Finnova Foundation

Sustainable tourism and innovation projects by the Finnova Foundation presented at FITUR 2025 - Finnova Foundation

Sustainable tourism and innovation projects by the Finnova Foundation presented at FITUR 2025

• The Finnova Foundation leads innovative initiatives that integrate digitalization, sustainability, and social inclusion to transform the tourism sector on a global scale.

• From Europe to Latin America and Africa, Finnova’s projects promote international cooperation, the protection of cultural and natural heritage, and the advancement of tourism entrepreneurship.

Brussels, January 28, 2025 – At the Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR), which took place from January 22 to 26, the Finnova Foundation highlighted its commitment to sustainability, digitalization, and international cooperation in the tourism sector. Among the projects presented, FU-TOURISM stood out, a European Commission-funded initiative with €4 million aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the tourism sector in six European countries: Spain, Belgium, Poland, Croatia, Greece, and Austria. This program offers grants of up to €20,000 for SMEs, specialized training, personalized mentoring, and access to international networks.

During FITUR, the program was presented at the Pavilion of the Valencian Community with the participation of institutions such as the Ajuntament de València, which leads the project alongside Finnova and other European partners. Valencia, recognized as the European Green Capital 2024, is one of the pilot destinations selected to implement sustainability and digital innovation solutions that will serve as models for other European cities.

Additionally, several completed programs managed by the Foundation were highlighted, such as the NAPOCTEP project, funded by the Interreg Spain-Portugal program and presented at FITUR. This project promoted the tourism valorization of Napoleon’s routes in Spain (Salamanca, Zamora, Valladolid, León, and Ávila) and Portugal (Coimbra, Beiras, Serra da Estrela, and the Torres Lines), strengthening cultural and sustainable tourism, local development, and regional identity. Although completed, this project remains active thanks to the routes, events, and activities that continue to promote Napoleonic cultural heritage, consolidating it as an example of the positive impact of European funds in cross-border cooperation.

Another program that recently concluded is the CulturalDeTour Accelerator, led by the Foundation. This six-month program was designed to support 30 startups and SMEs in the cultural tourism sector across Spain, Greece, and Slovenia. The project focuses on the digitalization of routes and cultural experiences, fostering innovation and strengthening the connection between culture and tourism. Furthermore, in Latin America, the Foundation is working on an ambitious agrotourism project in Peru, aimed at promoting sustainable tourism in rural areas by highlighting the cultural and natural heritage of local communities as a driver of economic and social development.

Social innovation also plays a prominent role in Finnova’s projects, including a pioneering program to train people deprived of liberty as Free-Tour guides. This initiative facilitates their social and labor integration, demonstrating how tourism can be an effective tool for social inclusion. In Europe, the Foundation leads an Erasmus+ project focused on creating tourist routes based on local myths and legends, designed to attract visitors interested in unique and high-value cultural experiences.

Additionally, Finnova extends its impact to Africa through collaborations with countries such as Mozambique, Cape Verde, and Papua New Guinea. In these regions, it works to promote ecotourism in national parks, contributing to biodiversity protection and sustainable local development. Complementarily, in Senegal and Ghana, it leads a program that optimizes organic waste management in the hospitality sector, promoting the circular economy through the generation of biogas and other sustainable resources.

Finally, Finnova is betting on the digitalization of the tourism sector through the development of innovative tools for real-time service geolocation, thereby enhancing the traveler’s experience and facilitating access to personalized options. In parallel, it is actively participating in the new INTERREG Spain-Portugal call, open until March 14, 2025. This program has a budget of €110.10 million allocated to fund cross-border cooperation projects, reaffirming Finnova’s commitment to international collaboration and sustainable development.

About the FINNOVA FOUNDATION

Finnova is a Spanish-Belgian foundation based in Brussels and Spain (with its headquarters in Valencia) that works to promote and develop innovation and entrepreneurship in the EU. Finnova’s experience in leading communication and dissemination activities for European projects is combined with a solid track record in business creation programs and support for entrepreneurship, such as accelerators, incubators, and events, as well as its commitment to youth training and employability.

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