BP26-28 EITCC · European Union
Open Call for New Ventures in Creative Tech (Spark)
Open
Applications close on 16 Nov 2026 (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time). Organisations in EU member states and Horizon Europe associated countries such as Türkiye can usually take part; the topic conditions control.
- Deadline
- 16 Nov 2026 (in 1 day)
- Grant amount
- Up to €30,000 per applicant
- Total budget
- €1.05 million
- Funding rate
- Set by the call (financial support to third parties, often lump sums)
- Likely applicant types
- SMEs / start-ups, Companies, Non-profits, Universities & research From source categories or programme rules; the call decides.
- Funder
- BP26-28 EITCC (EU-funded project)
- Reference
- HORIZON-EIT-2025-KIC-IBA-CC
- Last checked
- 15 Nov 2026
Who can apply
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.
Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.
Timing
Next deadline 2026-11-16. Check the call page for the exact time.
How to apply
- Check that your concept is not yet run by a registered company and fits Materials & Built Environment (fashion, architecture).
- Apply on the EIT Culture & Creativity online submission platform (not the EU Funding & Tenders Portal) by 16 November 2026, 17:00 CET.
- EIT Culture & Creativity checks admissibility and eligibility; three independent external experts then score the application, followed by a consensus meeting.
- The 35 highest-ranked applicants are invited to an online portfolio selection interview; the next 15 form a reserve.
- Up to 35 ventures are selected and receive up to €30,000 in financial support (actual-cost model) plus the Startup Sprint and incubation programme.
Guide: how open calls by EU-funded projects work, and all calls open now
✓ Checked against the official call text on 2026-11-15 (EU Funding & Tenders Portal, competitive call 48939704 (EIT Culture & Creativity, Spark), call summary and application section).
From the call text
- Who can apply
- Early-stage founders and multidisciplinary teams who are already testing, building or validating a business concept in Materials & Built Environment (particularly fashion and architecture). Applicants must not already have a registered company implementing the concept.
- Company stage
- Pre-company: the venture is created during the programme (Startup Sprint, then a 9-month Spark Incubation Programme).
- Single applicant or consortium
- Individual founders or teams; no consortium.
- Where applicants must be based
- Not stated in the portal summary; see the Call Guidelines.
- Where to apply
- Applications must be submitted through the EIT Culture & Creativity online submission platform by 16 November 2026 at 17:00 CET.
Where these facts come from
| Fact | Value | How we know | Taken from the source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadline | 16 November 2026 “Next deadline 2026-11-16. Check the call page for the exact time.” | official data field | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Amount per applicant | Up to €30,000 per applicant “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 f…” | read from the official text | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Total budget | €1.05 million “Total call budget €1.05 million (portal figure "1.05", read as millions)” | read from the official text | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Funding rate | Unknown — not stated in the source we hold | unknown | — |
| Who can apply | Early-stage founders and multidisciplinary teams who are already testing, building or validating a business concept in Materials & Built Environment (particularly fashion and architecture). Applicants must not already… | checked by hand | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Where to apply | Applications must be submitted through the EIT Culture & Creativity online submission platform by 16 November 2026 at 17:00 CET. | checked by hand | 15 Nov 2026 |
Official sources
The application guidance on this page was checked by hand against the official call text on 15 Nov 2026; other facts were taken from the source on 15 Nov 2026. The funder's own documents, including later amendments, always take precedence.
Related funding
Neutral-Atom Platform Technologies
This action aims to establish European leadership in neutral-atom quantum simulation and digital quantum computing by delivering: • Fully programmable industry-ready quan…
Next-Generation QKD Systems
This action will strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy in quantum-secure communications by advancing core QKD technologies and integration capabilities. Expected results…