Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EIT CC - BP2024-2025 (EIT Culture & Creativity Business Plan 2024-2025)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2024-01-01 do 2024-12-31
EIT Culture & Creativity (EIT CC), established in Cologne in 2023, brings together 25 partners from 19 countries to tackle the global challenges faced by the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI). Despite employing 6.2% of the EU workforce, the CCSI struggles with issues like skills gaps, slow innovation, and limited scalability and growth.
The partnership’s mission is to build a sustainable ecosystem that enhances competitiveness, resilience, and long-term economic growth. By fostering collaboration, EIT CC aims to improve industry practices, drive innovation, and promote environmentally responsible strategies, all while strengthening the economic landscape for the future through a purpose-driven partnership.
EIT CC has set ambitious goals, including training 1,500 students, supporting over 90 companies (start-ups, scale-ups, and SMEs), and incubating more than 10 start-ups through its incubation and acceleration programmes. To achieve these objectives, EIT CC assists stakeholders in implementing innovation projects across diverse cultural and creative fields such as architecture, audiovisual media, fashion, cultural heritage, and the gaming industry. This support is offered through open calls, EIT grants, expressions of interest (EoIs), and long-term partnerships involving both financial and in-kind contributions.
EIT CC’s overarching goal is to secure a competitive advantage for the European CCSI on the global stage, while promoting ethical practices, preserving cultural heritage, ensuring architectural sustainability, bolstering the European gaming industry, and addressing challenges such as fast fashion and media ethics.
Through its innovation community, EIT CC will create new opportunities and revenue streams. By 2027, the aim is for EIT CC to evolve into a holding company, investing in 50 of Europe’s leading cultural and creative businesses. The goal is to transform the CCSI, advancing beyond publicly funded projects to deliver lasting impact through long-term partnerships. EIT CC’s programmes focus on creating jobs, enhancing resilience, and promoting responsible growth to meet its qualitative objectives by 2030.
The partnership’s mission is to build a sustainable ecosystem that enhances competitiveness, resilience, and long-term economic growth. By fostering collaboration, EIT CC aims to improve industry practices, drive innovation, and promote environmentally responsible strategies, all while strengthening the economic landscape for the future through a purpose-driven partnership.
EIT CC has set ambitious goals, including training 1,500 students, supporting over 90 companies (start-ups, scale-ups, and SMEs), and incubating more than 10 start-ups through its incubation and acceleration programmes. To achieve these objectives, EIT CC assists stakeholders in implementing innovation projects across diverse cultural and creative fields such as architecture, audiovisual media, fashion, cultural heritage, and the gaming industry. This support is offered through open calls, EIT grants, expressions of interest (EoIs), and long-term partnerships involving both financial and in-kind contributions.
EIT CC’s overarching goal is to secure a competitive advantage for the European CCSI on the global stage, while promoting ethical practices, preserving cultural heritage, ensuring architectural sustainability, bolstering the European gaming industry, and addressing challenges such as fast fashion and media ethics.
Through its innovation community, EIT CC will create new opportunities and revenue streams. By 2027, the aim is for EIT CC to evolve into a holding company, investing in 50 of Europe’s leading cultural and creative businesses. The goal is to transform the CCSI, advancing beyond publicly funded projects to deliver lasting impact through long-term partnerships. EIT CC’s programmes focus on creating jobs, enhancing resilience, and promoting responsible growth to meet its qualitative objectives by 2030.
In 2024, despite facing challenges and delays, the partnership made significant strides towards advancing the EIT CC Strategic Agenda.
1. Progress in Education portfolio
Although no new Education calls were launched in 2024, considerable progress was made in identifying and addressing the knowledge and skill gaps within the CCSI sector. A new Education call targeting the development of continuous professional development (CPD) courses was prepared and launched in February 2025. Another call for Master 2025 will be published in spring 2025. Furthermore, an Expression of Interest for external experts was published in October 2024, leading to the establishment of a strong pool of evaluators and rapporteurs.
2. Innovation Call Preparations
While no Innovation calls were released in 2024, substantial groundwork was laid for future initiatives. Preparations for both Main Innovation and Short Innovation calls were completed, with these calls aimed at tackling key challenges faced by European CCSI stakeholders. KIC has engaged with all six CLCs and other stakeholders to ensure that the structure of the call refined to reflect current innovation needs within the KIC’s five focus areas. These two calls were published in February 2025.
3. Business Creation successfully implemented portfolio
The launch of a successful Open Call for SME and Scale-up Acceleration in September 2024 led to the selection of 9 entities, including 5 from RIS countries. The Acceleration programme commenced in autumn 2024, offering tailored coaching, financial support, and networking opportunities to all selected participants. Additionally, two other Business creation calls will be published in March 2025: Call for incubation programmes 2025 and Permanently Open Call for Acceleration and Post-Acceleration of start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs.
4. Engagement of RIS Stakeholders
Although no specific tasks were conducted in 2024 due to the absence of calls, the Acceleration programme’s focus on RIS countries ensured 55% of participants came from these regions. Additional efforts to engage RIS stakeholders are planned for 2025 to further enhance inclusivity and impact.
5. Community Growth
While no income was generated in 2024 through Education, Innovation, or Business Creation calls, the EIT CC community saw significant expansion. A total of 39 new members joined, contributing to the growth and diversification of the community.
6. Partnerships and Collaborations
Collaborations across all 6 CLCs grew significantly, fostering innovation and strengthening cooperation within the CCSI sector. Each CLC played an essential role in engaging stakeholders through various events and initiatives, while also expanding their networks.
7. Operational Excellence and Strategic Alignment
Strong coordination ensured that the EIT CC Strategic Agenda and Business Plan remained in alignment with EIT’s overarching goals. The team efficiently managed operational areas, including financial, human resources, legal, and data management, ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the year.
These achievements highlight the project’s consistent progress in 2024, setting the stage for impactful developments and launches in 2025.
1. Progress in Education portfolio
Although no new Education calls were launched in 2024, considerable progress was made in identifying and addressing the knowledge and skill gaps within the CCSI sector. A new Education call targeting the development of continuous professional development (CPD) courses was prepared and launched in February 2025. Another call for Master 2025 will be published in spring 2025. Furthermore, an Expression of Interest for external experts was published in October 2024, leading to the establishment of a strong pool of evaluators and rapporteurs.
2. Innovation Call Preparations
While no Innovation calls were released in 2024, substantial groundwork was laid for future initiatives. Preparations for both Main Innovation and Short Innovation calls were completed, with these calls aimed at tackling key challenges faced by European CCSI stakeholders. KIC has engaged with all six CLCs and other stakeholders to ensure that the structure of the call refined to reflect current innovation needs within the KIC’s five focus areas. These two calls were published in February 2025.
3. Business Creation successfully implemented portfolio
The launch of a successful Open Call for SME and Scale-up Acceleration in September 2024 led to the selection of 9 entities, including 5 from RIS countries. The Acceleration programme commenced in autumn 2024, offering tailored coaching, financial support, and networking opportunities to all selected participants. Additionally, two other Business creation calls will be published in March 2025: Call for incubation programmes 2025 and Permanently Open Call for Acceleration and Post-Acceleration of start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs.
4. Engagement of RIS Stakeholders
Although no specific tasks were conducted in 2024 due to the absence of calls, the Acceleration programme’s focus on RIS countries ensured 55% of participants came from these regions. Additional efforts to engage RIS stakeholders are planned for 2025 to further enhance inclusivity and impact.
5. Community Growth
While no income was generated in 2024 through Education, Innovation, or Business Creation calls, the EIT CC community saw significant expansion. A total of 39 new members joined, contributing to the growth and diversification of the community.
6. Partnerships and Collaborations
Collaborations across all 6 CLCs grew significantly, fostering innovation and strengthening cooperation within the CCSI sector. Each CLC played an essential role in engaging stakeholders through various events and initiatives, while also expanding their networks.
7. Operational Excellence and Strategic Alignment
Strong coordination ensured that the EIT CC Strategic Agenda and Business Plan remained in alignment with EIT’s overarching goals. The team efficiently managed operational areas, including financial, human resources, legal, and data management, ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the year.
These achievements highlight the project’s consistent progress in 2024, setting the stage for impactful developments and launches in 2025.