30/05/2025
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has announced the allocation of €63 million under the 2024 IV Call of the Higher Education Initiative. The funding will support 47 cross-sector projects aimed at strengthening the innovation capacity of higher education institutions across Europe. Among the selected projects is CREATECH, coordinated by the Department of Social sciences and humanities, cultural heritage of the National Research Council of Italy (Cnr-Dsu), with contributions from Cnr’s Institute for Studies on the Mediterranean (Cnr-ISMed) and Institute of Heritage Science (Cnr-Ispc). Launched on 1 April 2025 and running until April 2027, the project was officially kicked off at an international meeting held on 21 May.
CREATECH is designed to build a highly innovative ecosystem to foster entrepreneurship and support the growth of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs). By actively engaging universities and other innovation stakeholders, the project aims to:
- Strengthen academic and non-academic staff skills through dedicated training and mentoring;
- Support students and aspiring entrepreneurs in launching cultural start-ups;
- Enhance collaboration between universities, businesses, and stakeholders;
- Develop a digital platform for resources and networking;
- Launch an acceleration programme to facilitate access to funding and promote a Europe-wide competition.
CREATECH aligns fully with the goals of the EIT Higher Education Initiative and EIT KIC Culture & Creativity within which it is developed, contributing to the transformation of higher education institutions into key innovation drivers within Europe’s cultural landscape.
The project is coordinated by the University of Tirana (Albania) and involves 8 partners from 7 European countries, including: CNR (DSU , Cnr-Ismed Cnr_Ispc - Italy), Euro-Mediterranean University (Slovenia), University of Patras (Greece), University of Bedfordshire (UK), AAB University (Kosovo), European Creative Hubs Network (Greece), Lascò Srl and Matera Hub (Italy), CED (Albania). It also involves, as Associated Partners, UET European University of Tirana (Albania), Consorzio Matera Hub Industrie Culturali e Creative S.c.a.r.l. (Italy) and Mediterranean Universities Union (Italy).
Per informazioni:
Alessandra Marasco
Istituto di Scienze del Patrimonio Culturale
Via Cardinale Guglielmo Sanfelice 8 - 80134 Napoli
alessandra.marasco@cnr.it
Silvia Mattoni, Cnr-Dsu, email: silvia.mattoni@cnr.it, tel. 06/49933194