Meet the EEPA 2025 Jury: What Makes an Award-Winning Project

Each year, the awards spotlight innovative projects that create impact, whether by transforming local economies, boosting competitiveness, or making entrepreneurship more accessible.

As the final deadline for the 2025 edition approaches, a distinguished European jury has been appointed. Their task will be to evaluate national winners and select the standout projects that will be honoured at the SME Assembly. Bringing together perspectives from EU institutions, national governments, academia, and local authorities, this year’s jury offers a rich mix of experience and insight.

Here, we introduce a selection of jury members and share their views on what makes a winning EEPA project.

Jury Insights

Outi Slotboom

Director, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW), European Commission 

What she looks for: “Tangible impact on the ground, originality of the initiative’s approach, and how easily it could be applied in different regions or countries.” 

Top advice: "Applications stood out that were written in a short, concise and to-the-point manner.” 

Marie-Claire Neill-Cowper

Head of Unit, European Committee of the Regions 

What matters most: “With the increased focus on competitiveness & simplification, SMEs and entrepreneurs are now at the centre of policy discussions and this could leave its mark also on this year’s EEPA awards, as the jury may give even more focus to projects that improve the business environment at grassroot level, by removing barriers and attracting more people to engage in entrepreneurial activity.” 

What she looks for: “A unique added value the project is bringing to its community. I look for inspiring and rising initiatives, with a strong place-based local and regional dimension and high potential for further development and cross-border transferability.” 

Top advice: "Even the most successful project has to be presented in a convincing way for the jury to have a chance to succeed. It helps to provide clear objectives, result/impact indicators, and some insight into the project methodology to assess its innovation potential.” 

Andreas Rahlf Hauptmann

SME Envoy Denmark, Danish Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs

What matters most: “Projects that exemplify innovation, scalability, and measurable impact – with potential to influence society and be adapted across regions.” 

What he looks for: “Relevance and sustainability, transferability, and inclusivity.” 

Top advice: “Provide clear evidence of achievements, highlight real-life cases, and demonstrate long-term potential aligned with EU priorities. 

Maria Kamma

Mayor of Tilos, Greece 

What matters most: “Initiatives that demonstrate clear impact and innovation, and align with EU goals of sustainability, digital transformation, and inclusive economic growth.” 

What she looks for: “Measurable impact, innovation and originality, and the potential for the project to be adapted elsewhere in Europe.” 

Top advice: “Be concise but specific. Support your application with measurable outcomes, testimonials or success stories, and highlight the human impact.” 

Professor Thomas Cooney

Professor of Entrepreneurship, Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) 

What matters most: “Evidence of impact and the ability to replicate the initiative in other locations.” 

What he looks for: “The initiative needs to be novel in some fashion; it needs to be led by a team and not dependent upon one person; and it needs to demonstrate the capacity to be sustainable.” 

Top advice: “The better the numbers relating to real impact, the better chance you have of succeeding in the competition.” 

Eva Svobodová, MBA

CEO, Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Crafts of the Czech Republic (AMSP ČR)

What matters most:

“The jury will be looking for an authentic entrepreneurial story with impact across multiple areas—not just business success, but also broader contributions to the community, sustainability, or the support of other entrepreneurs. What will matter most is how the participant overcame real challenges, what obstacles they faced, and how they managed to turn difficulties into growth opportunities. A strong, personal story that reflects determination, resilience, and broader relevance will certainly stand out.”

What she looks for:

“1. Creativity – an original idea or an unconventional approach that brings a fresh perspective or solution.

2. Perseverance – the ability to keep going despite pressure, uncertainty, or setbacks.

3. Overcoming adversity – a clear demonstration of how the entrepreneur or team dealt with real obstacles and how this led to meaningful progress or impact.”

Top advice:

“Be authentic. The application should be simple, clear, and honest. Instead of over-polished presentations, focus on telling your real story – how you started, what drove you, the mistakes you made, and what you learned from them. The jury will appreciate a personal touch from the business owner, emotion, and genuine reflection. A strong, heartfelt story can leave a deeper impression than a perfectly designed pitch. Openness, sincerity, and a human angle are what make applications memorable.”

Key Takeaways for Applicants

To stand out in EEPA 2025, your project should:

• Show clear, measurable impact
• Demonstrate innovation in approach
• Be scalable or transferable to other contexts
• Reflect sustainability and alignment with EU policy goals
• Communicate the human story behind the numbers

And above all: keep it clear, concise, and well-structured.

A Jury of Experts

This year’s jury brings together leading voices in entrepreneurship, policy, and regional development. Here is the full panel for EEPA 2025:

• Andreas Rahlf Hauptmann, SME Envoy Denmark – Danish Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs
• Maria Kamma, Mayor – Municipality of Tilos (project – Just Go Zero Tilos)
• Eva Svobodová, Vice President – CEA-PME (European Entrepreneurs)
• Marie-Claire Neill-Cowper, Head of Unit – Committee of the Regions
• Outi Slotboom, Director – Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW)
• Thomas Cooney, Professor – College of Business, Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin
• Wojciech Paluch, SME Envoy Poland – Federal Public Service Economy, SMEs, Self-employed and Energy

We will continue to share insights from our jury over the course of the campaign. Follow Promoting Enterprise to stay updated and get inspired by the stories behind Europe’s top entrepreneurial initiatives!