Deadline: February 5, 2025
Is your company operating in the business event industry? Do you have a revolutionary idea for driving innovation in the sector? The BEFuture Acceleration Programme 2025 is your chance to get it off the ground. BEFuture is offering an exciting opportunity for SMEs and other organisations. Their Acceleration Programme offers up to €30,000 in funding along with technical support for projects in the business events sector.
The development and scaling of innovative products, processes, services, and business models is essential for the business events sector. They will play an important role in helping actors across the industry become greener, more inclusive, and more resilient.
The BEFuture Acceleration Programme has been launched to boost progress on three key aspects:
- Innovation and development of minimum viable products (MVPs): Transforming innovative ideas into functional prototypes or MVPs using advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, blockchain, sustainable materials, and more.
- Scaling and commercialisation of proven innovative solutions: Assisting solutions that have demonstrated potential in initial stages to scale up, enter the market, and develop robust business models that ensure their sustainability.
- Collaboration within the ecosystem: Encouraging cooperation and joint initiatives that spur innovation within the industry and between the business events sector and related sectors.
Benefits
They will select at least 80 projects driven by SMEs. Successful applicants will receive the following support under the programme:
- Funding per project ranging from €20,000 to €30,000 (total budget of the Call: €2.4 million). The funding amount will depend on the category of innovation (radical, disruptive, substantial or incremental) and will be made available for activities such as hiring experts, training staff, purchasing software, and obtaining certifications.
- Training sessions designed to educate, stimulate, inspire, and support digital and sustainable transitions.
- Access to expertise in the form of mentorship and guidance from industry experts.
- Networking opportunities between business event professionals and related sectors.
- Visibility and recognition for supported solutions on a global stage.
Eligibility
- Is your organisation committed to fostering change within the business events sector? Do you have an idea for driving the sustainable transition? You are eligible to apply.
- Projects can be submitted by SMEs based in Belgium (Flanders), France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain (Catalonia), or Italy active in the European business events sector.
- Partnerships of maximum four participants, including minimum one SME are welcome, as long as 70 % of the grant is dedicated to the SME(s). The programme also seeks to foster synergies with other sectors impacting business events, such as the digital, audiovisual, construction, energy, catering, mobility, and technology sectors.
Application
Eligible candidates can submit their application online between December 5, 2024 and February 5, 2025 (17:00 CET).
For more information, visit BEFuture Acceleration Programme.
