Announcing the winners of the EEPA 2025

This year’s Assembly took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, organised by the European Commission and the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU. 

Since 2006, the European Enterprise Promotion Awards have celebrated the people and projects driving enterprise and innovation across Europe. More than 6,000 initiatives have taken part, creating thousands of new businesses and inspiring many more. Beyond the recognition, EEPA has offered participants visibility, credibility, and valuable connections. As the Awards come to a close this year, their impact will live on through the communities, collaborations, and networks they have inspired.

This year, projects from the Netherlands, Ireland, France, Slovenia and Belgium were spotlighted for their outstanding projects, each exemplifying unique approaches to driving business growth and innovation across Europe. Among these, the Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Belgium’s “Ecosystem for Sustainable Chemistry” a pioneering initiative by City of Antwerp uniting industry, academia, and government, to transform Antwerp’s chemical cluster into a hub for sustainable chemistry and industrial innovation.

Let's meet this year's winners 

Startup in Residence Intergov, the Netherlands

Winner – Category 1: Improving the Business Environment and Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit

A national programme that brings together ministries, provinces and cities to co-create solutions with startups. The initiative strengthens innovation-friendly public procurement and improves access for startups to work with government.

▶️ Highlights Video 

Young and Bold, France

Winner – Category 2: Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills

Led by Région Hauts-de-France, this flagship programme promotes entrepreneurship among young people through events, workshops and competitions. Since 2016, it has reached more than 380,000 students across the region.

▶️ Highlights Video 

Advancing Innovation in Manufacturing (AIM) Centre, Ireland

Winner – Category 3: Supporting the Digital Transition

Run by Sligo Leitrim ITS Regional Development Project DAC, the AIM Centre is a national hub helping SMEs adopt digital technologies. Through demonstration spaces, collaboration and tailored training, it has supported 200 companies since 2023.

▶️ Highlights Video 

POPRI – Entrepreneurs of the Future, Slovenia

Winner – Category 4: Supporting the Internationalisation of Business

Developed by Primorski tehnološki park d.o.o., POPRI is a cross-border youth entrepreneurship programme active across 10 Adriatic-Ionian countries. It helps young people build scalable business models through training, mentoring and competitions.

▶️ Highlights Video 

Ecosystem for Sustainable Chemistry, Belgium

Winner – Category 5: Supporting the Sustainable Transition and the Grand Jury Prize ⭐

A major public-private partnership led by the City of Antwerp that unites industry, academia and government to transform Europe’s largest chemical cluster into a hub for sustainable innovation.

▶️ Highlights Video 

“Make it legit”: Supporting the Formalisation of Informal Entrepreneurship, France

Winner – Category 6: Responsible and Inclusive Entrepreneurship

An initiative by Adie, the French association for the right to economic initiative, that helps individuals in disadvantaged areas formalise informal businesses. Through coaching, training and microcredit, 40 percent of participants have already successfully registered their enterprises.

▶️ Highlights Video