Duisburg, North-East Romania and Umbria win 2027 European Entrepreneurial Regions Award

Duisburg, North-East Romania and Umbria have been named winners of the 2027 European Entrepreneurial Regions awards for strategies that put small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at the centre of regional competitiveness, innovation and resilience. The awards were presented on 14 October during a plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR).

The three winners are using different approaches – from artificial intelligence and digitalisation to start-up support, renewable-energy communities and stronger links between research and business – to help companies grow and adapt to a more competitive global economy, high energy costs, and greater geopolitical instability. The European Entrepreneurial Regions awards were created by the CoR and is presented every two years.

Alberto Cirio, President of Piedmont and chair EER jury, said: “True economic resilience is built from the ground up by supporting the vitality of our local businesses. This year's EER winners perfectly illustrate how regional ecosystems can successfully connect research, entrepreneurship, and cutting-edge technology to drive forward-looking industrial transformation”.

The winners of the 2027 EER Award are, in alphabetical order:

Duisburg, Germany 

The award for Duisburg recognises the city’s ambitious strategy to strengthen SME competitiveness, innovation and economic resilience, which is turning its structural transformation into a forward-looking agenda for sustainable growth. A key pillar is accelerating SME competitiveness through applied artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation, supported by a structured 'SME adoption journey' that helps companies develop, test and scale up data-driven solutions. 

A flagship example is the 'KI für KMU' (AI for SMEs) programme, which enables SMEs to integrate artificial intelligence into their business processes and value chains. Building on its strengths as Europe’s largest inland port and as a leading logistics and industrial hub, Duisburg is positioning itself as a European reference ecosystem for innovation, intelligent logistics and future-oriented entrepreneurship.

Rasmus C. Beck, managing director of the municipal economic development agency Duisburg Business & Innovation GmbH (DBI), said: "I am delighted by the recognition with the EER, as it demonstrates appreciation for the fact that Duisburg is actively shaping economic transformation. Through our ERDF projects for the application of artificial intelligence in companies, for start-ups in logistics, and for the circular economy, we show how positive momentum can be created during structural change. For us, it is a matter of course that we strengthen these processes through policy improvement and peer reviews in INTERREG projects."

North-East Romania 

The North-East development region of Romania won the EER for its strategy to foster innovation-driven entrepreneurship and better connect the region to the European Single Market. The regionis turning its entrepreneurial potential into a coordinated growth agenda. As Romania’s largest region by population, it combines a strong university base with growing capacity to support start-ups. 

The strategy focuses on expanding the entrepreneurial pipeline, supporting start-ups and the digital transition by small and medium-sized enterprises, and strengthening links to European and global innovation networks. A flagship example is the Rubik Start programme, which helps students and aspiring entrepreneurs develop business ideas through mentoring, bootcamps and university partnerships. By bringing together existing initiatives under a common framework, North-East Romania is creating new opportunities for innovation, business growth and international cooperation while contributing to Europe’s competitiveness and resilience.

Vasile Asandei, General Director of the North-East Regional Development Agency, said: "This award is the culmination of many years of work and confirms that a region does not develop through infrastructure and funding alone, but above all through inventive people who create added value. Our ambition is to think and act in an entrepreneurial and responsible way, building ecosystems such as Rubik Hub and ROStartup that support start-ups, connect resources and turn ideas into real development for communities."

Umbria, Italy 

The Region of Umbria won its award for its ambition to turn structural challenges into drivers of competitiveness. The region is developing a model of SME-led growth centred on industrial innovation, digitalisation and sustainability. 

The strategy focuses on supporting SME growth and industrial upgrading, accelerating AI adoption, promoting clean-tech innovation and renewable-energy communities, and strengthening innovation from research to scale-up. A flagship example is the development of renewable-energy communities, which help businesses reduce energy costs, strengthen resilience and support the region’s green transition. 

By combining innovation, green competitiveness and data-driven governance, Umbria is positioning itself as a model for SME-led growth and a stronger contributor to European competitiveness within the Single Market.

Stefania Proietti (IT/PES), President of the Region of Umbria, said: "Umbria received the EER 2027 award because it has turned innovation, youth and simplification into concrete actions: the STEP Platform and SMARTup for SMEs, artificial intelligence for businesses and citizens, Renewable Energy Communities for a clean transition, and new measures for young talents, such as 38 PhD scholarships with a 40% higher amount. A small region that thinks big." 

Background:

• Video and photos of the ceremony.

• Video of the winners.

• The European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) award is a project that identifies and rewards EU territoriesthat have developed an outstanding and innovative entrepreneurial policy strategy, every two years. The territories with the most credible, forward-looking and promising action plan are granted the label ’European Entrepreneurial Region’ for the following year. Applicants must demonstrate a real political commitment to supporting SMEs and strengthening entrepreneurship through a strategy officially endorsed by the regional assembly, the government of the region or other authorised political bodies.

• The EER label has been set up in partnership with the European Commission and is supported by many EU stakeholders such as SME United, Eurochambres, Social Economy Europe and EURADA.

• The EER jury – composed of representatives of the CoR, the European Commission, the European Parliament, social partners and territorial associations – will monitor the implementation of the prize-winning regional strategies throughout 2027, with the aim of providing the winners with an objective outside view on their policies and on the progress made during the EER year.

• The list of European Entrepreneurial Regions since 2011 is available here. To date, 48 EU regions and cities have been awarded the EER label.

Contact:

Theresa Sostmann
Tel: +32475999415
Theresa.Sostmann@cor.europa.eu