EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND+ – Inclusive Incubation and Finance for More Entrepreneurs – 2026

Objectives

• To promote inclusive entrepreneurship across the European Union by supporting incubation models and financing solutions
• To enable new and aspiring entrepreneurs from under-represented groups in entrepreneurship to start, sustain and scale viable business activities
• To develop and test incubation approaches adapted to the specific needs of underrepresented entrepreneurs

Priorities

• Priority 1: Inclusive Incubation Models
• Priority 2: Better Access to Finance
• Priority 3: Integrated Support Pathways
• Priorty 4: Fostering Ecosystem Cooperation

Among financed actions

• Design, development and implementation of innovative incubation programmes
• Mentoring, coaching, training
• Monitoring and evaluation activities…

Eligibility

• Be legal entities (public or private bodies)
• Be established in one of the eligible countries:
  • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories)
  • Non-EU states:
    • listed EEA countries and countries associated to the ESF+ (list of participating countries), or
    • countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature.
• Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register before submitting the proposal.
• The consortium (lead applicant and co-applicants jointly) must be established (directly or via their national members) in at least 14 eligible countries.
• The lead applicant of the consortium must be one of the following types of organisations:
  • a network of incubators (including business support organisations and similar organisations);
  • a network of microfinance providers;
  • a network of providers of finance for social enterprises.
• Any consortium must at least entail one network of incubators and one network of finance providers.

Additional information

• Initial duration of the action: between 18 and 24 months

Extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment.

• Contact: EMPL-SOCIAL-ENTERPRISE@ec.europa.eu

Useful

• Guidelines: Click here
• Other call documents: Click here
• DG website: Click here
• More information: Click here

• Total budget of the call: 1.5 million euros
• Amount of the grant: around 750,000 euros

The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.

• Funding rate: up to 80% of the total eligible costs