Pilot and Feasibility Grants

Boosting creative startups for disruptive innovation is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Projects should contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: Deepened knowledge of specific factors favouring the growth of creative startups [1] , in particular those with potential for disruptive innovation [2] and/or cross-sectorial innovation impacts, is made available and promoted to policymakers, investors, funding- and enterprise support bodies. Effective methods to favour the growth of creative startups, in particular those with potential for disruptive innovation and/or cross-sectorial innovation impacts, are developed, tested and put in practice by industry, investors, funding- and enterprise support bodies, and relevant decision makers. Examples of creative startups scaling up and/or engaging in disruptive innovation are made available, with a view to increase the visibility and recognition of the innovative power of Europe’s creative startups. In addition, proposals should contribute to at least one of the following expected outcomes, depending on the option chosen (a or b below): The effectiveness of the methods developed is demonstrated by at least one creative startup supported via the action becoming a scaleup [3] in a Member State or an Associated Country. The effectiveness of the methods developed is demonstrated by at least one creative startup or scaleup supported via the action succeeding in bringing a disruptive innovation to the market. Scope: The cultural and creative industries (CCIs) count a high rate of startups. Data indicate that CCIs are among the early adopters of new technologies, especially in the digital realm. For instance, the European Monitor of Industrial Ecosystems (2024) [4] notes that artificial intelligence-based technology startups were most common among the CCIs and in the health sector. Furthermore, creative startups drive innovation through crossovers with other sectors. They can be a motor of growth in local economies, unlocking opportunities, investment, jobs and higher productivity. That is why a host of initiatives like creative clusters, innovation hubs, smart specialisation strategies, innovation ecosystems, etc. foster the emergence of creative startups. Also at EU level, there are a number of initiatives to support startups and/or cultural and creative industries [5] , and there is a clearly stated ambition to make EU the preferred choice for startups and scaleups, as expressed in the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy [6] . However, in order to better support European creative startups to grow into scaleups and to multiply their potential as high-impact disruptive innovators, in line with the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, additional measures are needed. The challenge is to deepen the knowledge of the most important factors that favour the scaling up of creative startups in Europe and unleashing their potential for disruptive innovation, with a particular focus on those factors that distinguish them from startups in other sectors. Proposals are expected to focus either on: Option a : Boosting the growth of creative startups into scaleups. Option b : Boosting creative startups or scaleups with a potential for disruptive innovation. Proposals should clearly indicate the option they have selected. Approaches should be devised that boost the growth of creative startups in Europe and/or encourage engaging in disruptive innovation. Approaches developed may build on existing methods, such as shared technological resources/platforms to lower investments needs, credible assessments of technologies, IPR or of creative companies to increase investor readiness, matchmaking platforms, etc. However, the approaches to be developed under this action should be innovative and go beyond the existing ones. They should be effective and feasible across Europe under the current legal framework. In order to validate and refine the proposed approaches, projects should carry out at least 3 pilot trials in different settings under real-world like conditions. These should in Programme areas: Horizon Europe (HORIZON), Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Culture, creativity and inclusive society, Cultural Heritage Keywords: Business and Management, Business models, Business plan, Company valuation, Creativity management, Economics, Econometrics, Entrepreneurship, Incubator companies, Innovation methodologies, Innovation policy, Innovation systems, Investment readiness, Knowledge and Technology transfer, Leadership development, New business opportunities, Performing arts studies (Musicology, Theater science, Dramaturgy), Private investment, Social sciences, interdisciplinary, Spin-off companies, Start-up companies, Studies on Film, Radio and Television, Technology commercialisation, CCI, competitiveness, creative, cultural and creative industries, cutting edge, deeptech, disruptive innovation, entreprenership, innovation, scale-up, scaleup, start-up