Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility & Partnerships
Who can apply?
Tourism SMEs based in one of the eligible regions. You must apply as part of a partnership of 2 to 5 entities.
What is a tourism SME?
A small or medium-sized business whose main activities contribute to the tourism sector (accommodation, food & beverage, travel, culture, leisure, related services).
What is the EU SME definition?
Fewer than 250 employees and annual turnover ≤ €50 million OR balance sheet total ≤ €43 million
Must my SME be NACE-registered in tourism?
No — an official NACE code is not required. You must demonstrate that your business is part of the tourism ecosystem.
In which countries can I apply?
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Finland
- Germany
- Poland
- Spain
Can newly established SMEs apply?
SMEs must have been legally registered and operational for at least one full financial year before the application deadline.
What other sectors can be included in a partnership?
Partners may come from different sectors (for example, culture, sustainability/environment, creative industries, etc.), as long as they can justify the partnership and the expertise needed.
How many entities must be in a partnership?
2 to 5 entities. At least 50% of partners must be tourism SMEs.
Is there a minimum share of funding that must go to tourism SMEs?
Yes. At least 60% of the total project funding must be allocated to tourism SMEs.
Can a partner participate in more than one project?
Each entity can participate in only one project. Participation in more than one project will result in disqualification of all related applications.
What happens if my SME status changes between submission and agreement?
SME status is assessed at the time of application, based on your number of employees and financial data from the past 3 years. If your SME changes size after applying, your eligibility remains valid as long as you were eligible when you submitted your application.
Can a non-SME (e.g., a public institution, NGO, or large company) be the Lead Applicant?
No. Only a tourism SME can act as the Lead Applicant. Non-SME partners may participate in a supporting role but cannot lead the project or receive profit-based compensation.
Can a partner be legally linked to the Lead Applicant (e.g., sister company, subsidiary)?
No. All partners must be legally independent. Linked enterprises are not eligible as per the EU SME definition.
Funding
How much funding is available?
- €15,000 → for Pioneers (SMEs with existing experience in sustainability/digitalization)
- €25,000 → for Inspirers (SMEs starting their transition journey)
How is the funding paid?
- 60% pre-financing after signing the Sub-Grant Agreement
- 40% after approval of your Final Report
Who receives the grant payment?
The Lead SME is the formal recipient of the funding and must manage internal distribution transparently, following the approved Annex 8 budget.
Is the funding repayable?
No — this is a non-repayable grant as long as you follow the project rules.
What activities are eligible for funding?
Activities that contribute to Sustainability (eco-practices, certifications); Digitalization (tools, platforms); Resilience (business models, community engagement). For more information, check Annex 5 List of eligible activities and costs.
Can funding be used for infrastructure or equipment?
Permanent or large-scale infrastructure and equipment purchases are ineligible, but small-scale tools directly supporting eligible activities may be accepted if well justified.
Are consultancy or subcontracting costs eligible?
Consortium partners cannot act as subcontractors or be paid service providers within the project.
Can two tourism SMEs split the lump sum 50/50?
Yes. If both partners are tourism SMEs, they may divide the budget equally or as agreed, since the full lump sum is already going to eligible SME beneficiaries. The important thing is to ensure that the budget reflects their planned activities and is clearly explained in the budget table.
What happens if our project activities cost more than the lump sum?
The lump sum is a fixed amount. Any costs exceeding it must be covered by the partners themselves.
Can VAT be included in eligible costs?
Only non-recoverable VAT is eligible. If your organization can recover VAT, it must not be included in the budget.
Can the budget be used to participate in international fairs or study visits?
,Yes — if the participation is clearly linked to project goals (for example promotion of new sustainable offers, networking for digital solutions) and justified in the application.
Are costs related to training or mentoring eligible?
Yes — trainings, capacity-building sessions, and mentoring are eligible if they directly support the objectives of the collaborative project.
Can the lump sum be used for translation or accessibility-related services?
Yes — services that improve inclusivity or accessibility of the tourism offer (e.g., translations, accessible communication tools) are considered aligned with the resilience objective.
Application Process
How do I apply?
Fill in the official templates and submit them by email to your regional contact in PDF format and in Excel according to the specified requirement.
What is the application deadline?
26 November 2025 at 23:59 CET.
Where do I submit my application?
By email to your national/regional contact (shows emails listed in the Call document).
In what language must I submit my proposal?
English.
Can I submit multiple applications?
An SME can participate in one application only.
What should I submit?
Lead SME: Annex 6, Annex 7, Annex 8, company registration certificate/VAT, financial statements for the last two completed years (or most recent if newly established).
Other partners: company registration certificate/VAT.
Optional: T4T Pledge (Annex 9)
Follow the file naming convention: [Lead SME Name]_Annex[#]_DocumentType.pdf/xlsx.
Where can I find the templates?
They are available here on the website
Will I receive a submission confirmation?
Yes — you will receive an Acknowledgment of Receipt by email.
Will late or incomplete applications be accepted?
No — only complete and on-time applications will be evaluated.
When is the last date to submit questions?
Questions must be submitted no later than 23 November 2025 at 23:59 CET.
Can we revise our application after submission?
No. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised. Ensure all documents are final and complete before sending.
What happens if an application is submitted in another language or is not signed?
It will be considered ineligible. All applications must be in English and signed where required.
Do all partners need to submit financial documents?
Only the Lead SME must submit financial statements. Other partners only provide registration/VAT documentation unless further verification is requested.
Is co-funding or in-kind contribution required?
No co-funding is required. However, applicants may mention in-kind contributions or additional support if it strengthens the project logic — this is not mandatory and will not affect scoring.
Do we need to have measurable KPIs in the application?
While not mandatory, including realistic indicators or metrics (e.g., number of new clients, % emissions reduced, digital reach) will strengthen your project’s feasibility and evaluation score.
What is the Resilience Inspires Award and how can we be selected?
This is an end-of-project recognition for the most impactful collaborations. Selection is based on reporting, impact, and external jury assessment. All funded projects are automatically eligible.
Evaluation & Selection
How are projects evaluated?
By an independent panel, using the published evaluation criteria.
What are the evaluation criteria?
Projects are evaluated on a 0–5 scale under three core award criteria:
- Relevance & Impact – Alignment with INSPIRES and EU tourism transition goals; potential benefits for SMEs, communities, and the tourism sector.
- Quality & Feasibility – Clarity and realism of the project plan, activities, timeline, and risk management.
- Partnership Collaboration – Strength and complementarity of the partners, quality of collaboration, and added value from working together.
Proposals must score at least 3/5 on each criterion and a minimum of 9/15 overall to be considered for funding.
What is a Pioneer SME?
A Pioneer SME has already implemented sustainability and/or digital practices and is ready to scale, replicate, or share these efforts through collaboration. Pioneer projects receive €15 000.
What is an Inspirer SME?
An Inspirer SME is at the early stage of its sustainability or digital journey and is motivated to experiment, learn, and build capacity for long-term transformation. Inspirer projects receive up to €25 000.
Do I need to state my project category (Pioneer or Inspirer) when applying?
Yes. Applicants must indicate whether they apply as a Pioneer (€15,000) or Inspirer (€25,000) in the application form.
Is the T4T Pledge (Annex 9) mandatory?
No, it is optional but strongly encouraged as it may support project visibility and may be considered in tie-break situations.
When will the results be announced?
Final results will be published on the INSPIRES website in February 2026, following the completion of evaluations and contracting.
How many projects will be funded per region?
Each participating country will fund up to 10 collaborative projects:
- 6 Pioneer projects (€15 000)
- 4 Inspirer projects (€25 000).
What happens if two projects receive the same score?
In case of a tie, the following tie-break criteria are applied in order:
- Higher score in Relevance & Impact
- Then, higher score in Quality & Feasibility
- Then, higher score in Partnership & Collaboration
- If still equal, preference goes to proposals with:
- Eco-certification
- A signed T4T Pledge
See Section 8.1 of the Call for details.
Can feedback be provided if our project is not selected?
Yes — unsuccessful applicants may request a feedback summary after the official announcement of results. Feedback is based on the evaluators’ scoring and comments.
Project Implementation
When do selected projects start?
1 March 2026.
How long can a project last?
Between 3 and 12 months, ending no later than 28 February 2027.
What reporting is required?
- Monitoring Visit Report (filled by project partners)
- Final Report (filled by the SME partnership).
What is the Monitoring Visit?
A visit by the INSPIRES project partner to check project progress and provide support.
What is the Final Report?
A final report by the SME partnership covering project results and outputs; budget use and impact and outcomes.
What are the expected outcomes?
Your project should contribute to the overall twin transition of tourism by promoting sustainability, digitalization, resilience, innovation, and collaboration.
What are the performance indicators?
- Sustainable practices adopted
- Digital tools integrated
- Inclusivity/community engagement
- Innovation & cross-sector collaboration
- Contribution to the Transition Pathway for Tourism (T4T).
Are there communication or visibility requirements?
Yes — funded SMEs must:
- Acknowledge EU support
- Participate in dissemination activities
- Contribute to the Resilience Inspires Award process.
Can we change partners after approval?
Changes to the partnership after approval are generally not allowed and would require formal justification and prior approval by the INSPIRES team.
Can the project duration be extended after it starts?
Projects must end by 28 February 2027. Extensions may only be allowed in exceptional cases with prior written approval and must remain within this end date.
What are my communication and visibility obligations?
Funded SMEs must follow EU visibility rules, provide content for INSPIRES dissemination channels, and actively promote their participation and results through their own networks.
How does the Resilience Inspires Award work?
At the end of the project, 16 projects (across both categories) will be nominated based on results and impact, reviewed by an independent jury, and awarded at the 2027 Final Conference, part of the ECTN annual Conference, to be held in Bremerhaven, Germany, in October 2027.
Legal & Financial
Will there be a grant agreement?
Yes — a Sub-Grant Agreement will be signed.
Who signs the grant agreement?
The Lead SME signs on behalf of the partnership.
Are there audit or verification requirements?
Yes — your project may be audited by:
- The INSPIRES consortium
- The European Commission and its agencies
- The European Court of Auditors.
How is personal data protected?
All data is processed according to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and national laws.
Support
Who can I contact for help?
Each region has a contact point — the contact list is published here with the full Call.
Will there be Info Days or webinars?
Yes — Info Days and webinars will be organized to help you prepare your application.
Empowering Tourism SMEs for Innovation and Resilience through Training and Funding
Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. The NSPIRES Partners are not responsible for any use made of the information herein.
