CFPs: Fostering Global Partnerships in Cultural Policies and CCI Innovation

Deadline: 23-Sep-2026

The Horizon Europe Cultural Collaboration Programme is a European Commission funding initiative designed to support international cultural cooperation, creative industry development, and innovative cultural policy research.

The programme forms part of the broader Horizon Europe Research and Innovation framework and aims to:

• Strengthen global cultural partnerships
• Promote innovative cultural policies
• Support sustainable creative industries
• Encourage intercultural dialogue
• Foster inclusion, diversity, and mutual understanding
• Enhance international cultural relations

The initiative recognises culture and creativity as important drivers of:

• Economic growth
• Employment generation
• Social cohesion
• Innovation
• Global resilience
• Peaceful coexistence

Total Funding Available

The European Commission has allocated:

• Total available funding: €15,000,000
• Programme type: Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action
• Funding focus: International cultural cooperation and creative industries

Funding will support projects that demonstrate innovation, collaboration, sustainability, and strong international engagement.

Main Focus Areas of the Programme

The programme is structured around two major focus areas.

Focus Area 1: Creative Industries and Cultural Policy Innovation

This focus area supports projects examining innovative approaches to strengthening cultural and creative industries through international cooperation.

Projects are expected to:

• Analyze cultural policy models
• Explore creative industry ecosystems
• Identify successful cultural strategies
• Document replicable policy approaches
• Promote international knowledge exchange
• Support collaborative production and co-creation
• Encourage capacity building in cultural sectors

The programme seeks projects that can generate:

• Good practices
• Case studies
• Scalable cultural models
• Sustainable industry strategies

Why Creative Industries Matter

Creative industries contribute significantly to:

• Economic development
• Job creation
• Entrepreneurship
• Innovation ecosystems
• Youth empowerment
• Women’s participation
• Opportunities for persons with disabilities
• Community wellbeing

Examples of creative industries may include:

• Film and media
• Music and performing arts
• Design and fashion
• Publishing
• Digital arts
• Cultural tourism
• Gaming and interactive media

Focus Area 2: International Cultural Relations and Intercultural Dialogue

The second focus area examines how international cultural relations can strengthen global resilience and peaceful coexistence.

Projects under this stream are expected to:

• Test innovative forms of intercultural dialogue
• Develop collaborative artistic initiatives
• Build international cultural partnerships
• Promote inclusion and diversity
• Encourage openness and mutual understanding
• Strengthen cross-border cooperation

The programme emphasizes the role of culture in addressing:

• Social fragmentation
• Cultural misunderstanding
• Global instability
• Exclusion and inequality

Examples of Eligible Activities

Potential activities may include:

• International artist collaborations
• Cross-cultural exhibitions
• Joint artistic productions
• Cultural diplomacy initiatives
• Community engagement programmes
• Creative innovation labs
• International cultural policy research
• Capacity-building workshops

Who Is Eligible?

The programme has broad international eligibility rules.

Eligible applicants include:

• Legal entities worldwide
• International organisations
• Entities from EU Member States
• Entities from associated countries
• Entities from non-associated third countries
• Public and private organisations
• Research institutions
• Universities
• Nonprofit organisations
• Cultural institutions
• Associations and networks

Participation is allowed regardless of the applicant’s place of establishment, provided Horizon Europe requirements are satisfied.

Additional Eligible Participants

The programme may also include:

• Affiliated entities
• Associated partners
• Entities without legal personality under specific conditions
• EU bodies
• Joint Research Centre (JRC)
• Interest groupings
• Collaborative networks and consortiums

Participant Registration Requirements

Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must:

• Register in the Horizon Europe Participant Register
• Obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC)
• Complete the validation process before signing the grant agreement

Failure to complete registration and validation requirements may affect eligibility and grant approval.

Importance of International Partnerships

The programme strongly supports equal international partnerships and collaborative approaches.

Projects are encouraged to include:

• Cross-border cooperation
• Knowledge transfer
• Shared leadership models
• Collaborative content creation
• International policy exchange
• Co-creation methodologies

Strong partnerships may improve:

• Project impact
• Cultural diversity
• Innovation capacity
• Global reach
• Long-term sustainability

How to Apply for the Horizon Europe Cultural Collaboration Programme

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Review the Horizon Europe Topic Requirements
   Carefully examine the specific funding topic, eligibility conditions, and project objectives.
2. Build an International Consortium
   Develop partnerships with organizations, institutions, researchers, or cultural actors from relevant countries and sectors.
3. Define a Strong Project Concept
   Prepare a project focused on:

• Cultural policy innovation
• Creative industries
• Intercultural dialogue
• International cultural relations
• Collaborative artistic production
• Knowledge exchange

4. Prepare the Proposal
   Include:

• Project objectives
• Methodology
• Work packages
• Timeline
• Budget
• Consortium structure
• Expected outcomes
• Impact assessment

5. Register in the Participant Register
   All beneficiaries and affiliated entities must:

• Obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC)
• Complete organizational validation

6. Submit the Application
   Applications must be submitted through the official Horizon Europe funding portal before the deadline.
7. Await Evaluation
   Proposals are assessed based on:

• Excellence
• Impact
• Quality of implementation
• Innovation
• International collaboration potential

Tips for a Strong Application

• Build diverse international partnerships with complementary expertise.
• Clearly explain the cultural and societal impact of the project.
• Demonstrate innovation in policy, artistic collaboration, or creative industry development.
• Include measurable outcomes and sustainability strategies.
• Align the proposal closely with Horizon Europe objectives and evaluation criteria.
• Highlight inclusion, diversity, accessibility, and intercultural engagement.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Weak international collaboration structures
• Unclear project objectives
• Poorly defined impact measurements
• Incomplete consortium documentation
• Lack of innovation or originality
• Weak sustainability planning
• Failure to meet Horizon Europe administrative requirements

Why This Programme Matters

The Horizon Europe Cultural Collaboration Programme reflects the growing importance of culture and creativity in addressing global challenges.

Key benefits include:

• Strengthening international cultural cooperation
• Supporting sustainable creative economies
• Encouraging intercultural understanding
• Promoting inclusion and diversity
• Expanding opportunities for artists and creative professionals
• Building resilient cultural ecosystems

The programme also reinforces the role of culture in diplomacy, innovation, and social cohesion across different regions of the world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Horizon Europe Cultural Collaboration Programme?

It is a European Commission funding initiative that supports international cultural cooperation, creative industries, cultural policy innovation, and intercultural dialogue projects.

How much funding is available?

The programme provides a total budget of €15 million under the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action.

Who can apply?

Any legal entity worldwide may participate, including organizations from non-associated third countries and international organisations, provided Horizon Europe conditions are met.

What types of projects are supported?

Projects related to creative industries, cultural policy research, international cultural relations, intercultural dialogue, collaborative artistic initiatives, and cultural partnerships are eligible.

Is international collaboration required?

Yes. The programme strongly encourages international cooperation, cross-border partnerships, and collaborative approaches.

What is a Participant Identification Code (PIC)?

A PIC is a unique registration number required for organizations participating in Horizon Europe projects.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible?

Yes. Nonprofits, research institutions, universities, cultural organizations, associations, and other legal entities may participate if eligibility requirements are met.

Conclusion

The European Commission’s Horizon Europe Cultural Collaboration Programme offers significant funding opportunities for organizations working at the intersection of culture, creativity, policy innovation, and international cooperation. By supporting intercultural dialogue, collaborative artistic initiatives, and sustainable creative industries, the programme aims to strengthen global resilience and mutual understanding through culture.

Organizations planning to apply should focus on building strong international partnerships, developing innovative and measurable project concepts, and aligning proposals closely with Horizon Europe priorities and compliance requirements.

For more information, visit European Commission.