The European FU-TOURISM project announces the launch of its Acceleration Program at the iBlue international meeting in Lanzarote, Spain. This event aims to foster knowledge exchange among experts and promote collaboration between local and international entities on topics such as the blue economy and regenerative tourism.

The acceleration program offers a unique opportunity for SMEs, startups, and scale-ups from Croatia, Spain, Belgium, Greece, Austria, and Poland, providing funding, specialized guidance, and business support from tourism sector experts. The initiative will select 60 SMEs—10 from each participating country—that are either already active or interested in sustainable, green, and digital tourism. Eligible companies must operate in the tourism sector or related sub-sectors, proposing innovative solutions with potential for testing or scaling up in sustainability and digitalization.

Selected SMEs will benefit from an 8-month hybrid funding and training program, receiving a direct grant of €20,000 each. They will also have access to additional business consulting services, including online training workshops on business models, mentorship in sustainable tourism development, transnational networking webinars, and other benefits offered by consortium members.

These benefits include support to access EU funds of up to €2 million, allowing SMEs to transform their proposals into European projects through calls like LIFE and HORIZON. Additionally, they will participate in a special edition of the Startup Europe Awards (SEUA), gaining further mentorship, visibility, and support to access EU funding. The Startup Europe Awards (SEUA) is an open innovation methodology promoted by the Finnova Foundation in collaboration with Startup Europe, with institutional support from the European Commission. Its primary goal is to promote the success of entrepreneurs and SMEs developing innovative solutions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, providing support to efficiently access EU funds.

The call will be open from Thursday, October 31, 2024, until Friday, January 31, 2025, at 17:00 CET. Interested companies can register during this period at the following link: https://www.fu-tourism.eu/open-call/.

INFORMATION SESSIONS: OPEN DAYS

Each participating country will host an “Open Day” session, where project partners will present all the details, dates, requirements, and tips for applying to the Acceleration Program. Additionally, these events will share best practices from industry leaders, examples of projects driving tourism transformation, and collaboration opportunities with other key stakeholders.

Between November and December 2024, these six Open Day sessions will take place in Austria, Poland, Belgium, Greece, Croatia, and Spain, giving SMEs from across Europe the chance to learn how the FU-TOURISM Acceleration Program can boost their sustainable growth both nationally and internationally. More information and registration details are available at: https://www.fu-tourism.eu/events/.

FU-TOURISM PROJECT: A COMMITMENT TO A SUSTAINABLE AND DIGITAL TOURISM BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM

With funding of €4 million from the European Commission’s Single Market Programme (formerly COSME), the FU-TOURISM project aims to support the green and digital transition of European tourism SMEs. The project offers training and strategic development support to two major pilot destinations: Valencia, Spain, and Poreč-Parenzo, Croatia. These destinations, operating under the Destination Management Organization (DMO) model, will serve as best-practice examples and support SMEs through collaboration in the 4-Helix Living Labs.

Of the 35 project proposals submitted in response to the European Commission’s call under the Single Market Programme “SMP-COSME-2022-TOURSME,” only 6 were approved. FU-TOURISM stands out as the one with the largest budget, underscoring its significance for the business sector and its comprehensive approach to sustainability and digitalization in the tourism sector.

The Spanish-Belgian Finnova Foundation is at the heart of this innovative project, inviting the Valencia City Council and its innovation center, Valencia Innovation Capital, to participate as a “DMO” in recognition of their proven efforts in tourism digitalization and sustainability, as well as their designation as the 2024 European Green Capital. “Supporting entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs with European funds is essential to foster innovation and competitiveness in the tourism sector. This program not only provides the necessary financial resources but also offers specialized guidance and training crucial for SMEs to adapt and lead in an evolving market. At Finnova, we are committed to promoting projects that drive sustainability and digitalization, and the FU-TOURISM Acceleration Programme is a clear example of how European collaboration can generate a positive and lasting impact,” says Juanma Revuelta, CEO of Finnova.

The “FU-TOURISM Acceleration Programme” is the first of two acceleration programs that the project will launch. The second program, scheduled for 2025, will support 42 SME associations, each with funding of €30,000.

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Contact Email: office@fu-tourism.eu

Finnova Foundation Contact:

manuela.granada@finnova.eu

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