Creatives without Borders – Innovation without limits
A new chapter opens for Europe’s Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI). EIT Culture & Creativity has signed a seven-year agreement with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), running until 2030. This partnership aims to reimagine how the sector competes and thrives, driving sustainable growth across 15 industries, from education and research to business, cultural institutions, cities, and regions.
By 2030, the initiative will unlock funding from both public and private sources to fuel transformative education, innovation, business creation and social transformation programmes. The goal: to position culture and creativity as engines of Europe’s economic, environmental and social progress.
Building long-term partnerships
This partnership moves away from the limitations of traditional short-term project funding. EIT Culture & Creativity will launch continent-wide calls for proposals, inviting universities, companies, research organisations, cities, and cultural institutions to develop lasting solutions. Whether it’s new products, start-ups, or education programmes, the focus is on ideas that can sustain themselves and create long-term impact.
Martin Kern, Director of the EIT, summed it up:
“The latest Knowledge and Innovation Community, EIT Culture & Creativity provides an opportunity to welcome more creatives to Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem. This milestone marks the basis for Europe’s cultural and creative sectors and industries to develop their innovation skills, grow their best ideas, and develop new game-changing start-ups. We look forward to seeing EIT Culture & Creativity grow and generate impact in the years to come.”
Focus on five areas
The partnership will focus on five key sectors, each with the potential to reshape Europe sustainably:
Architecture: Helping architects adopt circular and ethical practices.
Audio-Visual Media: Developing products and services powered by responsible, trustworthy technologies.
Cultural Heritage: Strengthening social cohesion through deeper engagement with Europe’s cultural institutions and practices.
Fashion: Promoting sustainable design to counter fast fashion.
Gaming: Supporting SMEs to integrate AI, no-code tools, and ethical digital practices.
Anette Schaefer and Bernd Fesel, co-CEOs of EIT Culture & Creativity, reflected on the sector’s potential:
“With a turnover of €643 billion (2019), the Cultural & Creative Sectors and Industries rank amongst the top five sectors in Europe, alongside automotive and agriculture. With EIT Culture & Creativity, this economic powerhouse can now unlock its innovation potential for Europe – to deal with fast fashion, for example, or to preserve heritage or reduce the carbon footprint of architecture.”
Reinforcing regional strengths with European potential
Six regional hubs in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Helsinki, Košice, and Vienna will drive collaboration at both local and European levels. These hubs will link education, research, and business efforts, supporting innovators with advanced technology, funding, and emerging talent. The aim is to turn regional strengths into entrepreneurial success stories that benefit all of Europe.
Rising to Europe’s challenges
EIT Culture & Creativity is uniquely placed to address the pressing issues of our time – climate change, digital transformation, and public health crises. Its approach to innovation and entrepreneurship will help cultural sectors adapt while promoting diversity and inclusion.
Niccolo Caderni, Chair of the Supervisory Board, highlighted the power of culture:
“Culture is an instrument of peace and discovering our shared heritage builds bridges in our diverse communities. By helping creative industries to grow, EIT Culture & Creativity will demonstrate that culture can also be an avenue to prosperity. In funding this widespread but, until now, unconnected community, the EU has created the largest initiative of this kind anywhere in the world, enabling our cultural and creative entrepreneurs to play a crucial part in shaping society.”
