The Innovation Projects call supports startups, scale-ups and SMEs in fashion, architecture and audiovisual media with a validated prototype or solution at TRL 7, ready to execute their go-to-market strategy, build investment readiness and prepare for scale.
EIT Culture & Creativity today opens Innovation Projects, a call making up to €10.5M available to companies with validated innovations set to build traction and grow.
The call targets startups, scale-ups and SMEs in three of Europe’s most strategically important creative sectors: fashion, architecture and audiovisual media. Up to 11 projects will be funded in the implementation phase, with up to €900,000 available per project.
The commercial case for this call is clear. Fashion is under pressure to move beyond linear, environmentally damaging production models. Architecture has tools for climate adaptation and social innovation but often lacks the business infrastructure to deploy them at scale. Audiovisual media is being reshaped by generative AI faster than many players can respond. Across these industries, promising solutions can be technically validated yet still stall before market adoption because of gaps in customer access, go-to-market capacity, partnerships and growth capital.
“Europe is not short of creative innovation. The challenge is turning validated solutions into products and services that customers adopt at scale,” said Anette Schaefer, CEO of EIT Culture & Creativity. “We are not funding ideas or early-stage prototyping. We are backing companies with a validated innovation and helping them build a credible go-to-market pathway - creating a pipeline of investable CCSI companies.”
Thematic priorities for the call include circular textile technologies, bio-based building materials, and responsible AI for content creation, alongside other innovations directly relevant to the EU’s green, digital and social transition goals.
From validated innovation to market and scale
Focused on market validation, pilot deployment and scaling, the programme supports innovations entering at TRL 7, where a system prototype has been demonstrated in an operational environment, and progressing to TRL 9, where the actual system is proven in an operational environment.
The call runs in two stages, allowing both applicants and EIT Culture & Creativity to build evidence before committing to full implementation:
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Stage 1: A single company submits a concept proposal. Selected applicants receive €20,000 to develop a full Business Development Plan, strengthen market and customer validation, define the go-to-market pathway and assess the financing required for implementation and scale, including external investment where relevant.
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Stage 2: The strongest plans proceed to a full implementation phase of up to 18 months, with funding of up to €900,000 per project to execute the go-to-market plan, accelerate market adoption and prepare the solution for scale.
Access to EIT Culture & Creativity's pan-European ecosystem – industry partners, customers, investors and distribution networks across 30+ countries – is central to how selected projects enter into the market. The programme provides high-level matchmaking to connect companies with customers, investors and strategic partners, as well as commercial visibility through Demo Days and the network's flagship Innovation Forum. Where relevant, support will also be provided to connect companies with external capital and strengthen investment readiness.
Who can apply
The call is open to legal entities established in EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. Eligible innovations must already have a technically validated prototype or solution at TRL7.
Full eligibility criteria, timelines and application details are available here. Applications close on 30 October 2026 for stage 1. The application form for stage 2 will be shared with selected applicants in mid-December 2026 and will be open until 15 March 2027.
Download the full press release here.