A Single Market

The EU program A Single Market (SMP) aims to strengthen the European internal market and, in particular, to promote the competitiveness and sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – including those from the cultural and creative sectors. As the successor to various funding initiatives such as Cosme, SMP consolidates measures to ensure high product and service standards, to support the digital transformation, and to develop new business models. The focus is on facilitating market access, expanding entrepreneurial skills, and modernizing industrial value chains. Special importance is given to supporting cultural and creative projects, for example through mentoring and training offers, sustainable cultural tourism concept design, or digital innovation projects. The continuous provision of grants is complemented by a network of advisory and contact points in Germany and Austria, which assist applicants during the application process and facilitate access to the Enterprise Europe Network.

Eligible for funding are legal entities based and operating in EU member states (in the future also selected neighboring countries), primarily SMEs, start-ups, and non-profit organizations. The program covers numerous thematic areas, including culture, media, digitalization, foreign trade, and business start-ups. As there are currently no open calls, SMP offers ongoing funding opportunities that can be flexibly adapted to entrepreneurial project ideas. Both national and cross-border projects with European partners that combine innovation, sustainability, and social inclusion are supported. Through the combination of financing, consulting, and international networking, A Single Market contributes to increasing the entrepreneurial resilience of small actors and supports long-term growth in the European internal market.