Applications are now open for the NEB Academy | Fashion Shift Call for Proposals, an initiative launched by EIT Culture & Creativity to accelerate the transformation of the European fashion industry through circular, regenerative and responsible business models.

Grounded in the principles of the New European Bauhaus (NEB)—sustainability, inclusion and beauty—the call supports collaborative projects that are ready to move beyond the concept stage and into market deployment. Rather than funding early-stage ideas, the programme focuses on existing businesses, pilots, initiatives and proven concepts that have the potential to scale through strategic partnerships and cross-sector collaboration.

The initiative seeks to strengthen Europe's fashion ecosystem by encouraging innovation across the value chain, supporting alternatives to fast fashion, and promoting commercially viable solutions that deliver measurable environmental, social and economic impact.

Funding Available

The call provides significant financial support to help collaborative projects scale sustainable fashion innovations.

Funding Overview

• Total Call Budget: €2,500,000
• Funding Per Project: Up to €500,000
• Projects Expected to be Funded: Approximately 5 projects (indicatively 5–6 depending on budget requests)
• Funding Rate: Up to 100% of eligible project costs
• Project Duration: January 2027 – May 2028 (approximately 16 months)

Projects may not claim costs already funded through other European Union programmes to avoid double funding.

Purpose of the Call

The NEB Academy | Fashion Shift programme aims to support collaborative initiatives that can transform the fashion industry by:

• Developing circular and regenerative fashion business models.
• Accelerating responsible and sustainable production practices.
• Bridging the gap between creative innovation and commercial deployment.
• Supporting alternatives to fast fashion.
• Strengthening collaboration across the fashion value chain.
• Demonstrating how the New European Bauhaus values can be translated into commercially viable business models.
• Creating solutions that can be replicated across Europe and internationally.

Scope & Priority Areas

Projects should focus on market-ready innovations capable of generating measurable impact across one or more stages of the fashion ecosystem.

Examples include:

Circular Fashion

• Circular business models
• Repair and refurbishment services
• Rental and resale platforms
• Product take-back programmes
• Textile reuse and recycling

Sustainable Production

• Sustainable fashion design
• Eco-design principles
• Regenerative materials
• Bio-based materials
• Responsible sourcing
• Sustainable manufacturing

Fashion Value Chain Innovation

Projects may address any stage of the fashion value chain, including:

• Raw material production
• Fibre and textile manufacturing
• Material sourcing
• Product design
• Manufacturing
• Branding and marketing
• Distribution and logistics
• Retail innovation
• Packaging
• Circular economy services
• Waste processing
• Recycling
• Technology transfer

Market Deployment

Projects should demonstrate:

• Commercial readiness
• Strong market demand
• Scalability
• Long-term sustainability beyond the project period
• Replication potential across European regions and internationally.

Who Should Apply?

The programme is intended for organisations that are already developing proven fashion innovations and are ready to scale them through collaborative partnerships.

Eligible applicants include:

• Independent fashion SMEs
• Fashion brands
• Universities
• Higher education institutions
• Research organisations
• Innovation and industry clusters
• Public authorities
• Fashion manufacturers
• Textile companies
• Circular economy organisations
• Recycling organisations
• Fashion technology companies
• Logistics and distribution partners
• Retail organisations
• Technology providers operating within the fashion value chain.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements.

Organisation Eligibility

Applicants must be:

• Legal entities established in countries eligible under Horizon Europe.
• Based in either an EU Member State or an associated Horizon Europe country at the time of the call closing.
• Financially and operationally capable of delivering the proposed project.

Consortium Requirements

Applications cannot be submitted by a single organisation.

Each proposal must be submitted by a consortium consisting of:

• Minimum: 4 independent legal entities
• Maximum: 6 independent legal entities
• Organisations established in at least two eligible countries

Every consortium must include:

• One independent fashion SME operating for at least three years
• One research institution or higher education institution
• One public authority or innovation/industry cluster
• One value-chain partner from the fashion sector

One organisation must be designated as the project coordinator.

KPI Requirements

Projects must commit to achieving at least one mandatory EIT performance indicator.

Mandatory KPIs

Applicants must achieve one of the following:

• Launch at least one innovation generating €10,000 or more in sales revenue.
• Create at least one startup that secures financial transactions of €10,000 or more.

Optional KPIs include attracting investment into supported startups and delivering professional education or training activities.

Why This Opportunity Matters

The global fashion industry is undergoing a significant transformation as businesses, consumers and policymakers increasingly prioritise sustainability, resource efficiency and circular economy principles.

The NEB Academy | Fashion Shift programme goes beyond funding research—it supports market-ready collaborations capable of delivering measurable commercial and environmental outcomes. By bringing together fashion brands, researchers, public authorities and value-chain partners, the programme encourages innovations that reduce waste, extend product lifecycles and create more resilient fashion ecosystems.

For organisations already developing sustainable fashion solutions, this call provides an opportunity to accelerate commercialisation, strengthen strategic partnerships and demonstrate scalable models that can influence the future of the European fashion industry.

Important Dates

• Call Opens: 9 June 2026
• Application Deadline: 31 August 2026 (17:00 CEST)
• Evaluation Period: September – November 2026
• Communication of Results: End of November 2026
• Publication of Results: End of December 2026
• Project Start: January 2027
• Project End: May 2028 (approximately 16 months)

Eligible Countries

Applicants must be established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries that are eligible under this call.

Examples include:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Ireland
• Italy
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Estonia
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Cyprus
• Malta

Associated Countries

• Albania
• Armenia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Georgia
• Iceland
• Israel
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Serbia
• Switzerland
• Türkiye
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• Kosovo*
• Faroe Islands*

African Countries Eligible

Only the following African countries are associated with Horizon Europe and are eligible under this call:

• Egypt
• Tunisia

Note

Organisations from countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and most other African countries are not eligible as funded applicants under this specific call, unless the call guidelines explicitly provide an exception.

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