Spanning Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Southern Poland, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia and Georgia, the East Regional Hub unites a region rich in culture, creativity and ambition.
Hosted by
The East Regional Hub is based in Košice, Slovakia, and hosted by Creative Industry Košice (CIKE) - a leading organisation recognised across Europe for its role in supporting cultural and creative industries while advancing culture-driven urban development. As the Hub’s host, CIKE provides a strong foundation for new synergies, acting as a gateway to international projects, with partnerships, and expertise.
Our regional ambitions
The countries across East Regional Hub share a strong creative momentum and growing capacity for innovation, powered by dynamic cultural entrepreneurial ecosystems. With a focus on architecture and the built environment, the Hub addresses one of the region's critical challenges: limited access to international networks and funding opportunities. By linking start-ups, SMEs, and cultural organisations with EIT Culture & Creativity programmes, the Hub builds regional capacity and stimulates cross-border partnerships that strengthen the region's innovation potential.
Region
Key sectors
Architecture
Sustainable cities planning, spatial planning
Digital tools
Virtual models, data-driven spaces
Our team
Led by Director Michal Hladky, the East Regional Hub team brings together Branislav Kršák (Business Developer), Lenka Varcholová (Producer) and Pille Vojčík (EIT Community Officer, xKIC RI project). United by a shared commitment to innovation, they work to connect regional talents with European programmes, creating the best opportunities.
Eastern and South-Eastern Europe consistently demonstrate a remarkable capacity for creativity and innovation. Across these regions, communities are strategically leveraging local challenges as opportunities, transforming their rich cultural potential into robust engines for sustainable growth.
Michal Hladky, Director
Article type
News
Events
Reimagining Futures at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025
Article type
News
Events
Start with Children: Designing Cities for Care, Curiosity and Childhood
Article type
News
Events
Startup Safari Budapest 2025: Creativity, Capital, and Collaboration
