Press ReleaseFinnova presents FU-TOURISM at the University of Valencia as a model of European tourism innovation
Press Release

Finnova presents FU-TOURISM at the University of Valencia as a model of European tourism innovation

  • The European project mobilises €4 million to support tourism startups and SMEs in their green and digital transition
  • The role of young talent and open innovation in transforming European tourism was highlated

Valencia, 22 May 2026 – The Finnova Foundation presented the European project FU-TOURISM during the II International Congress “Current Issues in Entrepreneurship”, held on 14 and 15 May at the Faculty of Law of the University of Valencia.

Through its participation in the event, Finnova showcased its commitment to a more sustainable, digital and resilient tourism model, highlighting the role of startups, SMEs and young entrepreneurs as key drivers of transformation in the European tourism sector.

During the conference “Local Entrepreneurship”, Massimiliano Dragoni, Vice-President of Finnova in Italy and former Senior Policy Officer at the European Commission for more than 27 years, stressed the importance of connecting local talent with the European Union’s strategic priorities in sustainability, innovation and digitalisation.

 

A European project to transform tourism

FU-TOURISM (“Future-Ready Business Support Ecosystem for Tourism SME Transition to Green and Digital Resilience”) is a European project funded under the Single Market Programme (SMP), with a budget of €4 million and a duration of 36 months (2023-2026).

The initiative brings together public and private organisations from seven European countries with the aim of supporting the green and digital transition of tourism SMEs through funding, mentoring, specialised training and open innovation tools.

The consortium includes organisations such as EUPOLIS Grupa, the City Council of Valencia, Valencia Innovation Capital, Finnova Foundation, ENVOLVE, SYNYO, Vestbee and Open Impact, among other European partners.

The project also includes two strategic pilot destinations in Spain and Croatia: Valencia and Poreč-Parenzo.

According to Dragoni, the European tourism sector is currently facing challenges linked to sustainability, digitalisation, competitiveness and resilience in the face of economic and geopolitical crises.

In this context, initiatives such as FU-TOURISM aim to accelerate the sector’s transformation through collaboration between public administrations, companies and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

 

Acceleration, funding and support for SMEs

One of the project’s main pillars is its acceleration programme for European tourism SMEs.

Since 2025, FU-TOURISM has been supporting 60 companies – 10 per participating country – through a acceleration pathway including mentoring, specialised workshops, networking and strategic guidance.

Selected companies will receive €20,000 in direct funding, with the possibility of applying for a Scale Up Programme for an additional funding of €30,000.

 

Commitment to European innovation

Finnova’s participation in the II International Congress “Current Issues in Entrepreneurship” reinforces the foundation’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and European youth entrepreneurship.

Through initiatives such as FU-TOURISM, Finnova continues to promote projects aligned with Europe’s green and digital transition, fostering collaboration between institutions, businesses and entrepreneurs.