WEBSITE: https://eit-hei.eu/projects/createch/

FUNDING AUTHORITY: European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

CALL REFERENCE: IV Call 2024 of the Higher Education Initiative

PROJECT CODE: 24580

TOTAL FUNDING: € 1,335,652.44

CNR SHARE: €155,790.63

PROJECT COORDINATOR: University of Tirana (Albania)

SCIENTIFIC LEAD FOR ISMed: Piera Buonicontri

CNR PARTNERS: CNR-DSU, CNR-ISMed, CNR-ISPC (Italy)

Other Partners: Euro-Mediterranean University (Slovenia), University of Patras (Greece), University of Bedfordshire (United Kingdom), AAB University (Kosovo), European Creative Hubs Network (Greece), Lascò srl (Italy), CED (Albania)

Associated Partners: UET – European University of Tirana (Albania), Matera Hub Cultural and Creative Industries Consortium S.c.a.r.l. (Italy), and the Mediterranean Universities Union (Italy)

ISMed STAFF INVOLVED: Daniela De Gregorio, Elisa Di Giovanni

START DATE: 01/04/2025

END DATE: 30/04/2027

Keywords (3–5): Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs); Higher Education; Innovation; Entrepreneurship; Capacity building

Description

The project aims to build a distributed innovation ecosystem to foster entrepreneurship and the growth of cultural and creative industries (CCIs) through the active involvement of universities and other innovation actors.

Among its main objectives: enhancing the skills of university staff through training and mentoring activities; supporting students and young entrepreneurs in the creation of cultural start-ups; promoting cooperation between universities, businesses, and stakeholders; launching a digital platform for resources and networking; and setting up an acceleration program for access to funding and a European-wide competition.

CREATECH is fully aligned with the objectives of the EIT HEI Initiative and the EIT KIC Culture & Creativity, under which it is developed. It contributes to transforming universities into true engines of innovation within the European landscape of cultural and creative industries.

The project is coordinated by the University of Tirana, with the participation of 8 partners from 7 European countries: CNR (DSU, ISMed, ISPC – Italy), Euro-Mediterranean University (Slovenia), University of Patras (Greece), University of Bedfordshire (United Kingdom), AAB University (Kosovo), European Creative Hubs Network (Greece), Lascò srl (Italy), CED (Albania). The partnership also includes associated members: UET – European University of Tirana (Albania), Matera Hub Cultural and Creative Industries Consortium S.c.a.r.l. (Italy), and the Mediterranean Universities Union (Italy).

Within the project, CNR-ISMed is particularly involved in WP3 “Capacity Building for HEIs in CCI Innovation”, aimed at designing a tailored training and mentoring program for HEI staff to enhance innovation and entrepreneurship in cultural and creative industries.

EIT Press Release: https://www.eit.europa.eu/news-events/news/eit-awards-eu63-million-boost-innovation-capacity-higher-education-0

Official LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/european-institute-of-innovation-and-technology—eit_higher-education-initiative-activity-7330508521353953280-Utqp