European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2025 EEPA

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 and Single Market Programme SME Pillar associated countries are eligible to participate.

Objectives of the Awards

• Identify and recognise successful initiatives that promote entrepreneurship.
• Showcase and share best practices in entrepreneurship policy.
• Raise 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 during the SME Assembly, part of the European SME Week.

Award Categories

• Improving the Business Environment and Promoting Entrepreneurship: Recognising initiatives that foster an entrepreneurial mindset, especially among young people and women.
• Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills: Rewarding initiatives that enhance entrepreneurial, managerial, and workforce skills.
• Supporting the Digital Transition: Helping businesses transition to the digital economy by enabling them to develop, market, and use digital technologies, products, and services.
• Supporting Business Internationalisation: Acknowledging innovative policies and initiatives that make Europe a more attractive place to start, run, grow, and scale businesses within the Single Market by simplifying legislative and administrative procedures and applying the Think Small First principle.
• Supporting the Sustainable Transition: Recognising initiatives that promote sustainability, circular economy, climate neutrality, clean energy, resource efficiency, and biodiversity.
• Responsible and Inclusive Entrepreneurship: Rewarding initiatives that promote corporate social responsibility among SMEs and support entrepreneurship for disadvantaged groups such as the unemployed, legal migrants, people with disabilities, and ethnic minorities.
• Grand Jury Prize: Awarded to the most creative and inspiring entrepreneurial initiative, regardless of category.

Who Can Participate?

ligible entities include national organisations, municipalities, cities, regions, communities, and public-private partnerships between authorities and entrepreneurs, as well as educational programmes and business organisations.

Cross-border initiatives are accepted if jointly nominated by all participating countries.

Selection Process

The competition has two stages:

• Candidates must first compete at the national level before entering the European competition.
• Each country selects two nominees for the European competition.

A European jury will shortlist the finalists. All national and European nominees will be invited to the awards ceremony, which recognises winners' efforts and provides them with a pan-European platform.

Selection Criteria

• Originality and feasibility of the initiative.
• Impact on the local economy.
• Improved relations with local stakeholders.
• Transferability of the initiative to other European regions.

Key Dates

• EEPA 2025 Competition Launch: 20 February 2025
• European Submission Deadline: 18 July 2025

For more information, visit FUTURIUM.EU.