NEB Academy | Fashion Shift

NEB Academy | Fashion Shift, managed by EIT Culture & Creativity, funds collaborative consortia to develop and scale circular, regenerative and responsible business models across the European fashion value chain in line with New European Bauhaus values. Eligible consortia must comprise 4–6 independent legal entities from at least two Horizon Europe‑eligible countries and include an independent fashion SME (operating ≥3 years), a research institution, a public authority or innovation/industry cluster and at least one fashion value‑chain partner; projects must build on market‑ready pilots or proven concepts and exclude basic research. The call provides a total budget of up to €2.5 million (up to €500,000 per project for around five grants), reimburses 100% of eligible costs, covers projects of up to 16 months (Jan 2027–May 2028) and requires applications by 31 August 2026, 17:00 CEST.

What the call funds

Aim and scope

Supports collaborative consortia to develop and scale circular, regenerative and responsible business models for the European fashion sector that reflect New European Bauhaus values of sustainability, inclusion and beauty. Projects should build on existing businesses, pilots or proven concepts and target parts of the fashion value chain such as design, materials, production, distribution and end-of-life, delivering measurable environmental, social and market impact.

Who can apply:Consortia of organisations active in the fashion value chain (businesses, SMEs, creative and cultural organisations, research organisations, NGOs, public bodies and other partners) that can demonstrate an existing concept, pilot or business ready to be developed, deployed or scaled. Applications must be submitted electronically with required annexes and a short English video presentation ¹.

1. 1Eligible activities: development, deployment or scaling of circular/regenerative business models across the fashion value chain.
2. 2Consortia-based applications required (collaboration across sectors encouraged).
3. 3Projects must demonstrate measurable environmental, social and market impact.

Submission and evaluation take place via the EIT Culture & Creativity electronic platform. There will be an online information session on 08/07/2026. Results are expected by end of November 2026 with contracting planned for January 2027. Apply via the official portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Footnotes

1. 1Applicants must upload the application form, budget plan and EIT Culture & Creativity funding template, a Gantt chart with work packages, and provide a link to a short video in English presenting the idea. Questions during the call period may be submitted via the official contact form and may be published anonymously.

Basic Facts

Call Title:NEB Academy | Fashion Shift. Identifier: HORIZON-EIT. Managing entity: EIT Culture & Creativity (EITCULTURE). Call type: Multi-Topic Call under the EIT Culture & Creativity Business Plan 2026. Project acronym referenced: BP26-28 EITCC. Call reference numbers: Ccm2 Id 48939704, Callccm2 Id 14626.

Budget and Duration:Indicative total budget: €2,500,000. Project duration: 16 months (planned from January 2027 to May 2028).

Submission and Deadlines:Submission period: Applications must be submitted through the electronic submission platform between 09/06/2026 and 31/08/2026, 17:00 CEST (Berlin time). Deadline (final cut-off): 31 August 2026, 17:00 CEST. The deadline model is single-stage.

Purpose and Scope

The NEB Academy | Fashion Shift call supports transformation of the European fashion industry by funding collaborative consortia that develop and scale circular, regenerative and responsible business models grounded in the New European Bauhaus values of sustainability, inclusion and beauty. Projects must build on existing businesses, pilots, initiatives or proven concepts ready to be developed, deployed or scaled through meaningful collaboration. Activities may cover any part of the fashion value chain including design, material sourcing, production, distribution and end-of-life management, and must generate measurable environmental, social, societal and market impact.

The call emphasises bridging creative vision and market reality to foster a more sovereign European fashion ecosystem, moving beyond fast fashion through shared responsibility, innovation and cross-sector collaboration.

Eligibility and Applicant Requirements

Eligible proposals are collaborative consortia anchored in Europe that can demonstrate an existing business, pilot or proven concept ready to scale. Applicants must comply with EIT Culture & Creativity and EU funding rules for legal entity validation and contracting.

Eligible Applicant Types:Startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, non-profit organisations, NGOs, cultural organisations, public bodies, designers and creative practitioners, and public-private partnerships are all relevant and expected to participate as partners in collaborative consortia. Individual applicants alone are not the primary target; the call targets multi-actor consortia.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required. The call targets collaborative consortia (multiple partners) that combine creative, technical, market and societal expertise to scale existing initiatives or business models.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Geographic eligibility follows EIT Culture & Creativity rules, with primary focus on organisations based in the EU. The call is targeted at the EU / Programme Period 2021-2027. Applicants from other countries may participate if they meet EIT/EU eligibility conditions and contribute to the EU dimension and portfolio strategic fit.

Target Sectors and Thematic Focus:Primary sector: fashion and textiles. Cross-cutting sectors and topics: design, materials (bio-based, recycled, regenerative), production technologies, circular economy solutions, distribution and logistics, end-of-life management (reuse, repair, recycling), sustainable business models, social inclusion, cultural/creative practices, consumer engagement, and market diffusion. Themes: sustainability, inclusion, aesthetics (beauty) aligned with New European Bauhaus values.

Project Stage Expected:Expected maturity: development, validation, demonstration and early commercial scale-up. Projects must build on existing businesses or proven pilots ready to be developed, deployed or scaled.

Funding Type and Nature of Support:Primary funding mechanism: grant (subgranting through EIT Culture & Creativity). Beneficiaries will receive monetary funding according to awarded subgrant agreements. Non-financial support (e.g. portfolio integration, mentoring, ecosystem support) is also expected through EITCULTURE processes.

Co-funding Requirement:Co-funding is not explicitly stated in the scraped description, but financial sustainability, FSM (Financial Sustainability Model) and portfolio strategic fit are evaluation aspects; applicants should prepare to demonstrate co-financing, match funding, revenue streams or in-kind contributions as part of the budget and sustainability assessment.

Application Process and Evaluation

Application submission:through the electronic submission platform (EIT Culture & Creativity portal) within the specified submission window. Required submission documents include the application form, budget plan and EIT Culture & Creativity funding template, a Gantt chart with the project timeline and work packages, and a link to a short video in English presenting the transformative idea, product or service. Applicants may submit questions via the official EIT Culture & Creativity Contact Form during the call period; questions will be anonymised and published where appropriate.

Application Type:Open competitive call with single-stage submission.

Application Stages and Evaluation Steps:1) Admissibility and eligibility check by the PMO. 2) External quality evaluation by three independent expert evaluators against award criteria, including Horizon Europe award criteria. 3) Internal portfolio selection by the EIT Culture & Creativity Selection Committee assessing portfolio strategic fit, financial sustainability/FSM, Knowledge Triangle Integration, EU dimension and portfolio balance. Following selection: contracting, legal entity validation, signature of Subgrant agreement – Project agreement.

Indicative Timeline for Evaluation and Contracting:Indicative evaluation: September to November 2026. Results communicated by end of November 2026, followed by a 30-calendar-day standstill period. Publication of results expected by end of December 2026. Signature of Subgrant agreement planned for January 2027, subject to procedural, contracting and legal checks ¹.

What to Submit — Application Templates and Required Documents

Applicants must submit a complete package via the electronic portal. The scraped content lists required submission components and evaluation documents as follows; applicants should prepare each item according to EITCULTURE templates and guidance.

1. 1Application form: complete answers to call-specific sections. Follow EIT Culture & Creativity form structure and word limits.
2. 2Budget plan: detailed budget lines for the 16-month project. Use EIT Culture & Creativity funding template (mandatory).
3. 3EIT Culture & Creativity funding template: financial breakdown and requested funding per partner; include any co-financing or in-kind contributions.
4. 4Gantt chart and work packages: visual timeline and clear descriptions of work packages, deliverables, milestones and responsible partners.
5. 5Short presentation video (link): a concise video in English presenting the transformative idea, product or service; include demonstration of maturity, market potential and team capacity.
6. 6Supporting documents (recommended/where applicable): CVs of key personnel, legal entity documents, letters of commitment or partnerships, demonstration of previous pilot results or business traction, market validation evidence, IP and exploitation strategy.
7. 7Contact and Q&A: use EIT Culture & Creativity Contact Form to raise clarifications; register for the online information session if needed.

Note:Exact templates, word limits and formatting requirements must be retrieved from the official call page and EIT Culture & Creativity submission portal. Registration for the online information session on 08/07/2026 is required to receive the Teams link.

Selection Criteria and Evaluation Considerations

Proposals will be evaluated by independent experts using award criteria that include and align with Horizon Europe award criteria. In addition, internal portfolio selection will weight aspects such as strategic fit with the EIT Culture & Creativity KIC portfolio, financial sustainability, Knowledge Triangle Integration (education, business, research/innovation), EU dimension and portfolio balance.

1. 1Quality and credibility of the proposed project and methodology (including readiness to scale).
2. 2Impact: measurable environmental, social, societal and market impact, and contribution to New European Bauhaus values.
3. 3Implementation: consortium capacity, workplan, timeline and budget credibility.
4. 4Innovation and market potential: ability to move beyond fast fashion and enhance European fashion ecosystem sovereignty.
5. 5Financial sustainability: realistic FSM, co-funding or revenue models, and economic viability.

Administrative Details, Contact and Events

Online information session:08 July 2026, 10:00 to 12:30 CEST (Berlin time). Registration required via registration form; the session will be recorded and posted on the EIT Culture & Creativity website. Questions can be submitted through the official Contact Form during the call; answers may be published to ensure equal access.

Categorisation Answers

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: Startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, non-profits, NGOs, cultural organisations, public bodies, designers/creative practitioners, and public-private partnerships acting within collaborative consortia.
2. 2Funding Type: Grant (subgranting) managed through EIT Culture & Creativity; monetary funding to beneficiaries plus non-monetary portfolio support.
3. 3Consortium Requirement: Consortium (multiple partners) required; collaborative consortia focusing on scaling existing business or pilots.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Primarily EU (Programme period 2021-2027) with potential participation by other eligible countries under EIT/EU rules; applicants should verify country eligibility on the official call page.
5. 5Target Sector: Fashion and textiles, including cross-cutting areas such as design, materials, production, distribution, end-of-life management, circular economy, regenerative systems, cultural and creative industries.
6. 6Mentioned Countries: No specific countries listed in the scraped text; the region specified is the EU / Programme Period 2021-2027.
7. 7Project Stage: Development, validation, demonstration and early commercialization/scale-up of existing pilots or business models.
8. 8Funding Amount: Indicative total call budget €2,500,000. Individual project award sizes are not specified in the text and will be subject to EITCULTURE funding rules and decisions during portfolio selection.
9. 9Application Type: Open competitive single-stage call submitted via electronic submission platform.
10. 10Nature of Support: Monetary grants to successful applicants; additional non-monetary support via EIT Culture & Creativity ecosystem.
11. 11Application Stages: Three main assessment stages: (1) admissibility and eligibility check, (2) external quality evaluation by three independent experts, (3) internal portfolio selection and contracting.
12. 12Success Rates: Not specified in the provided text. Applicants should expect competitive selection and portfolio balancing by EITCULTURE; actual success rates depend on the number and quality of applications.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: Not explicitly stated as mandatory in the scraped description, but financial sustainability and FSM are evaluation factors; applicants should be prepared to demonstrate co-funding, in-kind contributions or revenue models.

Practical Advice for Applicants

Prepare a clear consortium narrative showing how partners bring complementary skills (design, manufacturing, materials, business model, social impact evaluation, market channels). Emphasise measurable environmental and social impact indicators, a credible pathway to scale, and financial sustainability beyond the subgrant. Use the EIT Culture & Creativity funding template for budgets and include a concise English video pitch that demonstrates maturity and market-readiness.

Register for the online information session on 08/07/2026 and use the Contact Form to clarify any eligibility or template questions early in the submission window. Double-check legal entity validation requirements and ensure all partners can be validated during contracting.

Long Summary and Explanation

The NEB Academy | Fashion Shift call is a time-limited, competitive grant opportunity launched by EIT Culture & Creativity under the Business Plan 2026 to accelerate transformation in the European fashion sector. It funds collaborative consortia that can demonstrate an existing initiative, pilot or business model that is ready to be scaled or deployed across the fashion value chain. The call emphasises New European Bauhaus values: sustainability, inclusion and beauty, and requires projects to produce measurable environmental, social and market impacts. Applications are submitted in a single-stage process via the electronic submission platform during the June to August 2026 window. Evaluation proceeds through admissibility checks, external expert review and an internal portfolio selection to ensure strategic alignment and financial sustainability. The call offers an indicative total budget of €2.5 million for projects running for 16 months (Jan 2027 to May 2028). Applicants must provide an application form, a budget plan using the EITCULTURE template, a Gantt chart with work packages, and a short English video presenting their concept. While specific per-project funding amounts and detailed eligibility by country are not provided in the scraped content, applicants should follow EIT Culture & Creativity guidance on templates, legal entity validation and contracting and prepare to demonstrate co-funding or financial sustainability measures. The process includes an information session on 08/07/2026 and an evaluation period from September to November 2026 with contracting planned for January 2027, subject to legal and procedural checks.

For the official call page and submission portal see the European Commission Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page linked in the call metadata: [[NEB Academy | Fashion Shift||ec.europa.eu.

Footnotes

1. 1Indicative timeline and contracting dates are subject to procedural, contractual and legal entity validation checks as stated in the call information.

What This Call Supports

The NEB Academy | Fashion Shift call funds collaborative consortia to develop and scale circular, regenerative, and responsible business models across the European fashion value chain, grounded in New European Bauhaus values of sustainability, inclusion, and beauty ¹. Projects must build on existing businesses, pilots, or proven concepts ready for deployment or scaling through meaningful multi-actor collaboration ².

Who Can Apply

Applications are open to consortia of 4 to 6 independent legal entities from at least two Horizon Europe-eligible countries ³. Mandatory consortium composition includes: an independent fashion SME (operating ≥3 years), a research institution, a public authority or innovation/industry cluster, and at least one fashion value-chain partner ⁴.

Key Eligibility Requirements:Consortia must demonstrate market-ready solutions with measurable environmental, social, and market impact; exclude basic research; and include co-design, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination activities ⁵.

Funding Details

Payments include 25% pre-financing, interim payments up to 70%, and final balance up to 100%, subject to reporting and compliance ⁶. A deferred service fee of €75,000 applies if mandatory KPIs are not validated ⁷.

Key Dates & Process

1. 1Application window: 9 June 2026 – 31 August 2026, 17:00 CEST
2. 2Information session: 8 July 2026, 10:00–12:30 CEST (registration required)
3. 3Evaluation period: September – November 2026
4. 4Results communicated: End of November 2026
5. 5Standstill period: 30 calendar days
6. 6Subgrant agreement signature: January 2027

The evaluation includes admissibility/eligibility checks, external quality assessment by three independent experts, and internal portfolio selection by the EIT Culture & Creativity Selection Committee ⁸.

Value Chain Focus Areas

Projects may target any stage of the fashion lifecycle:design, material sourcing, production, distribution, retail, circular services (repair, resale, rental), and end-of-life management ⁹. Solutions must demonstrate systemic impact and alignment with EU Textile Strategy and circular economy goals ¹⁰.

Additional Support for Selected Teams

Selected consortia receive dedicated support from EIT Culture & Creativity’s Regional Hubs to navigate policy contexts, build stakeholder relationships, and anchor work regionally ¹¹. They also join peer exchange spaces (digital and in-person) to foster cross-border learning and collective resilience ¹².

Footnotes

1. 1Official call description: [[NEB Academy | Fashion Shift||ec.europa.eu
2. 2Call guidelines summary: EIT Culture & Creativity – NEB Academy Fashion Shift
3. 3Consortium eligibility: Cascade Funding Hub – NEB Academy Fashion Shift
4. 4Mandatory partners: LinkedIn – EIT Culture & Creativity Launch
5. 5Project characteristics: EIT Culture & Creativity – Call Guidelines
6. 6Payment conditions: Cascade Funding Hub – Budget Conditions
7. 7KPI deferred fee: Cascade Funding Hub – Budget Limitations
8. 8Evaluation process: [[Cleaned scraping context – Beneficiary Administration]]
9. 9Value chain scope: NCP Flanders – NEB Academy Opens
10. 10EU policy alignment: EU Environment – Sustainable Fashion
11. 11Regional Hub support: EIT.europa.eu – NEB Academy Fashion Shift
12. 12Peer exchange spaces: EIT.europa.eu – Selected Teams Support