Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) is an international entrepreneurial mentoring program co-funded by the European Commission.

The program enables aspiring or New Entrepreneurs from South Tyrol to spend between 1 and 6 months abroad in order to develop their business idea and acquire new skills through an international mentoring experience with a Host Entrepreneur, namely a CEO or founder of an SME or start-up with more than 3 years of entrepreneurial experience.

Who can participate?

• New Entrepreneur (NE) profile: Entrepreneurs who have been running a business for less than 3 years, or aspiring entrepreneurs living in South Tyrol who intend to start their own business.
• Host Entrepreneur (HE) profile: Established entrepreneurs from South Tyrol with at least 3 years of experience in managing a business.

What are the program’s destinations?

• EU member states and candidate countries: Participants can undertake their exchange in all 27 European Union member states, the 12 EU outermost regions and overseas countries and territories, as well as in 12 countries participating in the Single Market Programme (SMP): Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine.
• Non-EU countries: Since February 2025, entrepreneurial exchanges have also been available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Singapore.

How long does the exchange last?

The exchange can last from 1 to 6 months for destinations within the EU and candidate countries, and from 1 to 3 months for non-EU destinations. 

An entrepreneurial exchange must be completed within 12 months from the start date. Participants have the flexibility to split the exchange period over several months and take breaks for personal or professional reasons. However, the total duration of the exchange may not exceed 6 months of actual participation.

Exchange funding

The financial support provided under the programme takes the form of a grant awarded to New Entrepreneurs by the European Commission. The grant is paid in several instalments, in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the signed agreement. The amount is calculated on a monthly basis and reflects the cost of living in the host country.

Download the table showing the monthly financial support available for each destination country.

Please note: Host Entrepreneurs do not receive any financial contribution for hosting New Entrepreneurs.

Interested in learning more?

Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will assess your profile and guide you through the first steps of applying to EYE-programme. Our team is available to provide all the information you need and guide you throughout your journey in the programme.