Call for application to participate in the EIT Culture & Creativity Incubation Programmes in Architecture and Cultural Heritage 2025

The EIT Culture & Creativity is launching the Spark Programme (Incubation) to support aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI), with a focus on Architecture and Cultural Heritage. The program offers an 8 to 10-week incubation period that includes structured training, mentorship, and strategic guidance to help participants turn innovative ideas into viable businesses. It is open to individuals and small teams from EU Member States and Horizon Europe-associated countries.

The program will provide a variety of non-monetary services, including a 2 to 3-day in-person kick-off event, personalized coaching, entrepreneurial mindset development, business model and market validation, support for developing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), legal and financial fundamentals, coaching on pitching and presentation skills, and networking opportunities with mentors and industry experts.

The call for applications was launched on May 6, 2025, with the submission window opening on May 15, 2025, and closing on July 11, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The application must be submitted in English through the official EIT Culture & Creativity application platform. Required components of the application include a completed online form, a video presentation (maximum of 3 minutes), and a declaration of honor.

Proposals will undergo a selection process consisting of several stages: an admissibility and eligibility check, an external evaluation based on strategic fit, excellence, impact, and implementation, followed by final selection. Those scoring at least 60 out of 100 may be recommended for participation, with the final list confirmed by the Selection Committee. Successful applicants will be notified in August 2025 and onboarded starting September 22, 2025.

The total funding available for the program is 57,500 euros, which is primarily allocated for supporting the program rather than as direct financial support to participants. The initiative aims to foster entrepreneurship and innovation in the cultural and creative sectors, ultimately helping participants build and grow their businesses in the realm of Architecture and Cultural Heritage.

The EIT Culture & Creativity is launching the Spark Programme (Incubation) to support aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage start-ups in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI). This initiative focuses on developing innovative solutions within Architecture and Cultural Heritage. The program offers structured training, mentorship, and strategic guidance to transform ideas into viable businesses. The Spark Programme is an open call for an 8–10 week incubation program designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and industry connections needed to launch and grow their businesses.

Key features of the program include: Structured Training & Mentorship, including a 2–3 day in-person kick-off event, personalised coaching, and expert mentoring; Entrepreneurial Mindset Development, focused on resilience, problem-solving, and opportunity recognition; Business Model & Market Validation, guidance to define business models and identify market opportunities; Product Development, support for building and testing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs); Legal & Financial Fundamentals, including IP, contracts, and financial planning; Pitching & Presentation Skills, coaching for investor and stakeholder engagement; and Networking & Strategic Connections, access to mentors, industry experts, and potential partners.

The call was originally launched on 6 May 2025 and is also published on the Funding & Tenders Portal for transparency and traceability purposes.

The opening date for submissions is 15 May 2025. The deadline for submissions is 11 July 2025 at 17:00 (Brussels time). The deadline model is single-stage. The expected duration of participation is 10 weeks. The total funding available is 57,500.00 €. 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 submission and evaluation process involves several steps. Step 1: Submit your application. Applicants must complete and submit their proposals via the official EIT Culture & Creativity application platform by 11 July 2025 at 17:00 CET. Applications must be submitted in English and include a completed online form, a video presentation (max. 3 minutes), and a declaration of honour. Step 2: Admissibility & Eligibility Check. All proposals will undergo a formal check to ensure timely submission, completion of all required documents, eligibility of the applicant(s) (individuals or teams from EU Member States or Horizon Europe-associated countries), and alignment with the call’s thematic focus (Architecture or Cultural Heritage). Step 3: External Evaluation. Eligible proposals will be assessed by independent experts across four criteria: Strategic Fit (relevance to EIT CC’s priority areas and incubation goals), Excellence (innovation potential, clarity of idea, and problem-solution fit), Impact (market potential and social/cultural value), and Implementation (feasibility, commitment, and team capacity). Each criterion is scored, with a maximum total of 100 points. Step 4: Final Selection. Projects scoring at least 60/100 may be recommended for participation. The final list of selected proposals will be confirmed by EIT Culture & Creativity’s Selection Committee, considering also portfolio balance and strategic fit. Step 5: Notification & Onboarding. Successful applicants will be informed in August 2025 and must confirm their participation. They will be onboarded and required to attend the kick-off activities starting 22 September 2025.

In summary, the EIT Culture & Creativity's Spark Programme (Incubation) is a funding opportunity designed to support entrepreneurs and early-stage startups in the cultural and creative sectors, specifically focusing on Architecture and Cultural Heritage. The program provides training, mentorship, and resources to help participants develop innovative ideas into viable businesses. The application process involves submitting a proposal by July 11, 2025, which will be evaluated based on strategic fit, excellence, impact, and implementation. Successful applicants will participate in an 8-10 week incubation program starting in September 2025. The program aims to foster entrepreneurship, develop business models, and provide networking opportunities within the cultural and creative industries.

Eligible Applicant Types: Individuals or teams from EU Member States or Horizon Europe-associated countries are eligible to apply. This suggests that the eligible applicant types are individuals and potentially very early-stage startups or teams forming startups.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is an incubation program, which provides non-monetary services like training, mentorship, and strategic guidance. While the total funding available is mentioned (57,500 EUR), it is not clear if this is direct funding to the participants or the total budget for the program itself. Therefore, the funding type is primarily non-monetary services, with a possible element of cascade funding.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is open to both individuals and teams, implying that a single applicant or a small team can apply. Therefore, the consortium requirement is single or small team.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Applicants must be from EU Member States or Horizon Europe-associated countries.

Target Sector: The program targets the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI), specifically focusing on Architecture and Cultural Heritage.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the eligibility is limited to EU Member States and Horizon Europe-associated countries.

Project Stage: The program targets aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage start-ups, suggesting that the expected project stage is idea to early development. The program supports building and testing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), which indicates a development stage.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is 57,500 EUR. However, it is not clear how this funding is distributed. It is likely that this amount covers the costs of running the incubation program, rather than being directly awarded to the participants. Therefore, the funding amount is variable and primarily in the form of non-monetary support.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, specifically the Spark Programme (Incubation).

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will primarily receive non-monetary services, including structured training, mentorship, entrepreneurial mindset development, business model and market validation, product development support, legal and financial fundamentals, pitching and presentation skills coaching, and networking and strategic connections.

Application Stages: There are five application stages: 1) Submit your application, 2) Admissibility & Eligibility Check, 3) External Evaluation, 4) Final Selection, and 5) Notification & Onboarding.

Success Rates: Projects scoring at least 60/100 may be recommended for participation. The final selection also considers portfolio balance and strategic fit. The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but given the competitive nature of such programs, it is likely to be in the 10 to 39% range or lower.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. Therefore, it is likely that co-funding is not required.

Summary:

The EIT Culture & Creativity's Spark Programme (Incubation) is an open call for individuals and early-stage startups from EU Member States and Horizon Europe-associated countries. The program aims to foster entrepreneurship in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI), with a specific focus on Architecture and Cultural Heritage. The program is an 8-10 week incubation program that provides structured training, mentorship, and strategic guidance to help participants develop innovative solutions and transform their ideas into viable businesses. The program includes a 2-3 day in-person kick-off event, personalized coaching, expert mentoring, entrepreneurial mindset development, business model and market validation, product development support (MVP), legal and financial fundamentals, pitching and presentation skills coaching, and networking opportunities. The application process involves submitting an online form, a video presentation, and a declaration of honor. Eligible proposals are evaluated based on strategic fit, excellence, impact, and implementation. The total funding available is 57,500 EUR, but this likely covers the program costs rather than direct funding to participants. Successful applicants will be notified in August 2025 and onboarded in September 2025. The program is a non-monetary service-based opportunity, providing valuable resources and support to aspiring entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative sectors.