EIT Culture & Creativity is inviting proposals for high-impact, close-to-market innovations that can progress from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 to TRL 9 and full market deployment across the Architecture, Audio-Visual Media and Fashion sectors. The call uses a two-stage process combining concept validation, commercialisation planning and project implementation.

The opportunity is designed for innovations that are sufficiently mature for market deployment and demonstrate a clear pathway to commercialisation, revenue generation and scalable impact.

Funding Available

• Stage 1: €20,000 lump-sum support for selected applicants to validate the concept and prepare for Stage 2.
• Up to 30 projects may be selected for Stage 1.
• Stage 2: Up to €900,000 per project for project implementation.
• Up to 11 projects may be selected for Stage 2.
• Stage 2 funding may cover up to 70% of eligible project costs, with the remaining costs covered through the applicants' own resources or other eligible non-EU sources.
• Stage 2 projects can run for up to 18 months.

Priority Areas

Architecture

• Circular construction
• Bio-based and innovative building materials
• Climate adaptation
• Circular design for disassembly
• Socially inclusive design
• Solutions improving urban liveability and cohesion

Audio-Visual Media

• Responsible and trustworthy generative AI
• AI-enabled content creation
• IP monetisation
• Digital identity and sovereignty
• GDPR-compliant audience analytics
• New digital business and monetisation models

Fashion

• Circular textile technologies
• Digitalisation
• Textile recycling
• Digital product passports
• Circular business models
• Sustainable supply chains

Key Requirements

Projects must demonstrate an evidence-based pathway from TRL 7 to TRL 9, supported by:

• A clear IP strategy and ownership or licensing position
• Regulatory and compliance analysis
• Market viability assessment
• A credible commercialisation plan
• Capacity to progress the innovation to market within the implementation period
• Measurable KPIs
• Gender equality, diversity and inclusion considerations
• Strong governance and accountability mechanisms

Who Can Apply?

Stage 1: Applications may be submitted by a single legal entity, including:

• Startups
• Scale-ups
• SMEs
• Larger companies

The applicant must operate within or directly serve Architecture, Audio-Visual Media or Fashion and must have the technical capacity to progress the innovation from TRL 7 to TRL 9.

Research organisations, universities and cultural institutions cannot apply alone as Stage 1 applicants.

Stage 2: Successful Stage 1 applicants must form a consortium of 2–3 independent legal entities, consisting of:

• The Stage 1 applicant as project coordinator
• A mandatory commercialisation partner with demonstrated capacity in areas such as market access, distribution, licensing, investor relations or revenue generation
• An optional additional project partner

Eligible Countries

Eligible applicants must be established in an eligible Horizon Europe country, including EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries and certain low- and middle-income countries. 

Mandatory KPIs

Stage 2 projects must target:

• At least 1 intellectual property right
• At least 1 innovation launched on the market
• At least 1 market-launched innovation generating at least €10,000 in sales revenue, where applicable

Optional KPIs include creation of startups and startups achieving financial transactions of at least €10,000.

Additional Support

Selected projects will also benefit from opportunities for:

• International outreach and market access
• Demo Days and Innovation Forum participation
• EIT Culture & Creativity training
• Integration into the wider EIT innovation ecosystem
• Business and commercialisation development

Important Dates

• Call opened: 25 September 2026
• Stage 1 deadline: 30 October 2026, 17:00 CET
• Stage 1 evaluation: November–December 2026
• Stage 1 results: Mid-December 2026
• Stage 2 deadline: 15 March 2027, 17:00 CET
• Stage 2 evaluation: March–May 2027
• Stage 2 projects expected to start: July 2027
• Project completion: By December 2028

Application Process

Applicants must first register their organisation on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and obtain a nine-digit Participant Identification Code (PIC), if they do not already have one.

Stage 1 applicants submit a short concept application. Only applicants selected through Stage 1 may proceed to Stage 2. Direct applications to Stage 2 are not permitted.

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