Call for Financial Support for SMEs under DETOUR project

Home Funding Calls for proposals Call for Financial Support for SMEs under DETOUR project Call for Financial Support for SMEs under DETOUR project DETOUR Grant Cascade funding Internal navigation General information Submission & evaluation process Further information Task description General Information Opening date 09 March 2026 Deadline model single-stage Deadline date 01 June 2026 12:00 (Brussels time) Open For Submission Expected duration of participation 6 to 9 months Total funding available 800 000,00 € Project acronym DETOUR Full name of the EU funded project Development of resilient tourism ecosystems along Mediterranean walking routes Grant agreement number 101181295 Topic SMP-COSME-2023-TOURSME-01 - Transitioning to a more sustainable and resilient ecosystem – empowering tourism SMEs Submission & evaluation process Submission and Evaluation Process Applicants must consult the full version of the call for financial support available on the DETOUR project website before preparing their application (submission link). Proposals must be submitted through the official online application form and include all required supporting documents using the templates provided. Each application must contain the following elements: Completed Application Form Budget Template Proof of legal registration of the applicant organisation Proof of tourism activity (NACE code or equivalent documentation) Declaration of Honour The Call for Financial Support opens on 9 March 2026, and applications must be submitted no later than 1 June 2026 at 12:00 CET. Evaluation and Selection Applications will be assessed through a competitive selection procedure. 1. Eligibility Check All submitted applications will first undergo an administrative and eligibility verification to ensure compliance with the criteria defined in the Call. Only proposals submitted before the deadline, through the official submission platform, and including all required documentation will be considered eligible for evaluation. 2. Evaluation Procedure Eligible applications will be evaluated by two independent external experts in each participating country, appointed by the DETOUR project partners. Evaluators will act independently and without conflict of interest, following a common evaluation methodology to ensure fairness and consistency across all participating countries. Applications will be assessed according to the following evaluation criteria: Relevance Quality Feasibility Impact Each criterion will be scored on a scale from 1 to 5, with a minimum score of 3 required per criterion and a minimum total threshold of 12 points out of 20 to be considered for funding. An additional bonus point may be awarded if at least one SME participating in the partnership has taken part in the DETOUR training activities. Funding will be awarded to the highest-ranked proposals in each participating country until the available budget is exhausted, ensuring a minimum of 7 and a maximum of 12 funded projects per country, with at least 30 projects supported overall. The evaluation period will take place between 1 June and 12 July 2026, and the results will be published by 13 July 2026. Selected projects are expected to start from 1 September 2026 and must be implemented within a mandatory duration of 6 to 9 months. Contact email: detour.eu.project@gmail.com Show more Further information Tourism is a key sector in the Mediterranean but SMEs face increasing challenges, including economic pressures, climate change, labour shortages, and rapid digital transformation. Strengthening resilience and innovation has therefore become essential. DETOUR – Development of Resilient Tourism Ecosystems along Mediterranean Walking Routes is a three-year project co-funded by the European Commission that supports tourism SMEs along walking routes in Italy, Greece, Türkiye, and Bulgaria. Through training, mentoring, and financial support, the project helps SMEs innovate, diversify their services, and strengthen sustainable tourism ecosystems along Mediterranean trails. Task description Eligible Countries and geographic areas: Italy along the Via Francigena, stretch Pavia–Rome and 10 km buffer zone; Greece along the mountainous paths of Olympos, Kissavos, Mavrovouni; Bulgaria along the Sultan’s Trail in Thrace Tourism Region and Thrace Tourism Region; Türkiye along the Lycian Way, from Fethiye to Antalya, Türkiye and 3 km buffer zone. Partnership Composition 2 to 5 independent legal entities At least 50 % must be tourism SMEs1. At least one tourism SME should be located along (or in buffer zone of) eligible walking routes. Each entity can participate in only one funded partnership. Partnerships may be of the following types: Only tourism SMEs Tourism SMEs and other tourism entities (DMOs, associations, sole-traders etc.) Tourism SMEs and Cross-sectoral partners (culture, agri-food, digital, IT, sole-traders, etc.) Projects must contribute to: Sustainability and green transition Digital transformation Business resilience and risk management Inclusive and accessible trail tourism Permissible Activities (Examples) Development of new tourism products or services Digital tools, booking systems, mapping platforms Relevant software licences (operational efficiency, customer experience) Sustainable mobility solutions Green technologies and certifications Market studies and business plans Staff training and upskilling Communication and marketing campaigns Risk management planning ⚠ Equipment costs capped at 30% of total budget