EIT Culture & Creativity launches its 2025 call for applications for two tailored business support programmes designed to accelerate the growth of promising start-ups and scale-ups in Europe’s cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI).
With a focus on five key sectors — fashion, architecture, cultural heritage, audio-visual media, and gaming — this call offers high-potential ventures the opportunity to scale their impact, compete for financial prizes, prepare to raise funds, and expand across international markets.
The call for Acceleration (Shape) and Post- Acceleration (Scale) programmes support start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs in their growth plans through group training, expert coaching, investment readiness and more. It also provides beneficiaries with the opportunity to access financial prizes of up to €60,000. Projects must tackle challenges in at least one of EIT Culture & Creativity’s priority areas: audio-visual media, fashion, architecture, gaming or cultural heritage.
The expected outcome is to provide advanced support, mentorship, and strategic guidance, ensuring that the selected companies can thrive, secure funding, and achieve significant market impact in the competitive landscape of the CCSI.
Eligible applicants can be Start-ups and scale-ups operating in one or more CCSI sectors, legally established in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe-associated country. Applicants must meet the SME criteria, have at least 2 years of operations, and a product or service on the market.
Application deadlines: Cohort 1: 23 May 2025, 17:00 CET & Cohort 2: 11 July 2025, 17:00 CET
Learn more through the upcoming webinar on 15 May 2025. Register here.
Submit your application via the EIT Culture & Creativity platform, here.
Call for proposals Acceleration and Post-Acceleration 2025