Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a cross-border business exchange for eligible new and experienced entrepreneurs. The exchange can last one to six months, with financial assistance for the new entrepreneur under an agreed arrangement. It supports entrepreneurial collaboration rather than a conventional internship or university scholarship.
Applicants register through the official tool and choose a local contact point. Residence rules distinguish new entrepreneurs from hosts and do not make the programme globally open. This guide explains those rules, the business-plan requirement and how a match becomes an approved exchange.
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Details
New entrepreneurs learn from experienced owners or managers of small and medium-sized enterprises abroad. Hosts gain a fresh perspective and opportunities for cooperation or learning about another market.
An accepted application gives access to the catalogue of valid applications, where participants and their local contact points can seek a match. Registration alone is not an approved placement or a guaranteed funding agreement.
Programme | Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs, EYE |
|---|---|
Activity | Business exchange between individual entrepreneurs |
Duration | 1–6 months; possible weekly blocks within a 12-month span |
New entrepreneur | Aspiring founder or business started within the previous three years |
Application costs | No application or participation fee |
Support | Agreed financial assistance for the new entrepreneur |
Deadline | No fixed closing date; apply any time through the official online tool |
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Always recheck the official source before submitting an application.
Learning Benefits and Financial Assistance
The exchange offers practical experience in running a business and developing cross-border contacts. The learning project is agreed between the participants, including dates, objectives and planned activities.
Financial assistance for a new entrepreneur is paid in several instalments under the agreement with the local contact point. The amount is set in the agreement signed with your local contact point, so confirm the support and any personal costs before accepting.
Eligibility for Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs
New entrepreneurs must be firmly planning to establish a business or have started one within the last three years. They must reside in an EU member state or an eligible Single Market Programme country.
Hosts may reside in EU, SMP or participating non-SMP countries. The official list includes Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and Singapore as host-side non-SMP participants, so their inclusion does not automatically make residents eligible as new entrepreneurs.
Documents and Choosing a Contact Point
Prepare a CV and motivation information before registering. New entrepreneurs also need a business plan, which helps explain the business idea and proposed learning needs.
Choose an active local contact point in your country of residence where possible. Applicants in the limited countries without one may register with a contact point in another European country under the official guidance.
How to Apply
Apply through the official tool and submit the requested CV and business plan for the new-entrepreneur role. Read the relevant registration guide so the application reflects actual business goals.
Once accepted, seek a host or new entrepreneur through the catalogue or propose an existing contact. All partners must digitally sign the Commitment to Quality, and new entrepreneurs must conclude the financial agreement before the approved stay.
Timing and Other Entrepreneurship or Leadership Routes
A stay may run from one to six months, potentially split into weekly periods within an overall twelve-month span. The official site gives no fixed closing date for applications, and the dates of each stay are agreed with your partner and local contact point.
Compare the distinct aims of the beVisioneers Fellowship, the Global Leadership Challenge and the Silicon Valley Fellowship. Their residence, age and selection rules differ and should be checked independently.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most important distinction is between a new entrepreneur and a host. The participating-country list gives different access to those roles.
An approved exchange also requires a match and signed agreements beyond the initial application. These answers explain the common process rules.
Is this an internship?
No. The official programme page says it supports entrepreneurial collaborations, not internships or work placements.
Can a new business owner apply?
Yes, if the business started within the previous three years and the applicant meets the other role and residence rules.
Can an aspiring founder apply?
Yes. A person firmly planning to establish a business may apply with the required business plan.
Are there application fees?
No. The official programme page states that application and participation are free of charge.
Does registering guarantee a funded exchange?
No. Participants need acceptance, a suitable match and the required quality and financial agreements.
Conclusion
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs offers practical business learning through an agreed cross-border relationship. Its usefulness depends on a genuine business plan and a suitable host or new entrepreneur. Check role-specific residence eligibility before applying.
Prepare the CV, motivation and business plan, then choose the correct contact point. Agree objectives and support terms before travelling. Use the official programme tool and guides for the final process.
