Net4Society Matchmaking Event for 2026 Cluster 2 calls

1 – 2 Jun 2026 | Paris, France

Project cooperationUpdated on 2 April 2026

From Innovation Ecosystems to Startup Growth: Reimagining the Creative Economy through HEI–CCI Alliances

Professor at University of Hull

Hull, United Kingdom

About

This marketplace opportunity invites universities, cultural organisations, SMEs, start-ups, policymakers, investors, and innovation agencies to join a consortium for a Horizon Europe Cluster 2 proposal addressing the transformation of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs). The concept is designed to align flexibly with two complementary call topics:

  • HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-HERITAGE-02: Boosting creative startups for disruptive innovation

  • HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-05: Re-imagining the creative economy: the interplay between CCIs and the social economy

Building on the IDEAL (Innovation-Driven Entrepreneurship and Academic Learning for Creative Industries) project, the proposal aims to scale and extend proven HEI-led innovation models into a comprehensive framework that connects education, research, entrepreneurship, and market-driven innovation across Europe and beyond.

The project will address both system-level transformation (ecosystems, skills, policy) and market-level impact (startup creation, scaling, and competitiveness), allowing alignment with either or both call directions depending on consortium strengths.

Stage

  • Ideation - identifying the project idea

Call

  • Destination: Innovative Research on European Cultural Heritage and Cultural and Creative Industries

Type

  • Partners for an existing consortium
  • A consortium to join as partner

Organisation

University of Hull

Academia

Hull, United Kingdom

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