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Horizon Europe Cluster 2 — Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society

Horizon Culture: Creative Startup Growth and Disruption

Funds two €5–6M projects that test ways to help young cultural businesses scale or bring a radical innovation to market.

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Creative startups can bring new ideas to market, but many struggle to grow beyond their first stage. This topic funds new ways to help cultural and creative businesses scale, or to help creative startups and scaleups take a disruptive innovation to market. A project must clearly choose one of two routes: Option a focuses on growth into scaleups; Option b focuses on market entry for disruptive inno

Helping Europe's cultural and creative industries develop and test new ways to grow young creative startups into scaleups (Option a) or help creative startups and scaleups bring disruptive innovations to market (Option b). Projects must state which option they choose, run at least 3 pilots in different settings under real-world-like conditions, and may give third-party grants up to EUR 60 000 each to engage startups or other funders. The approaches must go beyond existing support methods and work across Europe under the current legal framework.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Annual
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.23 Sept 2026
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.22 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.30%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€12M

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Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-HERITAGE-02Source: ec.europa.eu