Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs 2026: €20M Call for Intermediary Organisations

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) is a European Commission programme that enables new or aspiring entrepreneurs to spend up to six months working alongside an experienced entrepreneur running a small business in another Single Market Programme (SMP) country. Operating since 2009, EYE has supported thousands of cross-border exchanges across Europe and beyond – including Ukraine, which is a participating SMP country. In 2026, the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) has launched a new call to select Intermediary Organisations (IOs) that will deliver the programme at local level. The call budget is EUR 20 million. The deadline is 21 April 2026.

Important: this call is addressed to organisations that support entrepreneurs – not to individual entrepreneurs. If your organisation runs a business incubator, accelerator, or entrepreneurship support programme, read on.

What Is Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

EYE is a cross-border exchange programme from the European Commission. It gives new or aspiring entrepreneurs (NEs – New Entrepreneurs) the opportunity to spend one to six months working alongside an experienced entrepreneur (HE – Host Entrepreneur) who runs a small or medium-sized business in another SMP country. The host entrepreneur, in turn, gains fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and a potential business partner.

The programme is not a direct business grant – it provides financial support towards daily living costs and travel expenses during the exchange. The amount of support varies depending on the host country. The geographic scope covers all EU member states plus SMP partner countries, including Ukraine, Norway, Iceland, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Serbia, and others. Exchanges with businesses in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Singapore are also possible.

To qualify as a new entrepreneur, a person must be over 18 years old, a resident in a participating country, have a business idea or a business running for fewer than 3 years, and be able to demonstrate motivation to start or develop their business. Experienced entrepreneurs – current SME owners – can apply to become host partners.

Who This Call Is For: Intermediary Organisations

The call SMP-COSME-2026-EYE is not addressed to individual entrepreneurs. It is designed for organisations that will become local delivery points for the programme. An Intermediary Organisation (IO) recruits entrepreneurs, validates applications, matches new entrepreneurs with host entrepreneurs, and supports both parties throughout the exchange.

Who Can Apply

The call is open to organisations whose core activity is supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs and delivering business support services to start-ups or aspiring entrepreneurs. Eligible types include: business support organisations, start-up centres, incubators, and technology parks; business associations and business support networks; public and private entities delivering business support services; and universities or vocational education institutes with entrepreneurship programmes.

Consortium Requirements

Applications must be submitted by a consortium of 5 to 8 organisations (beneficiaries, not affiliated entities), composed of partners from different SMP countries. Individual natural persons are not eligible (except self-employed persons without a separate legal entity). Advantage is given to organisations with prior EYE experience: a full list of all IOs that have ever participated in the programme is available in the call documents and can be used to identify potential consortium partners.

What IOs Are Responsible For

Selected IOs will act as Local Contact Points for the EYE programme and will be responsible for: recruiting and promoting the programme to new and experienced entrepreneurs; assessing applications and confirming eligibility; facilitating matchmaking between NE and HE pairs; issuing financial agreements with new entrepreneurs and disbursing financial support; monitoring and following up on exchanges; and cooperating with other IOs in the consortium and with the EYE Support Office.

Call Details: Budget, Deadline, and Required Documents

Programme Objectives and Value for Entrepreneurs

The call defines five specific objectives that IOs must deliver through the programme. First, providing on-the-job training for new entrepreneurs in SMEs abroad to facilitate a successful start-up and business development. Second, fostering the sharing of experience and information between entrepreneurs on the obstacles and challenges of starting a business. Third, enhancing market access and identifying potential partners in other participating countries. Fourth, supporting networking between entrepreneurs from different participating countries through knowledge and experience exchange. Fifth, contributing to the creation of sustainable, digital, and resilient businesses.

For individual entrepreneurs (rather than organisations), participation in EYE means genuine immersion in a foreign business environment, access to a hands-on mentor, international contacts, and partial financial coverage of living costs during the stay abroad. To participate in an exchange, an entrepreneur must contact a selected IO in their country.