Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a cross-border programme facilitating the exchange of entrepreneurial and management experience. The exchange is implemented by a stay of a newly established or potential entrepreneur with a well-experienced entrepreneur running a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in another country.
Since its launch in 2009, the scheme's number of applications from new and host entrepreneurs willing to participate in the programme has constantly increased and currently we have organised over 10,700 exchanges.
Main benefits of the programme
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs aims to boost Europe's entrepreneurial culture.
The programme:
• Reinforces entrepreneurial attitudes by offering skills, knowledge and experience.
• Increases the number of start-ups and boosts their resilience.
• Fosters the cross-border transfer of ideas, knowledge and cooperation between small firms.
• Helps small firms to network, innovate, and go international.
• Helps to create jobs.
Who is eligible for the programme?
New and host entrepreneurs from EU countries and other participating countries.
New entrepreneurs
• Would-be entrepreneurs planning to start their own business based on a substantiated business plan or newly established entrepreneurs with less than three years of experience running a business.
Host entrepreneurs
• Successful and experienced entrepreneurs (owner-managers) with at least three years of experience running a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise.
Benefits for participating entrepreneurs
New Entrepreneurs
• Build their capacity to manage a small company.
• Gain relevant skills and knowledge.
• Get practical experience.
• Network.
Hosting Entrepreneurs
• Get new ideas and fresh perspectives.
• Make use of fresh entrepreneurial attitude.
• Obtain knowledge about another market and culture.
• Gain international cooperation opportunities.
How to take part?
New and experienced entrepreneurs who want to take part in the entrepreneurs’ exchange programme may apply via the programme website and choose their preferred local contact point in their respective countries of residence.
Your application should include a CV, motivation letter and, in if you’re a new entrepreneur, a business plan. Once accepted, you can search the programme database for an entrepreneur to be matched with.
We recommended that you read the registration guide carefully to have all required information at hand before starting the registration process.
Entrepreneurship Guideline
Entrepreneurship Experiences
Carolina Riccone
On march 2023 I began my 5 months experience as Young Entrepreneur at the NGO LIDOSK. I believe that this experience was extremely valuable for my professional and personal growth and development. Before starting this project, I didn’t know what my talents were and how to channel them in the right direction. Day after day, I could enhance my existing abilities while learning how to face and overcome possible challenges in an international work environment. I also had the possibility to work side by side with people who enriched me as a person and who, eventually, turned out to be good friends. I am extremely grateful to this project because it allowed me to better understand what I want to do in my life, and put me on the right track to reach my objectives. It also allowed me to create new valuable friendship which I hope will span across borders. I would suggest the EYE program to everyone who is searching for a new enriching experience, hoping that it would turn out enlightening for them as it was for me.