Who can apply

This call is open to legal entities established in an eligible country under Horizon Europe – EU Member States (including outermost regions), linked Overseas Countries and Territories, Horizon Europe Associated Countries, or certain low-and middle-income countries – unless otherwise specified in the call guidelines. Third countries associated to Horizon Europe must already be formally associated by the launch time of the calls. 

• Stage 1: Proposals may be submitted by a single legal entity (startup, scale-up, SME, or larger company) operating within or in direct service of architecture, audio-visual media, or fashion sectors. Research organisations, universities, and cultural institutions are not eligible as sole applicants. The applicant must demonstrate technical capacity to progress from TRL 7 to TRL 9, hold clear IP ownership or licensing rights, and be capable of managing project delivery and reporting. Stage 1 applicants are strongly encouraged to identify a commercialisation partner early, as stage 2 requires a consortium. 

• Stage 2: Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of two to three independent legal entities: 

  • Project coordinator: The stage 1 applicant. 

  • Commercialisation project partner: A mandatory project partner with demonstrable capacity in market deployment, scaling, or revenue generation – such as distribution, licensing, investor relations, or sector-specific market access. May be a startup, scale-up, SME, larger company, accelerator, business support organisation, or industry association. Research organisations, universities, or cultural institutions may participate only where they can demonstrate a direct contribution to the commercialisation pathway. 

    • Additional project partner: Optional, providing supplementary project support.