Proposals must be submitted by a consortium consisting of at least 3 independent legal entities.

The consortium must include:

• One Higher Education Institution (HEI) as the project lead, with the legal capacity to award Master or PhD degrees. The HEI is responsible for the academic design, delivery, and accreditation of the proposed module, ensuring educational quality and alignment with skill needs across the CCSI.

• At least one business member, such as a start-up, scale-up, micro-enterprise, SME, or large company active in the CCSI. Business members are expected to contribute to the market relevance, scalability, and long-term sustainability of the course. Their involvement should facilitate hands-on learning opportunities for students – for example, through internships, mentoring, innovation challenges, or collaborative project-based activities integrated into the curriculum.

• A third member must be included to strengthen the learning and innovation impact of the project. This member may be another HEI (ideally adding international value to the student experience), a research or innovation centre, or a cultural institution with sectoral expertise. Additional eligible types of partners include public sector bodies, non-profit foundations, creative hubs or incubators, sectoral associations, or professional networks active in the CCSI. Their participation must clearly demonstrate added value in terms of entrepreneurial capacity building, cross-sectoral collaboration, and enhanced educational outcomes.