepreneur. Please consult EYE Quality Manual, section 1.2.2.2 Geographical criteria for more details.

Yes, the applicant to EYE programme should select the intermediary organisation during the registration process. Please consult the dedicated EYE guidance: Apply Now - Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs for details.

Please consult the annual work programmes of the Single Market Programme under the current Multi-annual Financial Framework 2021-2027.

Please consult the PP presentation delivered during the info day where benefits for host and new entrepreneurs have been presented. In practical terms, the specific commitments to be drafted prior to the match under EYE programme should list concrete outcomes/benefits for each of the entrepreneurs. These elements require an agreement of a NE and of an HE which must be concluded as part of the commitment and before the match is accepted. Please consult EYE Quality Manual Section2.3.2 Drafting the Commitment for details.

As explained in Section 2 Objectives of the CallPDF its purpose is to select Intermediary Organisations (IOs) to implement the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme at local level. This call is not targeted directly at entrepreneurs willing to participate in an EYE exchange. Interested entrepreneurs must contact the IOs currently implementing the programme.

The deadline for proposals submission is 21 April 2026, 17.00 CET (see Section 4 of the CallPDF). We advise not to postpone the submission to the very last moment to avoid technical complications.

No. The presentation on EYE programme referred to 150 Intermediary Organisations (IO) from all consortia currently engaged in programme implementation.

Yes, one of the main tasks of intermediary organisations (IOs) is to match the new and host entrepreneurs. Please consult the CallPDF text, especially Section 2 to see what the role of IOs is.

No, it is up to the applicant consortium to decide how many new/host entrepreneurs will be matched by each partner. The minimum target of exchanges as set by the CallPDF should be respected at consortium level.

Please consult the Call page eismea.ec.europa.eu as well as the Call text.

The Intermediary Organisations (IO) are the organisations responsible for the EYE programme core activities, i.e., recruiting, matching and monitoring entrepreneurs participating in the programme.

They will be inter alia in charge of paying financial support to new entrepreneurs. Please consult the EYE Quality Manual and the CallPDF for details.

The number of years in experience in EYE refers to the period during which an applicant was an Intermediary Organisation implementing the EYE programme. Example: if you have implemented EYE projects for three years (total), you are a priori eligible to lead a small project.

No, at the time of call publication there is no active IO in Finland .Currently implemented EYE projects do not have Finish partners. Entrepreneurs residing in Finland should therefore apply through any IO in another country.

The entrepreneurs should always be matched by an IO in the country where they reside unless there is no IO in their country. Please consult the ”residence” definition in the EYE Quality Manual Section 1.2.2.2

The rules for the payment of the financial support to the new entrepreneur (NE support) are similar to the case where the NIO is located in the country of residence of new entrepreneur.

As specified in section 2.Objectives of the CallPDF (Expected result at individual project level), the minimum key performance indicator requested for the large projects is 350 while for the small projects it is 175. This number should cover NEs and HEs. Please be reminded that the core focus of the programme is to support new entrepreneurs to stimulate business creation. Thus, in general one would expect more new entrepreneurs than host entrepreneurs – at least as a total of the consortium.

As stipulated in section 6 of the CallPDF, participation of applicants without any experience in EYE is possible, a priori. Please read carefully the call relevant section: Consortium composition.

As specified in section 3 Available budget of the CallPDF, it is planned to fund 10-15 projects (indicatively).

Yes, as specified in section 2(b) of the CallPDF in case an applicant intends to recruit and match host entrepreneurs from non-SMP countries, the Work Package 5 must be included in the proposal. In practical terms, if a consortium plans that one or more of its partner(s) will act as Intermediary Organisation for non-SMP HEs, WP 5 is mandatory.

If, however, the applicants simply plan to match its new entrepreneurs with host entrepreneurs from non-SMP countries who will be recruited and matched by other IOs/consortia, then WP5 is not needed as any EYE local contact point can offer those destinations to their new entrepreneurs during the project implementation.

Yes, transferring of the financial support to new entrepreneurs is one of the tasks of Intermediary Organisations. (IO) Usually, this is indeed done by the IO organising the match. However, exceptions maybe authorised. Please consult the CallPDF text Section 2 and the EYE Quality Manual, Section 2.5.

Each member of the consortium should be a separate legal entity (see Section 6 of the CallPDF) fulfilling specific legal requirements of a country where it is formally registered. There are no specific provisions in the Call on the ownership restrictions. Please consult however the provisions regarding affiliated entities (Section 13 of the Call) for details.