Regular Open Call Main Innovation Projects 2025

Beneficiary & submission

Submission and Evaluation Process for the Main Innovation Call 1. Proposal Submission Applicants must submit their proposals exclusively through the designated online application form available on the EIT Culture & Creativity platform. The submission window is open from 11 February 2025 to 11 April 2025 (17:00 CET). All proposals must be submitted before the deadline to be considered for evaluation. Late submissions will not be accepted. 2. Admissibility and Eligibility Check Each proposal will first undergo an admissibility and eligibility check to ensure compliance with the call’s basic requirements: Admissibility Criteria: The proposal must be submitted before the deadline via the official application platform. The proposal must be written entirely in English. The submission must include all necessary accompanying documents in English. Eligibility Criteria: The lead applicant and, if applicable, all consortium members must be registered on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal with a valid Participant Identification Code (PIC). Applicants must comply with the applicant requirements as specified in the call guidelines. The proposal must demonstrate a minimum co-funding rate of 30% across the project. The project must align with mandatory Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Only proposals meeting both admissibility and eligibility criteria will proceed to the evaluation stage. 3. Evaluation Process Eligible proposals will be assessed through a two-stage evaluation process: Stage 1 – External Quality Evaluation Each proposal will be evaluated by three independent external experts based on five core criteria: Strategic Fit – Alignment with EIT Culture & Creativity’s objectives and call topics, including a clear Financial Sustainability Mechanism (FSM). EU Dimension – The proposal's potential for European market impact and scalability beyond the consortium's composition. Excellence – Degree of novelty, creativity, and innovation in addressing unmet needs within the Cultural and Creative Sectors. Impact – Expected societal and market benefits, key market analysis indicators (TAM, SAM, SOM), commercialisation strategies, and revenue projections. Quality & Efficiency of Implementation – Feasibility of the work plan, risk management, communication strategies, resource allocation, gender diversity commitment, and budget justification. To proceed to the next stage, proposals must meet individual thresholds in each evaluation category and achieve the minimum total score threshold. Stage 2 – Hearing & Portfolio Selection Proposals that pass Stage 1 will be invited to a panel hearing with the EIT Culture & Creativity Selection Committee. During this phase, applicants will present their projects and respond to evaluators' questions. Proposals will be further assessed based on: Hearing Assessment – Clarity, credibility, and effectiveness of the project presentation. Business Intelligence – Level of market disruption, potential for scaling, and adoption by key stakeholders. Strategic Portfolio Fit – Complementarity and synergies within EIT Culture & Creativity’s portfolio. Financial & Commercial Scalability – Long-term feasibility and financial sustainability mechanisms. Only proposals that meet the required thresholds in the portfolio selection process will be considered for final funding. 4. Ranking, Selection & Reserve List Proposals that pass all required evaluation thresholds will be ranked based on their final score. Funding will be allocated in strict ranking order until the available budget is exhausted. Proposals that pass all thresholds but are not funded due to budget limitations will be placed on a reserve list. Final funding decisions for reserve list proposals will be communicated within a timeframe that allows for proper project implementation. 5. Communication of Results Applicants will be informed of the evaluation outcome via the official EIT Culture & Creativity communication channels.

Further information

for further information please check on the EIT website: https://eit-culture-creativity.eu/innovation-call-2025/