Towards a consolidated culture and creativity driven European innovation ecosystem

The funding opportunity HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-01 aims to enhance the culture and creativity-driven innovation ecosystem in Europe, falling under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically within the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society framework. It is designed to support projects that build upon existing research and innovation efforts, particularly in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), which are viewed as vital for fostering innovation and economic resilience.

Eligible applicants for this opportunity include a broad range of stakeholders such as research organizations, universities, government bodies, industry actors, non-profit organizations, and cultural and creative industries. The application requires a consortium of multiple participants collaborating on projects designed to consolidate and integrate prior results from numerous related initiatives.

The financial support provided through this grant is structured as a lump sum, with a total indicative budget of €5 million allocated to fund a single project contributing between €4.5 million and €5 million. The application process is a single-stage, accepting proposals submitted electronically between May 13, 2027, and September 23, 2027.

Successful projects should aim to improve existing innovation ecosystems by addressing the unique challenges faced by CCIs, such as difficulties in valuing intellectual property and discrepancies between cultural and innovation policies. Projects will also focus on developing Key Performance Indicators to assess impact and should operate over a minimum duration of five years for substantial long-term outcomes.

While the success rates are not explicitly provided, they tend to be competitive due to limited funding opportunities and the high number of proposals historically received for Horizon calls. Co-funding is required from participating partners, either through financial contributions or in-kind support. Additionally, projects have the capacity to provide financial assistance to third parties in furthering their objectives.

Overall, this opportunity seeks to unify fragmented efforts within the cultural and creative sectors in Europe, positioning them as essential contributors to technological innovation and societal cohesion. The anticipated outcomes include sustained economic models that leverage research-backed innovation strategies and foster a cohesive and integrated approach to cultural and creative ecosystems across Europe.

This EU funding opportunity aims to consolidate and boost the culture and creativity-driven innovation ecosystem across Europe. It falls under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society call for 2027. The goal is to increase the number and impact of innovations driven by Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) by promoting the uptake of evidence-based measures from EU-funded research, fostering economically sustainable ecosystems, and establishing a vision of CCIs as key drivers of sustainable innovation.

The scope of this initiative recognizes the strategic importance of CCIs in Europe's competitiveness and resilience. CCIs are seen as essential for unlocking innovation, shaping new technologies, and contributing to user-driven, open, and cross-sectoral innovation. The program seeks to build upon existing research and innovation efforts, including projects funded under Horizon Europe’s Cluster 2 and initiatives by the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the EU Pact for Skills.

Projects funded under this opportunity should improve existing innovation ecosystems for CCIs, addressing challenges such as the difficulties faced by small and micro enterprises in fitting into traditional innovation support models, the valuation of IPR, policy inconsistencies, and the specific needs of CCI entrepreneurs. Solutions should go beyond common practices, potentially using portfolio approaches to make clusters of organizations investable. While standardized approaches are not required, projects should aim to establish common principles and facilitate knowledge exchange across Europe.

Projects are expected to develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and assessment frameworks to track their progress and impact. A project duration of at least 5 years is recommended to achieve long-term impacts. Financial support to third parties, in the form of grants up to EUR 60,000 per party, is allowed to engage entities outside the project consortium.

The funding is provided through HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA), utilizing a lump sum grant approach.

The call is structured around several topics:

HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-01: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of EUR 3,500,000.

HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-02 to -08: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, each with a budget of EUR 8,000,000 to EUR 20,000,000.

HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-01 and -02: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions, each with a budget of EUR 5,000,000.

HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-03 to -08: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, each with a budget of EUR 10,500,000 to EUR 16,000,000.

HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-01 to -07: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, each with a budget of EUR 10,000,000 to EUR 12,000,000.

HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-08: HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 15,000,000.

The planned opening date for submissions is 13 May 2027, and the deadline for submission is 23 September 2027, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

Eligible costs will be reimbursed in the form of a lump sum.

Applicants are advised to consult the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, and the FAQs for detailed guidance on proposal preparation, evaluation, and grant management. National Contact Points (NCPs) and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) are available to provide support and assistance.

In summary, this funding opportunity seeks to transform Europe's cultural and creative landscape by fostering innovation, supporting CCI ecosystems, and driving sustainable economic growth. It encourages collaborative projects that build upon existing initiatives, address specific challenges faced by CCIs, and promote knowledge exchange across the continent. The program is designed to ensure long-term impact and sustainability, with a focus on developing effective KPIs and adaptable economic models.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include a wide range of entities such as research organizations, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and other relevant stakeholders involved in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) ecosystem. The call aims to involve key stakeholders covering most EU Member States and Associated Countries, as well as a wide range of CCIs.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the type of MGA (Model Grant Agreement) being HORIZON-AG-LS. Financial support to third parties can only be provided in the form of grants, with a maximum amount of EUR 60,000 per third party. The call includes both HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), as well as HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The call specifies the need to involve key stakeholders, covering most EU Member States and Associated Countries, as well as a wide range of CCIs, implying a consortium approach.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. The call aims to involve key stakeholders covering most EU Member States and Associated Countries, indicating that applicants should be based in these regions. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The program targets the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs). The focus is on boosting CCI-driven innovation, strengthening CCIs as engines of innovation, and unlocking the innovative power of Europe’s cultural and creative industries. The program also addresses challenges in properly valuing the IPR of CCIs and inconsistencies between cultural and innovation policies.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU Member States and Associated Countries as the primary geographic focus. It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that may have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The project stage varies depending on the type of action. Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) typically support networking, coordination, and dissemination activities, suggesting a focus on consolidating and building upon existing research and innovation efforts. Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) focus on research and development activities, while Innovation Actions (IA) focus on demonstration and deployment activities. The call aims to build on, consolidate, and complement key results such as technologies, solutions, methods, networks, and platforms developed by previous R&I projects and initiatives, suggesting a focus on development, validation, and demonstration stages.

Funding Amount: The funding amount varies depending on the specific topic and type of action. For HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), the indicative contributions range from EUR 3,000,000 to EUR 5,000,000. For HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), the indicative contributions range from EUR 2,500,000 to EUR 4,800,000. For HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA), the indicative contributions range from EUR 3,000,000 to EUR 3,750,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process. The planned opening date is 13 May 2027, and the deadline date is 23 September 2027.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant. Beneficiaries may also provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants, with a maximum amount of EUR 60,000 per third party.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage, as indicated by the "single-stage" deadline model.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, part of the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society pillar, aims to bolster the European innovation ecosystem by focusing on the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs). The call seeks to increase the number and impact of CCI-driven innovations through evidence-based measures and long-term sustainable ecosystems. It encourages projects that build upon existing research and innovation efforts, address challenges specific to CCIs (such as IPR valuation and policy inconsistencies), and promote active knowledge exchange across Europe. The funding is provided through lump sum grants, with opportunities for beneficiaries to further support third parties. The call is open to consortia covering EU Member States and Associated Countries, targeting a wide range of stakeholders in the CCI ecosystem. The call encompasses Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), and Innovation Actions (IA), each with varying funding amounts and project focuses, all contributing to a vision of CCIs as essential engines of sustainable innovation and competitiveness in Europe. The application process is a single-stage submission, with a planned opening in May 2027 and a deadline in September 2027.