EIT Culture & Creativity e.V is the first of eight legal entities to be incorporated during 2023.
On April 5, 29 European organizations came together in Cologne, Germany, to legally constitute the EIT Culture & Creativity association (eingetragener Verein, e.V). The association will serve as the legal platform for core partners to connect and organize as a community in the General Assembly. EIT Culture & Creativity, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, will be made up of a group of legal entities to be incorporated during 2023, including a non-profit association and a limited company (GmbH) under German law, as well as Co-Location Centers, which will be GmbH subsidiaries incorporated under respective national laws.
“This is a major milestone for us. So far, we existed out of the commitment and relentless support of all the organisations that have accompanied in this journey. With the creation of the Association, we now gain institutional agency to create a better future for Europe driven by culture and creativity.”
Bernd Fesel, interim CEO.
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, coordinator of the KIC Start-Up Grant Agreement, in close cooperation with the interim CEO Bernd Fesel, guided the process leading to the selection of the most appropriate corporate and governance structure for the EIT Culture & Creativity group. EIT Culture & Creativity is designed to honour EIT principles of openness, accessibility and good governance. Additionally, its status as non-profit organization facilitates the access of other non-profit organizations or public funded organization in the field of research, arts, culture, or education.
“The e.V. legal form is optimal for large number of members, allowing an easy access for new members and a flexibility in the composition of the membership. Due to this open self-regulatory structure, it further allows the implementation of different membership classes.”
Valentina Kojic, Legal Counsel, Principal Consultant Large EU Projects Public and EU Projects in Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e.V.
In the foundation act, the newly created General Assembly ratified the appointment of the Constituting Supervisory Board, formed by Daria Gołębiowska-Tataj (Chair), Rachel Armstrong, Anette Novak, Paul Gardien, and Niccolo Caderni. The General Assembly also appointed Prasanna Oommen and Sven Kreigenfeld as members of the Executive Board of the e.V. With these appointments, EIT Culture & Creativity e.V. is ready to initiate operations including the establishment of the German limited liability company (GmbH).
All 29 organisation joined EIT Culture & Creativity as core partners in this initial act. New adhesions will follow to reach at least 50 core partners by the end of the 2023. Additionally, there will be other engagement opportunities rolling out starting in 2024 serving a broad myriad of stakeholders acting either in individual or business capacity that subscribe to the KIC membership to benefit from its services, contribute to impact delivery, and set strategic direction for the future.
List of founding organisations:
- ART-ER S.CON.P.A.
- CollectiveUP
- Consorzio Materahub Industrie Culturali e Creative
- Creative UK
- Creative Industry Kosice
- Creative Tech
- Eötvös Loránd University
- Erasmus University Rotterdam
- ETT s.p.a
- Eurecat
- Fabrique [merken, design & interactie]
- Filmuniversität Babelsberg
- Fondazione Fitzcarraldo
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung eingetragener Verein
- GameInfluencer
- Goethe-Institut
- Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft mbH
- Impact Hub
- In Place of War
- Junior Achievement Bulgaria
- Kiinteistö Oy Kaapelitalo
- Köln Business Wirtschaftsförderungs-GmbH
- MIN4CI
- Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet NTNU/a>
- Ogilvy
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB
- University of Tartu
- Uppsala University
- Verein für Forschung und Innovation in der Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft Deutschlands e.V.
About EIT Culture & Creativity
EIT Culture & Creativity is the ninth Innovation Community by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. It is designed to strengthen and transform Europe’s Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) by connecting creatives and organisations to Europe’s largest innovation network. It takes a holistic and open approach to innovation – from tech to artistic driven innovations, from business to citizen driven – and reinforces the appreciation and anchoring of European values and identities. EIT Culture & Creativity will unlock latent value from a multitude of small CCSI stakeholders through technology transfer, improved cross-sectoral collaboration and their effective integration in production value networks. EIT Culture & Creativity will support technology and business innovation; artistic innovation and social innovation. It will also harness the unique position of the CCSI to facilitate the Triple Transitions in Europe – green, digital and social.
About The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
The EIT is Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem bringing together close to 3,000 partners from top business, research and education organisations across Europe in over 80 innovation hubs. The EIT strengthens Europe’s ability to innovate by powering solutions to pressing global challenges and by nurturing entrepreneurial talent to create sustainable growth and skilled jobs in Europe. The EIT is an EU body and an integral part of Horizon Europe, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The Institute supports dynamic pan-European partnerships, EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities, composed of leading companies, research labs and universities each dedicated to solving a pressing global challenge, from climate change to health, to renewable energy.