Additional

Frequently Asked Questions

Do applicants need to translate the supporting documents (financial statements and certificate of registration) in English?

Answer: No translation is required. These documents may remain in the original language of the partner country.

Must the Lead Applicant always be a tourism SME?

Yes. The Lead Applicant must always be a tourism SME, as defined by EU Recommendation 2003/361/EC (fewer than 250 employees, and either annual turnover ≤ €50 million or balance sheet total ≤ €43 million).

Can partners be large companies (e.g., ski center, hotel chain), or do all partners need to be SMEs?

Partners do not all need to be SMEs. Eligible partnerships include a tourism SME as Lead Applicant together with other tourism-related actors (for example, a larger company, DMO, association, or public body). A large company such as a ski center or a hotel chain can therefore participate as a partner.

The conditions are:

At least 50% of partners must be tourism SMEs (according to the EU SME definition above);

At least 60% of the funding must go to tourism SMEs.Q: Must the Lead Applicant always be a tourism SME? Can partners be larger companies (e.g., ski center, hotel chain)?

Who can act as a non-tourism partner? Must they work only in tourism?

Non-tourism partners can join if their expertise directly supports the project’s goals (sustainability, digitalization, resilience). Examples include universities, business development agencies, innovation centers, or Geoparks. They do not need to work exclusively in tourism but must provide clear added value for the tourism SMEs.

If a partnership has three partners and only one is a tourism SME, is this eligible?

No. At least 50% of the partners must be tourism SMEs. In a partnership of three, at least two must be tourism SMEs.

Can a non-profit organization (NPO) be a partner?

Yes. NPOs are eligible if they bring relevant expertise. However, at least 50% of the partnership must be composed of tourism SMEs.

Can farmers or vineyard owners participate?

Farmers not registered as SMEs under the EU definition cannot be Lead Applicants. They may join as partners only if their role is directly relevant (e.g., agritourism, wine tourism). They must be legally registered and able to prove their status.

Can sole traders apply?

Yes. Sole traders are considered SMEs if they meet the EU definition of an enterprise.

Can a partner SME participate if it has not yet completed one financial year?

A: No. It must have at least one closed financial year before the deadline (26 November 2025).

How many financial years must the Lead Applicant provide?        

Normally, the Lead SME must submit Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Statements for the last two completed financial years (2024 and 2023). If the SME is newly established, it is still eligible with only one closed financial year, provided it can submit the financial statements for that year.

What is meant by “one full financial year”?

A completed 12-month accounting period with formally closed accounts and financial statements (Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Statement).

Is there a minimum turnover, assets, or other financial thresholds required for the Lead Applicant?

No. The Call does not require minimum turnover, assets, or ratios. Only the provision of financial statements is required.

Is there a maximum turnover requirement?

Yes. SMEs must meet the EU definition: fewer than 250 employees, and either annual turnover ≤ €50 million or balance sheet total ≤ €43 million.

If project costs exceed €15,000 or €25,000, who covers the extra costs?

All costs above the INSPIRES lump sum must be covered by the project partners.

How must the budget be allocated among categories?

The lump sum must be distributed across at least two of the five categories in Annex 8:

• Business Development & Strategic Planning
• Sustainability & Circular/Regenerative Practices
• Digital Innovation & Technology Adoption
• Capacity Building & Skills Development
• Promotion, Marketing & Communication.

Can staff costs be included?

No. Staff costs are not a separate budget line. What matters is delivering the approved outputs with the lump sum.

How is the budget distributed between participants in different partnership compositions?

• All-tourism SME partnerships: The lump sum may be divided in any proportion (e.g., 50/50; 70/30, etc. between two SMEs), provided the split reflects planned activities and is clearly explained in Annex 8 (Budget). This flexibility is allowed because the general rule of allocating at least 60% of the budget to tourism SMEs is automatically met.
• Mixed partnerships (tourism SMEs + non-tourism actors): At least 60% of the total budget must go to tourism SMEs. Non-tourism partners (including large companies, DMOs, or NGOs) may not receive more than 40%.

Are the grants de minimis aid?

No, the INSPIRES lump-sum grants are not de minimis aid.

Can investments be made in rented premises (e.g., EV chargers, water-saving devices)?

Possible, but considered high risk. Preferably, investments should be made in premises fully controlled by the SME.

What about buying services or products (e.g., Green Key certificate, solar panels)? Do providers count as partners?

No. Buying a service or product does not make the provider a project partner. They remain a supplier. Project partners are organizations that collaborate strategically.

Can infrastructure costs (e.g., special doors for digital locks) be eligible?

Yes, if directly linked to project objectives and proportionate. Major construction is not eligible.

Will we have to repay the grant if the product/service is not used after 2027?

No. The grants are non-repayable, provided the SME completes and reports on activities within the project. After that, there is no repayment obligation.

Can I apply as a group of my own companies (e.g., several family businesses with separate business IDs)?

No, if the companies are linked (shared ownership, management, or control).

Yes, if each company is independent, has its own registration, no ownership links, and can sign the Declaration of Honour (Annex 6) confirming independence.

Can replacing old lamps with LEDs be funded under INSPIRES?

Yes — but only if it’s part of a broader sustainability action (e.g., energy efficiency plan, eco-certification, or resource-saving strategy). Simple equipment replacement or routine maintenance is not eligible.

Can the project fund the creation of an online store for local products sold in a seasonal café?

Yes — if the online store supports the SME’s digitalization, business diversification, or off-season operations in line with Annex 5 (Business Development and Digital Innovation). Eligible costs include development of the digital platform and related consultancy. Costs for stock, routine operations, or marketing not linked to project goals are not eligible.