Open Call for New Ventures in Creative Tech (Spark)
European Commission
Deadline
16 November 2026
Maximum amount
1 €
Description
Open Call for New Ventures in Creative Tech (Spark) Topic: EITCULTURE Business Plan 2026 Identifier: HORIZON-EIT-2025-KIC-IBA-CC Kind: bando a cascata (competitive call) Status: aperto Opening date: 2026-10-07 Deadline: 2026-11-16 Deadline model: single-stage Budget: 1.05 Duration: 9 months Programme period: 2021 - 2027 Description The Open Call for New Ventures in Creative Tech (Spark) supports early-stage founders and multidisciplinary teams in transforming validated business concepts into new, scalable and legally established ventures. The 2027 cohort focuses on tech-centric solutions in Materials & Built Environment, particularly Fashion and Architecture. Applicants should already be testing, building or validating their business concept and must not have an existing registered company implementing the concept submitted under the call. Selected applicants will receive up to EUR 30,000 in financial support under an actual-cost model and participate in a structured venture creation pathway consisting of an in-person Startup Sprint followed by a 9-month Spark Incubation Programme. The programme provides coaching, mentorship, business model development, company formation support, market validation and access to the EIT Culture & Creativity ecosystem. Up to 35 venture concepts may be selected for the 2027 cohort. Who can apply and how Applications must be submitted through the EIT Culture & Creativity online submission platform by 16 November 2026 at 17:00 CET. Following the deadline, applications will undergo an admissibility and eligibility check conducted by EIT Culture & Creativity. Eligible applications will then be assessed by three independent external experts against the published evaluation criteria. Following the individual assessments, a consensus meeting will establish the final external evaluation scores and consolidated comments. The 35 highest-ranked proposals from the external evaluation will be invited to an online portfolio selection interview with the EIT Culture & Creativity Selection Committee. The next 15 proposals will form a reserve pool for this stage. Following portfolio selection, proposals meeting the applicable thresholds will be ranked according to their combined external evaluation and portfolio selection scores. Up to 35 applicants may be selected for the 2027 Spark cohort, subject to the conditions and available budget set out in the Call Guidelines. Further information Maximum financial support: up to EUR 30,000 per selected venture concept, corresponding to up to 100% of eligible actual costs incurred, reported and accepted in accordance with the Call Guidelines and the applicable Subgrant Agreement. No co-funding is required. The call is open to early-stage founders, either individuals or multidisciplinary teams, developing a tech-centric business concept in Materials & Built Environment, with a focus on Fashion and Architecture. Applicants must not already have a registered company implementing the business concept submitted under this call. Applications and all mandatory supporting documents must be submitted in English. Selected applicants will participate in an in-person Startup Sprint followed by the 9-month Spark Incubation Programme. Selected applicants are required to incorporate a new legal entity by Month 3 in order to continue participating in the programme and receiving the remaining financial support. Further details, the Call Guidelines, application documents and the official contact form are available on the EIT Culture & Creativity call webpage. Please note that the call was originally opened on the EIT Culture & Creativity website on 6 October 2026. The corresponding notice on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal was published on 7 October 2026.
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