Skills and Talent Development

The "Skills and Talent Development" call, identified as CREA-MEDIA-2026-TRAINING, is a funding opportunity under the Creative Europe Programme (CREA) aimed at enhancing the professional capacity of audiovisual and gaming sector professionals across Europe. The call is set to open on December 9, 2025, with a deadline for applications on April 16, 2026. The total budget for this initiative is €9,500,000, and it is structured as a CREA Lump Sum Grant, meaning beneficiaries will receive a fixed amount of funding rather than reimbursement based on actual costs.

Eligible applicants include a variety of legal entities from Creative Europe participating countries, such as audiovisual production companies, training providers, media organizations, educational institutions, and cultural organizations. Notably, natural persons are generally not eligible to apply unless they are self-employed sole traders. A consortium of at least three independent legal entities from three different eligible countries is required for submission, fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange.

The focus areas of this call include training and capacity building in the audiovisual sector, aimed at equipping professionals to adapt to new creative processes and technologies while addressing emerging market challenges. Key themes include digital transformation, green transition practices, development and distribution of video games, and support for innovative storytelling. The call emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices and the exploitation of intellectual property rights throughout the industry.

This opportunity operates on a single-stage application process where applicants submit their proposals comprehensively in one go, with no preliminary stages. The evaluation of proposals is expected to take place between May and September 2026, with results to be communicated in October 2026 and grant agreements signed by January 2027.

While success rates and specific co-funding requirements have not been detailed, it is customary for Creative Europe calls to require some form of co-financing, typically ranging from 30% to 50% of eligible costs. Given the competitive nature of these grants, it is advisable for applicants to prepare high-quality and innovative proposals.

In summary, this grant opportunity intends to support training and skill enhancement initiatives that will improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the European audiovisual sector in the face of rapid technological changes and shifting market dynamics. Interested applicants are encouraged to consult the official call document for comprehensive details on submission requirements, eligibility criteria, and the evaluation process.

The Skills and Talent Development call, identified as CREA-MEDIA-2026-TRAINING, is part of the Creative Europe Programme (CREA) and aims to enhance the capacity of audiovisual professionals to adapt to new creative processes, market developments, and digital technologies affecting the entire value chain. It is a CREA Lump Sum Grant, with the Model Grant Agreement being a CREA Lump Sum Grant [CREA-AG-LS]. The call employs a single-stage deadline model.

The objective of this call is to support the skills and talent development of audiovisual professionals, enabling them to adapt to evolving creative processes, market trends, and digital technologies across the audiovisual value chain. Particular emphasis is placed on supporting new creative processes such as cross-disciplinary creative collaboration and innovative storytelling that blends creative and digital skills. The call also focuses on harnessing digital innovation in audiovisual production, including virtual production and post-production, as well as distribution aspects like marketing, promotion, and audience engagement. Furthermore, it encourages the adoption of digital tools for video game production and distribution, enhancing the exploitation of intellectual property (IP) rights, and promoting a green transition by adopting sustainable practices throughout the audiovisual value chain.

The expected results of the call are: promotion of sustainable and environmentally respectful solutions for the audiovisual industry, harnessing Europe’s creative talent by embracing new creative processes, accompanying the digital transition of the audiovisual sector to support content creation and dissemination, fostering growth and investment through greater exploitation of IP across the EU and beyond, and equipping audiovisual and gaming professionals with a new combination of creative and digital skills to increase the competitiveness of the European industry.

Funded activities include: supporting new creative processes such as creative collaboration across disciplines and innovative storytelling, digital transformation through training professionals in state-of-the-art digital tools and data analytics for creative storytelling, production (including virtual production), post-production, marketing, promotion, audience engagement, and new modes of distribution, monetization, and exploitation. Adaptation to new market trends, including IP rights exploitation like remakes, spin-offs, sequels, and merchandising, is also supported. For video games, the call funds training to equip professionals with state-of-the-art digital tools and AI-powered technologies for creation, development, production, distribution, promotion, and marketing. Finally, the call supports the green transition of the audiovisual industry through green consultants and training on the implementation of sustainability plans, including the use of tools for measuring CO2 emissions.

Regarding conditions, the proposal page limit and layout are described in the call document and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Eligible countries and other eligible conditions, as well as financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria, are detailed in the call document. The submission and evaluation processes, award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are also described in the call document.

The indicative timeline includes: publication of the call on 4th December 2025, a deadline for submitting applications on 16th April 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time), an evaluation period from May to September 2026, information to applicants in October 2026, and signature of the grant agreement in January 2027. The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in the call document.

Key documents include the call document itself, application form templates (specifically the standard application form CREA MEDIA available in the Submission System), Model Grant Agreements (CREA MGA and Lump Sum MGA), CREA Annual Work Programmes, CREA Regulation 2021/818, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA (Annotated Model Grant Agreement), Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget for the CREA-MEDIA-2026-TRAINING call is 9,500,000 EUR for the year 2026. It is a single-stage application process, with the opening date planned for 9th December 2025 and the deadline for submissions on 16th April 2026.

For partner search announcements, LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics on the Funding & Tenders Portal. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header. For non-IT related questions, applicants can contact their local Creative Europe Desk or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency at EACEA-MEDIA-TRAINING@ec.europa.eu. IT helpdesk support is available for technical issues such as forgotten passwords and access rights. An online manual provides a step-by-step guide through the Portal processes.

In summary, this call for proposals under the Creative Europe Programme aims to bolster the skills and talent of audiovisual professionals by funding training and initiatives that promote adaptation to new technologies, creative processes, and market trends. It supports activities ranging from digital transformation and green transition to intellectual property exploitation and video game development, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of the European audiovisual industry. The call operates on a lump-sum grant basis, with a single-stage application process and a budget of 9.5 million EUR. Applicants should consult the call document and related annexes for detailed information on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and submission procedures.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. The text refers to "audiovisual professionals" and "gaming professionals," suggesting that the call is open to organizations or individuals involved in these sectors. Further details on eligible entities would be available in the call document.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a "CREA Lump Sum Grant" (CREA-LS).

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if single applicants are allowed. The possibility to "View / Edit" partner searches suggests that consortia are possible, but single applicants might also be eligible. The call document should provide more clarity.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text. The reference to "Creative Europe Desk" and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency suggests that the call is primarily targeted at entities within the Creative Europe Programme countries. The call document should provide more details on eligible countries.

Target Sector: The target sectors are audiovisual and gaming. The call focuses on skills and talent development within these industries, covering areas such as: new creative processes, digital transformation, adaptation to new market trends, green transition, and IP rights exploitation. Specific technologies and areas of focus include: virtual production, post-production, digital tools, data analytics, AI-powered technologies, and tools for measuring CO2 emissions.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The call is linked to the Creative Europe Programme, suggesting a focus on countries participating in that program.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on training and skills development. The call aims to equip professionals with new skills and knowledge, suggesting a focus on development and implementation of training programs.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the CREA-MEDIA-2026-TRAINING CREA-LS call is EUR 9,500,000. The indicative number of grants is not specified in the provided text.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage call, meaning applicants submit a full proposal in one step.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention whether co-funding is required. This information would likely be detailed in the call document.

Summary:

This is a call for proposals under the Creative Europe Programme (CREA), specifically targeting skills and talent development in the audiovisual and gaming sectors. The call, titled "SKILLS AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT (CREA-MEDIA-2026-TRAINING)," aims to enhance the capacity of professionals in these industries to adapt to new creative processes, digital technologies, and market developments. The call will provide lump sum grants to support activities such as training programs, green consultants, and the implementation of sustainability plans.

The key objectives of the call are to promote sustainable solutions, harness creative talent, accompany the digital transition, foster growth through IP exploitation, and equip professionals with new skills. Funded activities will include supporting new creative processes, digital transformation initiatives, adaptation to new market trends, videogame-related training, and the green transition of the audiovisual industry.

The call is structured as a single-stage application process, with a planned opening date of December 9, 2025, and a deadline of April 16, 2026. The total budget for the call is EUR 9,500,000. Applicants are advised to carefully review the call document and other annexes for detailed information on eligibility criteria, evaluation processes, and the legal and financial setup of the grants. The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) and the Creative Europe Desks are available to provide support and answer non-IT related questions.