EIT Culture & Creativity - OC for New Ventures in Creative Tech (Spark)
Supporting early-stage founders in creating scalable technology-based ventures in fashion, architecture and advanced materials.
TYPE OF PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED: Early-stage, technology-based venture creation projects focused on transforming validated business concepts into legally established, scalable, for-profit companies. Supported activities include developing and testing prototypes, Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and proofs of concept, customer validation, market testing, business model development and company formation. Selected applicants must participate in a 2–3-day Startup Sprint and the nine-month Spark Incubation Programme, which provides structured workshops, mentorship, coaching, networking and venture development support.
SECTORS / DOMAIN: Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI), specifically fashion and architecture, with an emphasis on advanced and circular materials and the built environment. The call supports technology-centred business concepts involving material innovation, hardware or digital solutions.
INDIVIDUAL OR CONSORTIUM: Applications are open to individual founders or multidisciplinary teams represented by a designated applicant. Consortium formation is not required. Applicants must not have an existing registered company for the proposed business concept. Selected individuals or teams must establish a new legal entity by Month 3 of the programme to continue participating and receiving financial support.
SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must be registered in an EU Member State or a country officially associated with Horizon Europe Pillar III at the publication date of the call. They must demonstrate an early-stage, technology-centred business concept with commercial potential, initial validation and tangible evidence of development, such as a prototype, demonstrator, MVP, pilot or technical mock-up. At least one founder must have a minimum of one year of relevant domain experience, and at least one founder must commit 10–15 hours per week to programme activities. Applicants must demonstrate complementary creative, technical and business skills, or a credible plan to build such a team. The newly incorporated company must obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC), successfully complete legal entity validation and remain under at least 50% combined ownership and effective control of the originally selected applicant(s). Participation in both the Startup Sprint and Spark Incubation Programme is mandatory. Applicable EU eligibility and restrictive-measure rules must be respected.
SPECIFIC TOPICS OR CHALLENGES: The 2027 cohort focuses on Materials & Built Environment (Fashion & Architecture), specifically early-stage business concepts involving advanced and circular materials, fashion innovation, architecture and the built environment. Proposed solutions must demonstrate meaningful technological innovation through material innovation, hardware or digital solutions, supported by an identifiable problem–solution hypothesis, early market validation, a compelling value proposition and potential for commercial scalability. Applicants must show progress beyond the initial idea stage and a commitment to establishing a viable business. Other cultural and creative sectors are not included in the current cohort's funding scope.
PROJECTS DURATION: Nine months, provisionally from March to December 2027, including the initial 2–3-day Startup Sprint and the Spark Incubation Programme, delivered primarily online. Company incorporation must be completed by Month 3. Final financial review and settlement are scheduled for January–April 2028.
BUDGET, FUNDING RATES AND PAYMENT CONDITIONS:
Funding rate: Up to 100% of actual eligible costs, with no co-funding requirement.
Budget conditions / limitations: Up to EUR 30,000 per selected project, including eligible direct and indirect costs, under an actual-cost funding model. The total maximum call budget is EUR 1,050,000, with up to 35 ventures supported in the 2027 cohort. The final contribution depends on actual eligible costs incurred, reported and accepted; the maximum grant amount is not automatically awarded. Double funding of the same costs from other EU funding sources is prohibited. No Financial Sustainability Mechanism is required for participation in Spark, although one is required for eligibility for potential fast-tracking into the Shape Acceleration Programme.
Payments: An initial pre-financing payment of EUR 12,000 may be made at programme start following completion of the applicable contracting requirements. A second pre-financing payment of EUR 12,000 may be made after the Month 3 checkpoint, subject to successful incorporation, legal entity validation and contractual transition to the new company. Final financial reporting takes place at programme completion in December 2027, followed by financial review between January and March 2028. The final settlement is expected in April 2028, with an outstanding balance of up to EUR 6,000 where both pre-financing payments have been made and the maximum EUR 30,000 contribution is accepted. Any excess pre-financing must be repaid.
Links
Closes
16/11/2026
Max funding per project
30.000€