The European Innovation Council has launched the Young European Entrepreneur Award competition. The event, aimed at SME owners or founders between the ages of 18 and 40, consists of a business pitching contest with the goal of celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship in all sectors.

Following selection by a panel of experts from business and academia, the top 10 finalists will receive up to €20,000 in customized pre-incubation/acceleration training. This includes a coaching session to hone pitching skills and presentation of their ideas and strategies. The final pitching event will be held on June 5, 2025, where the top five selected finalists will present their ideas live to a panel of judges at the EU Industry Days 2025 event in Rzeszów, Poland. After the pitching event, the top three candidates will benefit from extensive media coverage and promotional support, with the opportunity to showcase their achievements to a wider audience. They will also have the opportunity to attend the SME Assembly in November 2025 in Denmark, where they can connect with industry leaders and expand their network.

Entries are open until March 14, 2025, and you can apply by filling out the application form.

The full contest rules are available at the following link.