Open Call: Short Innovation Projects 2025 – Segment 2

The call focuses on fast-paced, results-driven innovation projects with a maximum duration of 6 months, delivering tangible and market-ready solutions within a short timeframe.

With a strong emphasis on Fashion, Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Audio-Visual Media, and Gaming, the call seeks to accelerate commercialisation and market adoption of innovations that address the challenges of globalisation, digital transformation, emerging technologies (such as AI), and environmental sustainability.

Scope and Topics

• Call segment 2 (consortia):
  • The Call for Short Innovation Projects, segment 2, supports 6-month projects carried out by a consortium of two entities:
    • One SME or micro enterprise as the innovation developer (and often the commercial partner).
    • One supporting entity providing innovation support (e.g., research or technology development).
  • These projects advance technologies from TRL 7 to TRL 9, ensuring rapid commercialization. Priority sectors include all five EIT CC priority areas: Fashion, Cultural Heritage, Architecture, Gaming, and Audio-Visual Media. The expected outcome is a market-ready product, service, or business model, with a clear path to commercialization across multiple European markets.

Funding Information

• Call segment 2 (consortia):
  • The total budget for this segment is up to €2,640,000.00 with a maximum €120,000 of EIT CC financial support per project.
  • Co-funding:
    • All proposals must have a minimum co-funding rate of 30% across the project. Partners within a consortium may have different individual co-funding rates, as long as the overall co-funding for the entire project meets the required minimum of 30%.

Eligibility Criteria

• Call segment 2 (consortia) :
  • Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of two entities:
    • One SME or micro enterprise (the innovation developer) as the project leader.
    • One supporting entity (e.g., research organisation, technology provider, or business consultant) providing complementary expertise to support market readiness.
  • The partners must be from two different EU Member States or HE-associated countries. The commercial partner role must always be held by an SME or micro enterprise. The project must advance the innovation to TRL 9 within 6 months.

For more information, visit EIT Culture & Creativity.