Start-Up Nation: 17,600 young people can enroll in free courses

Young people aged between 18 and 30 who have not yet turned 30 can enroll, starting October 6, 2026, in the free entrepreneurial training courses offered through the Start-Up Nation program. There are 17,600 places available, and applications will be submitted online starting at 10:00 a.m. for 30 days, with the possibility of extending the application period.

The courses last 40 hours and can be taken online or in person, depending on participants’ preferences and provider availability. At the end, graduates will receive a certificate accredited by the Ministry of Labor. The program is open to all young people in this age group, regardless of their status on the labor market, including those who have returned to Romania. The minimum requirement is completion of lower secondary education.

Completing the courses is mandatory to access the funding stage. Companies newly established by graduates can apply for up to 250,000 lei, representing no more than 90% of eligible expenses.

The Ministry of Economy also announced the signing of contracts for the first session of the program’s fourth edition. At present, there are resources for 3,140 contracts, with total funding of approximately 400 million lei.