EIT Culture & Creativity has launched the Education Call: Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Courses 2025, offering funding for the development of professional training courses dedicated to professionals in the creative and cultural industries. This call aims to bridge skill gaps, support innovation, and contribute to Europe’s green, digital, and social transition.
Who Can Apply?
The call is open to the following types of organizations:
- Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Universities and academic institutions offering tertiary education and vocational training.
- Vocational Education and Training (VET) Providers: Institutions focused on applied learning for career development.
- Business Entities: Startups, scale-ups, micro-enterprises, SMEs, and large companies, particularly those involved in innovation within the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI).
- Research and Innovation Institutions: Research centers, technology organizations, and cultural institutions, which can participate as additional partners in consortia for EIT courses.
Funding Conditions & Consortia
EIT Culture & Creativity offers two types of grants with the following application conditions:
1. EIT-Labelled CPD Courses
- Funding: Up to €150,000 per course
- Consortium Requirements:
- Lead Partner: Educational institution (HEI or VET)
- Partner 2: Business entity (startup, scale-up, SME, or corporation)
- Partner 3 (optional): Research institute or innovation organization
2. Non-EIT-Labelled CPD Courses
- Funding: Up to €75,000 per course
- Application Eligibility:
- A single applicant (HEI or VET)
- A consortium consisting of an HEI/VET + a company from the creative industries
Eligible Domains & Themes
Proposed courses must align with EIT Culture & Creativity’s priorities, focusing on:
EIT-Labelled CPD Courses:
- Entrepreneurship & Creative Thinking – strategic innovation, creative leadership
- Entrepreneurship & Emerging Technologies – AI, AR, VR in creative processes
- Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Architecture – circular design, bio-based materials, resilient urban planning
- Entrepreneurship & Gaming – emerging technologies, market strategies
- Entrepreneurship for Youth – training for young professionals aged 15-24
Non-EIT-Labelled CPD Courses:
- Architecture – sustainable renovation, circular design, bio-based materials
- Audiovisual Media – AI, data analysis, IP protection, content monetization
- Cultural Heritage – digitization, archiving, storytelling
- Fashion – circular design, supply chain optimization, SME strategies
- Gaming – advanced technologies, global market strategies, industry diversity
Budget & Funding Conditions
- Total budget allocated: €2,250,000
- Mandatory co-financing: 30% of the total project budget
- Payments: EIT funding covers 100% of eligible costs, but each partner must contribute to co-financing according to the call’s requirements.
Call Timeline
- Call opens: February 11, 2025
- Application deadline: April 11, 2025, 17:00 CET
- Evaluation & selection: April – May 2025
- Results announcement: Mid-May 2025
- Publication of selected projects: Early July 2025
- Project start: July 2025
CitiCluster assists local and central public organizations in establishing public-private partnerships, provides consultancy for identifying non-reimbursable funding sources, and supports the development of applications and solutions in the smart city domain. For more details or assistance in the application process, we invite you to contact us.
