Estonian Wooden Houses Cluster project has been chosen as one of the best 2018 national winners in Europe
05. October

The 2018 EEPA shortlist has been finalised. After a successful EEPA 2018 jury meeting on 26 September, the jury made their selection from all of the national candidates to choose the top projects in each category. The EEPA finals are held in November in Graz, Austria! 

The European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPAs) are currently in their 12th annual edition. The Awards celebrate diverse projects from across Europe that facilitate entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial endeavours. This year's shortlisted projects come from: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

In 2018 303 national EEPA entries were received from 32 participating countries.56 of these projects were selected by the National Co-ordinators each country and were put forward to the European level of the competition. Portugal produced a spectacular effort with 82 national entries, the highest national total ever achieved in EEPA's history.

On 26 September, the jury established a shortlist of 19 nominees in six categories. This year's jury was made up of members of the outgoing Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the current Austrian Presidency, along with representatives from the European Commission, the Committee of the regions, business and academia. 

Category 1 – Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit

Belgium: De Makersrepubliek: Handmade in Brugge, The Box en Turbo

Estonia: Superheroes

Greece: Piraeus Blue Entrepreneurship

Category 2 – Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills

Austria: i2c STARTacademy

Ireland: ACORNS – Accelerating the Creation of Rural Nascent Start-ups

Lithuania: Entrepreneurship Academy

Category 3 – Improving the Business Environment

Romania: Start up Nation Romania

Spain: Open Innovation 4.0.

United Kingdom: Anchoring economic growth in the Tees Valley

Category 4 – Supporting the Internationalisation of Business

Bulgaria: Supporting the internationalization and digitalization of SMEs in Bulgaria and Europe

Denmark: Lean Landing

Estonia: Development of the Estonian timber sector as the biggest exporter of wooden houses in the European Union

Finland: Kasvu Open – company growth sparring programme

Category 5 – Supporting the Development of Green Markets and Resource Efficiency

Netherlands: HAS Food Experience

Portugal: Matosinhos Carbon-zero Living Lab enhanced by local carbon market

Slovakia: Green bicycle

Category 6 – Responsible and Inclusive Entrepreneurship

France: Initiative remarquable

Germany: ProjectTogether

Ireland: Laois Start Your Own Business Programmes

Have a look at all of the national winners from the six different categories:

EEPA – The European Enterprise Promotion Awards, recognises outstanding projects from across Europe that are working to support entrepreneurs and small businesses across six different categories.

Source: EEPA press release