EIT Culture & Creativity has officially opened its 2025 call for applications for the Spark – Incubation Programme, an initiative designed to support the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators in the architecture and cultural heritage sectors.
With a clear focus on turning ideas into viable business ventures, the programme offers participants a unique opportunity to validate their concepts, develop a minimum viable product (MVP), and pitch to an international audience at the final Demo Day, where top teams will also compete for financial prizes of up to €10,000.
Key Dates
Call opens: 6 May 2025
Deadline: 11 July 2025, 17:00 CET
Programme begins: Mid-September 2025
Demo Day: December 2025 (location TBD)
The Spark Programme welcomes individuals and teams (up to 3 people) from across the EU and Horizon Europe-associated countries, regardless of whether they’ve already registered a company. Applicants must, however, register a legal entity before the Demo Day to be eligible for prize funding.
What’s in it for participants?
Participants of the Spark – Incubation Programme will benefit from a comprehensive support package that includes an in-person kick-off bootcamp in Europe with all expenses covered, followed by weekly online training and coaching sessions. They will receive tailored mentoring and support in validating their business ideas on the market, along with access to the dynamic EIT Culture & Creativity Community. Throughout the programme, participants can also compete for financial prizes, with the top award amounting to €10,000, and enjoy free membership in the community during the entire duration of the programme.
Focus Areas
- Architecture: sustainable building, climate-resilient design, digital construction
- Cultural Heritage: immersive XR experiences, digital heritage valorisation, new business models
To help potential applicants better understand the programme, EIT Culture & Creativity will host two online information sessions on 20 May 2025:
- 15:00–16:30 CET: Overview of the programme and how to apply
- 16:30–17:00 CET: Application platform walkthrough
The programme is an exciting opportunity for creatives, researchers, and professionals to transform their ideas into scalable impact and join Europe’s growing innovation ecosystem. For more information and the event registration visit the website: