5 December 2024
Opening of applications
Is your company operating in the business event industry? Do you have a revolutionary idea for driving innovation in the sector? The BEFuture Acceleration Programme is your chance to get it off the ground.
BEFuture is offering an exciting opportunity for SMEs and other organisations. Our Acceleration Programme offers up to €30 000 in funding along with technical support for projects in the business events sector.
What we’re looking for: new ideas to promote sustainability, resilience and inclusivity, with a focus on innovation and digitalisation.
BEFuture aims to drive sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience across the European business events sector. The Acceleration Programme supports products, processes, services, and business models contributing to these goals with an innovative approach.
80+ successful applicants will receive the following support under the programme:
Supported innovations should help tackle the industry’s most pressing challenges. We are looking for solutions in the fields of
We will select projects driven by SMEs from Belgium (Flanders), France, Germany, Italy, Spain (Catalonia) and the Netherlands.
Eligible candidates can submit their application online between 5 December 2024 and 5 February 2025 (17:00 CET).
The development and scaling of innovative products, processes, services, and business models is essential for the business events sector. They will play an important role in helping actors across the industry become greener, more inclusive, and more resilient.
The BEFuture Acceleration Programme has been launched to boost progress on three key aspects:
We will select at least 80 projects driven by SMEs. Successful applicants will receive the following support under the programme:
Supported innovations should help tackle the industry’s most pressing challenges, namely:
We offer support for four categories of innovative projects, based on their impact and novelty: radical innovation (creating new markets or transforming existing ones), disruptive innovation (leveraging cutting-edge technology to push boundaries), substantial innovation (significantly improving an existing offering) and incremental innovation (upgrades to products, services, or processes that boost efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness).
Is your organisation committed to fostering change within the business events sector? Do you have an idea for driving the sustainable transition? We’d love to hear about it.
Projects can be submitted by SMEs based in Belgium (Flanders), France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain (Catalonia), or Italy active in the European business events sector. Partnerships of maximum four participants, including minimum one SME are welcome, as long as 70 % of the grant is dedicated to the SME(s). The programme also seeks to foster synergies with other sectors impacting business events, such as the digital, audiovisual, construction, energy, catering, mobility, and technology sectors.
Opening of applications
Closing of applications
Evaluation results
Formalisation of contracts
Projects kick-off
Implementation & reporting
Projects closure
*These dates are subject to change
Several information sessions will be organised:
Global information session
An online information session will be held in English on 10 December 2024 at 10:00 CET. You can register here.
Local information sessions
Please refer to the table below for sessions in your local country/language. Additional session in the other partnering countries will be announced soon.
Country (Region) & place in case of onsite sessions |
Organiser |
Dates & times |
Language |
Format |
How to register |
Belgium (Flanders) |
ETFI/TVL |
6/12/24 10:00-11:00 |
Dutch |
online |
Please register using the link provided for each session |
The Netherlands |
ETFI/TVL |
6/12/24 10:00-11:00 |
Dutch |
online |
Please register using the link provided for each session |
The Netherlands |
ETFI/TVL |
11/12/24 14:30 – 17:00 Maarsen, Bisonspoor |
Dutch |
live |
Please contact amber.herrewijn@nhlstenden.com to register |
France |
Linkeus |
12/12/24 10:00-11:00 |
French |
online |
You will then be able to join the individual session using the links provided for each. |
Questions about the BEFuture Acceleration Programme? Get in touch with the BEFuture team.
General questions: Marta Rojas from B.Link - call-inquiries@be-future.eu
Specific questions by territory:
Territory |
Name and Organization |
|
Catalonia (Spain) |
Miriam Pijuan Catalan Tourist Board – Catalunya Convention Bureau |
|
Flanders (Belgium) |
Gemmeke de Jongh Visit Flanders |
|
France |
Heliéna BregandLINKEUS (Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur Convention Bureau) |
|
Germany |
Doreen Biskup Verband der Veranstaltungsorganisatoren e.V. (VDVO) |
|
Italy |
Francesco Bianchi Universita' degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca |
|
The Netherlands |
Jochem Jansen NHL Stenden University |