Call for application for start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs to participate in the EIT Culture & Creativity Acceleration and Post-Acceleration Programmes 2025

The EIT Culture & Creativity is launching the Acceleration and Post-Acceleration Programmes for 2025 to support startups and scale-ups in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI). These initiatives align with the EIT's Strategic Agenda for 2024-2027, aiming for sustainability and competitiveness in fields such as Fashion, Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Audiovisual Media, and Gaming. Applications will be accepted starting from May 15, 2025, with multiple submission deadlines, namely May 23, 2025, and July 11, 2025.

The total funding available for these programmes amounts to €990,000. The program is structured into two segments. The Shape Programme, focused on Acceleration, is aimed at up to 40 startups and SMEs that have been operational for at least two years and are seeking growth opportunities. It provides tailored support, mentorship, and strategic guidance to help refine business models and seek investment.

The Scale Programme, designated for Post-Acceleration, targets up to 50 scale-ups and SMEs that have at least three years of commercial success. These businesses must operate in at least two EU member states or Horizon-associated countries and have imminent plans to raise capital. This programme offers advanced mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to industry networks, facilitating expansion into new markets.

Application evaluation will involve an admissibility and eligibility check, followed by a rigorous external assessment based on three criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Quality & Efficiency of Implementation. Each application will undergo review by both external and internal experts, with scores averaged to determine the final rating. Applications are categorized as Selected, Reserve List, or Rejected depending on their scores. The cohort limits will be strict, allowing a limited number of ventures in both programmes.

These programmes aim to empower creative entrepreneurs, helping them refine strategies, expand in the market, and foster long-term partnerships within the EIT Culture & Creativity ecosystem. The overall goal is to stimulate growth while ensuring sustainability and competitiveness within the cultural and creative sectors across Europe.

EIT Culture & Creativity is offering Acceleration and Post-Acceleration Programmes in 2025 to support start-ups and scale-ups within the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI). These programmes align with the EIT CC’s Strategic Agenda 2024–2027, focusing on circularity, sustainability, and competitiveness in Fashion, Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Audiovisual Media, and Gaming.

The call for applications was originally launched on 9 April 2025 and is now published on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

The opening date for submissions is 15 May 2025. There are multiple cut-off dates for submissions: 23 May 2025 at 17:00 (Brussels time) and 11 July 2025 at 17:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is 10 weeks. The total funding available is 990 000,00 €. The project acronym is EIT CC - BP2024-2025. The full name of the EU funded project is EIT Culture & Creativity Business Plan 2024-2025. The grant agreement number is 101159520. The topic is HORIZON-EIT-2024-2025-KIC-CCSI - Culture and Creativity Business Plan 2024-2025.

The programmes are divided into two segments:

Segment 1: Shape Programme (Acceleration): This programme is designed for up to 40 start-ups and SMEs in CCSI that have been in the market for at least two years and are seeking future growth, including raising funds from public and/or private investors within the next two years. It offers tailored support, mentorship, and strategic guidance to refine business models, enhance market strategies, and achieve growth milestones.

Segment 2: Scale Programme (Post-Acceleration): This programme is for up to 50 scale-ups and SMEs with at least three years of commercial success, a presence in at least two EU member states or Horizon-associated countries, and plans to raise capital imminently or in the near future. It provides advanced mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to industry networks to strengthen market position, scale operations, and expand into new international markets.

Applications undergo an admissibility and eligibility check, followed by an external evaluation based on three criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Quality & Efficiency of Implementation. The maximum score is 25 points, with a threshold of 13 points. Each application is evaluated by two external experts and one internal expert. Scores are averaged to produce a final score per application.

Four separate ranking lists are created, one per programme and cohort. Applications are selected based on score until the cohort limit is reached. The cohort limits are: Shape: Up to 20 ventures per cohort and Scale: Up to 25 ventures per cohort. In case of a tie, scores on specific subcriteria are used to determine ranking.

Applications are classified as: Selected, Reserve List (eligible but not selected), or Rejected (below threshold). No portfolio selection or additional filtering is applied. The process is based strictly on score and cohort availability.

The EIT Culture & Creativity’s Acceleration and Post-Acceleration Programmes 2025 are designed to empower creative entrepreneurs by helping them refine business strategies, expand into new markets, and establish long-term partnerships within the EIT CC ecosystem. These programmes aim to transform the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) by fostering circularity, sustainability, and competitiveness. The Shape Programme targets early-stage start-ups and SMEs, providing them with the necessary support to refine their business models and attract investment. The Scale Programme focuses on more established scale-ups and SMEs, offering advanced mentorship and access to networks to facilitate international expansion and capital raising. The selection process is based on a rigorous evaluation of excellence, impact, and quality of implementation, ensuring that the most promising ventures are chosen to participate.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are start-ups, scale-ups, and SMEs. The Shape Programme targets start-ups and SMEs that have been in the market for at least two years. The Scale Programme targets scale-ups and SMEs with at least three years of commercial success.

Funding Type: The funding type is cascade funding, as indicated by the "GrantCascade funding" text. The programmes provide tailored support, mentorship, and strategic guidance, suggesting non-monetary services are a key component.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to be open to single applicants, specifically start-ups, scale-ups, and SMEs. There is no explicit mention of a consortium requirement.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The Scale Programme requires presence in at least two EU member states or Horizon-associated countries, implying that applicants should be based in or have operations within these regions. The Shape Programme does not specify any geographic eligibility.

Target Sector: The program targets the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI), specifically focusing on Fashion, Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Audiovisual Media, and Gaming. The program aims to foster circularity, sustainability, and competitiveness within these sectors.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU member states and Horizon-associated countries as relevant regions for the Scale Programme.

Project Stage: The Shape Programme (Acceleration) targets start-ups and SMEs that have been in the market for at least two years and have ambitions for future growth, suggesting a development or validation stage. The Scale Programme (Post-Acceleration) targets scale-ups and SMEs with at least three years of commercial success, indicating a commercialization or scale-up stage.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is 990,000 EUR. The distribution of this funding between the Shape and Scale programmes is not specified.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by "Open For Submission". The deadline model is "multiple cut-off", with two deadline dates provided.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive non-monetary services, including tailored support, mentorship, and strategic guidance. The exact nature of financial support, if any, is not explicitly stated, but the cascade funding mechanism suggests that some form of financial support may be provided indirectly.

Application Stages: The application process involves an admissibility and eligibility check, followed by an external evaluation based on three criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Quality & Efficiency of Implementation. Applications are then classified as Selected, Reserve List, or Rejected. This suggests a multi-stage process, but the exact number of stages is not explicitly defined.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned. However, the description of the selection process indicates that applications are selected based on score until the cohort limit is reached. The Shape Programme aims to support up to 40 start-ups and SMEs, while the Scale Programme aims to support up to 50 scale-ups and SMEs. The success rate would depend on the number of applications received for each programme.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

The EIT Culture & Creativity's Acceleration and Post-Acceleration Programmes 2025 are designed to support the growth of start-ups, scale-ups, and SMEs in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI). The initiative aligns with the EIT CC’s Strategic Agenda 2024–2027, focusing on circularity, sustainability, and competitiveness within Fashion, Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Audiovisual Media, and Gaming. The program consists of two segments: the Shape Programme (Acceleration) for early-stage start-ups and SMEs, and the Scale Programme (Post-Acceleration) for more established scale-ups and SMEs. The Shape Programme targets companies in the market for at least two years with growth ambitions, while the Scale Programme targets companies with at least three years of commercial success and presence in at least two EU member states or Horizon-associated countries. The selected ventures will receive tailored support, mentorship, and strategic guidance to refine business models, enhance market strategies, and expand into new markets. The total funding available is 990,000 EUR. The application process involves an eligibility check and an external evaluation based on Excellence, Impact, and Quality & Efficiency of Implementation. The application deadline follows a multiple cut-off model. This opportunity aims to empower creative entrepreneurs and foster long-term partnerships within the EIT CC ecosystem.