Department of Education allocates 251,000 euros to promote vocational training entrepreneurship

The Minister of Education has approved the Order of August 27, 2026, which approves the regulatory bases for grants to promote the entrepreneurial culture of students in private concerted schools for the 2026-2027 academic year. The Order was published in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country (BOPV) number 175, on September 14, 2026, in the document with reference 2026/3877. The grants have a budget of 251,000 euros, and each school may receive a maximum of 15,000 euros.

Within the FP Euskadi 2030 Entrepreneurship strategy

The Order develops strategic objective 11 of the 2nd axis of the FP Euskadi 2030 strategy, titled “Euskadi Avanza. Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” which aims to boost the entrepreneurial culture and the creation of new companies in Vocational Training (FP). The legal basis is Law 4/2018, of June 28, on Vocational Training in the Basque Country, which in its Article 3 considers the promotion of entrepreneurial capacity as a main objective, and Organic Law 3/2022, of March 31, on the organization and integration of Vocational Training.

The grants are included in the Department of Education’s 2026 Strategic Plan for Grants, which the minister approved on February 24, 2026. The management of the call corresponds to the Directorate of Digital Transformation and Advanced Learning, and the resolution will be issued by the Vice-Minister of Vocational Training.

Eligible projects and expenses

The grants are aimed at private concerted schools that have official authorization to provide Basic Vocational Training and Intermediate or Higher Level cycles. Students in their final academic year must develop business simulation projects, always within the school and with the support of teachers. Each project must obtain at least 17 points, with a maximum of 29.

Eligible expenses include:

• Expenses directly linked to the development of business simulation sub-projects.
• Purchase of non-consumable materials (machinery, tools), made from the school’s general perspective.
• Consumable materials related to the development of the prototype.
• Licenses, when necessary for the sub-project and for an essential period of time.
• Contracting of non-curricular training activities and dissemination activities.

Expenses must be incurred after the start of the academic year and before December 23, 2026. A maximum of 40% of the grant may be allocated to training activities and a maximum of 10% to dissemination activities; therefore, at least 50% must be allocated to sub-projects.

Evaluation criteria and procedure

Projects will be evaluated according to several criteria: entrepreneurial skills worked on (maximum 5 points), connection with the cycle and advanced technologies (13 points), use of the Basque language (2 points), legal form that promotes collective entrepreneurship (4 points), and the involvement of the cycles (5 points). The evaluation committee consists of technicians Ergiña Urzelai, José Ramón Gomez Laconcha, and Miriam Lasagabaster Herrarte.

Applications must be submitted within one month, starting from the day following the publication of the order in the BOPV, via electronic means. Payment will be made in two installments: 40% as an advance after the resolution, and 60% after justification. Justification may be submitted until January 8, 2027.

This call is of strategic importance for the future of vocational training in the Basque Country, as it encourages students to see self-employment as an option and strengthens an innovative and sustainable production network.

Fuente: Official Gazette of the Basque Country, number 175, September 14, 2026, Other Provisions section, pp. 1-13 (official reference: 2026/3877).