The 2024 edition of the European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) Award, promoted by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), was launched during the European Commission's SME Assembly in Prague at the end of November.

The lead theme of the EER 2024 campaign is 'Cities and regions on a path to resilient, sustainable and digital growth.' 

What is the EER?

• A label awarded by the European Committee of the Regions each year to up to 3 cities or regions with outstanding, future-oriented strategies to support SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups

• A growing network of pioneering territories actively strengthening their entrepreneurial ecosystems, exchanging good practices and partnering up for European projects

Who can apply?
All EU territories below the level of the Member State that are endowed with competences at a political level and able to implement an overall entrepreneurial strategy, including regions in the broadest sense, cities, EGTCs and Euroregions, are welcome to participate.

Why should you apply?
The EER gives recognition and visibility to your entrepreneurial strategy and concrete projects. It helps you reach out to your entrepreneurial ecosystem's stakeholders and give a boost to the ecosystem’s maturation. It provides you with access to a network of potential partners for cooperation initiatives.

The winners of the EER awards 2023 were: Barcelona (Spain), Penela (Portugal) and Western Pomerania (Poland). The winners of the 2024 edition will be announced during the CoR plenary session in July 2023.

Please check the How to Apply document for more specific information on the EER call for applications.

The application form can also be found on the EER website.

Regions and cities that are ready to implement a future-oriented entrepreneurial strategy are invited to apply until 29 March 2023 by e-mail to eer-cdr@cor.europa.eu. Any questions can be sent to the same email address.

Read the full press release here.