How to apply

Admissibility and eligibility criteria: 

•  For the admissibility, eligibility, evaluation and portfolio selection criteria please see the call guidelines.

• Please make sure you have a Participant Identification Code (PIC). If you lack a PIC, you will need to register first on the EU Funding & Tender Portal. 

Application form

• The application form will be available from 10/08/2026 until 12/10/2026, 17:00 CEST (Berlin time). 

List of documents to be submitted: 

• Application form, as available on the submission platform;  
• Pitch Deck prepared using the applicable Pitch Deck template;  
• Proof of company registration;  
• Detailed budget and EIT Culture & Creativity funding request template;  
• At least one form of tangible evidence of the solution in action, such as a screen recording or screenshot of a product demo, a link to a working demo, or a product deck; and  
• Company bank statement covering the previous six months and showing the current cash balance. Sensitive information such as account numbers, transaction references, and personal information may be redacted or anonymised.

Additional Documents for shape applicants:

• Venture Execution Plan prepared using the applicable Venture Execution Plan template.  
• The detailed budget submitted by Shape applicants must cover only the initial financial support requested, up to a maximum EIT Culture & Creativity contribution of EUR 100,000. Applicants must not include the potential additional financial support available after the Shape Programme Demo Day in the application budget. 

Additional documents for Scale applicants: 

• Venture Scaling Plan prepared using the applicable Venture Scaling Plan template;  
• Evidence that the applicant is actively fundraising with a lead investor and signed term sheet(s) representing at least EUR 200,000, or evidence that the applicant has secured investment of at least EUR 200,000 from qualified investor(s) within the 18 months preceding the call deadline. Evidence may include a signed term sheet, signed investment commitment or documentation confirming the closing of the qualifying investment round, supported, where relevant, by an updated cap table. 

Please note: EIT Culture & Creativity may publish updates, clarifications or reasonable amendments to the call conditions before the submission deadline. Any updates will be made available on this call page and will apply equally to all potential applicants.