OpenAI launches new AI Accelerator for SMEs across Europe

OpenAI has launched the EU Economic Blueprint 2.0, introducing a new set of initiatives aimed at accelerating AI adoption across Europe and ensuring that businesses—especially small and medium-sized enterprises—can fully benefit from this transformative technology.

A key highlight is the SME AI Accelerator, a new program developed in partnership with Booking.com, which will provide AI training to 20,000 SMEs across Europe. The initiative is designed to help small businesses boost productivity and growth, and is open to companies across all sectors, including those with no technical background. The program will be rolled out in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Ireland, and the UK, through a mix of in-person workshops and virtual training hosted on OpenAI’s free learning platform, OpenAI Academy.

The Blueprint also addresses Europe’s growing AI capability gap—the difference between what AI systems can do and how widely they are actually used. While the EU overall shows strong AI usage, significant disparities remain between countries and between SMEs and large enterprises, highlighting the need for targeted support and skills development.

In addition, OpenAI announced a €500,000 NGO grant to support EU-based research on youth safety and digital wellbeing, reinforcing the importance of responsible and trusted AI adoption.

Through its expanded OpenAI for Europe initiative, OpenAI will also deepen partnerships with European governments to support national AI priorities, including education, skills training, startup acceleration, and innovation.

These initiatives mark an important step toward empowering SMEs and ensuring they play a central role in Europe’s AI-driven future.

For more information: The next chapter for AI in the EU | OpenAI