Deadline: 02-Sep-2025
The Go Green, Get Digital, Be Resilient Programme is now accepting applications to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and organizations working at the intersection of food and tourism, collectively referred to as “food in tourism”.
This initiative seeks to boost the competitiveness of tourism SMEs by helping them transition to more sustainable, digital, and resilient business models. It encourages the development of innovative food tourism offerings, the use of digital tools to improve operations and engagement, and long-term sustainability and resilience planning.
Applicants must choose at least two topics from different blocks, focusing on areas like green transition and sustainability (e.g., food waste reduction, sustainable sourcing, local supply chains), digital transformation (e.g., e-commerce, immersive storytelling, blockchain, data analytics), and resilience (e.g., diversification, food security planning, staff wellbeing).
Selected collaborative projects will receive €15,000, with the top 15 after the Demo Day eligible for an additional €10,000. Participants will gain visibility through international events organized by TASTE. The funding covers expenses such as travel, accommodation, and external services like training or sustainability certifications.
To be eligible, each project must consist of a partnership of 2 to 5 independent organizations, with at least 50% being tourism SMEs. For instance, a 4-member team must include at least 2 tourism SMEs. Additionally, 60% of the funding must benefit the tourism SMEs involved.
Partnerships can be formed in several ways, such as a tourism SME teaming up with other tourism SMEs, or combining with entities from sectors like agri-food or digital technologies, as long as tourism SMEs remain the majority.
The Lead Applicant must be based in Belgium, Italy, Latvia, Slovenia, or Spain. Other partners may be from any EU Member State or eligible non-EU countries under the Single Market Programme. SMEs must meet the EU’s official definition and demonstrate active involvement in the tourism ecosystem.
Projects must align with TASTE’s goals, combining at least two focus areas—green, digital, and resilient transitions—and show a clear link between food and tourism through actions like immersive food experiences or local sourcing.
Applications must be submitted in English and online before the deadline. Each organization can only participate in one project, either as lead or partner. Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered.
For more information, visit EC.
