Question 1

What EU grants are available for the Tourism sector?

Accepted Answer

The European Commission offers a wide range of funding opportunities specifically designed for the Tourism sector. These include grants through Horizon Europe (the EU's flagship research and innovation programme with a budget of €95.5 billion), the European Innovation Council (EIC) which provides funding for breakthrough innovations, and various sector-specific initiatives. Funding types range from Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) with 100% funding rates, to Innovation Actions (IA) with 70% funding for companies, and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) for networking and coordination activities. Our database helps you find grants that match your organization's specific needs, project stage, and funding requirements.

Question 2

How do I apply for Tourism grants from the EU?

Accepted Answer

Applying for EU grants in the Tourism sector involves several key steps. First, use Grantalist to identify suitable open calls that match your project idea and organization type. Next, carefully review the call documentation, including eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, and the work programme. Most EU grants require you to form a consortium with partners from at least 3 different EU member states or associated countries. Once ready, you'll submit your proposal through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, which includes a detailed description of your project, work packages, budget breakdown, and impact assessment. The evaluation process typically takes 3-5 months, after which successful applicants enter grant agreement preparation. We recommend starting your application at least 2-3 months before the deadline.

Question 3

What is the typical funding amount for Tourism EU grants?

Accepted Answer

EU grants for the Tourism sector offer diverse funding levels depending on the programme and action type. Small-scale grants through programmes like EIC Accelerator can start from €500,000 up to €2.5 million in grant funding, plus up to €15 million in equity investment. Collaborative research projects under Horizon Europe typically range from €3 million to €10 million for standard projects, while some large-scale flagship initiatives can exceed €20 million. SMEs and startups often benefit from higher funding rates (up to 70% for Innovation Actions compared to large companies) and access to specialized instruments. The exact amount depends on the specific call topic, project scope, consortium size, and type of activities proposed.

Question 4

Who is eligible for Tourism EU grants?

Accepted Answer

Eligibility for Tourism EU grants extends to a wide range of organizations. Legal entities from EU member states and associated countries (including the UK for some programmes, Norway, Switzerland, and others) are typically eligible. This includes universities and research institutions, large enterprises and multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 250 employees, startups and scale-ups, public bodies and NGOs, and international organizations. Some calls specifically target certain organization types, such as SME-only calls or academic-focused research grants. Third-country participation is possible in many programmes, though often without EU funding.

EU Grants for Tourism

Digital twins and/or their major components for environment, climate and security

Digital enablers and building-blocks for Earth Observation and Satellite telecommunication for Space solutions (Space Partnership)

Centres of Vocational Excellence

Preparing demonstration missions for Earth Observation and Satellite telecommunication for Space solutions (Space Partnership)

Virtual Human Twin (VHT) Models for Cancer Research

Improve the Quality of Life of older cancer patients

European Partnership on Rare Diseases (ERDERA) (Phase 2)

Demonstrating solutions to protect and preserve cultural heritage from the impacts of climate change

Making Europe a global magnet for talent - Attracting and retaining students, researchers and high-skilled workers from outside the EU

Safeguarding linguistic diversity in Europe

Standardising and supporting climate services for climate adaptation

Enhanced resilience in multimodal passenger transport through digital technologies and generative and discriminative AI

Multi-hazard approach and cumulative / cascading impacts

Public procurement of innovation for security

Targeted innovative capabilities for the resilience of critical entities to natural and human-induced disasters, including hybrid scenarios

Open topic on driving innovation uptake of disaster risk solutions

Development of ecosystem and next-generation capabilities for a secured European Critical Communication System in civil security

Open topic on supporting disruptive technological innovations for civil security

Improving capabilities of law enforcement to counter climate-related challenges

Designing new ways of risk awareness and enhanced disaster preparedness

Prevention and mitigation of misuse of synthetic biology for bioterrorism purposes

Reliability of age assessment methods in the context of security and border management

Open topic on preventing and countering the misuse of emerging technologies for criminal purposes, including issues related to lawful access to data

Accessible and available travel facilitation

Enhancing the security of citizens against terrorism and lone-actor violence in confined spaces such as schools

Missing persons: prevention and investigation

Climate security and civil preparedness – new ways to develop pre- and post-crisis climate-change related scenarios for a more resilient Europe

Demand-led innovation in security

Crime prevention approaches, online and off-line, tackling the nexus between addictions and crime

Technologies for innovative processing of raw materials (IA)

Frequently Asked Questions About Tourism EU Grants